Domestic-Violence Protection Orders in Mercer County, Ohio

Where to File: Mercer County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (Clerk of Courts, Legal Division)

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Mercer County Court of Common Pleas — Probate/Juvenile Division
101 N Main St, Suite 307, Celina, OH 45822
Phone: (419) 586-1249
Hours: Monday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

A protection order fits in Mercer County if…

• A family or household member has harmed or threatened you (R.C. 3113.31).
• You need the other person ordered to stay away, leave a shared home, or stop contact.
• You may need temporary custody, parenting time, or support as part of the order.
• You want a fast, no-cost filing — the court holds an ex parte hearing the same day.
• You understand a final DVCPO can last up to five years and is separate from any criminal case.

Filing Fees

No filing deposit for a DVCPO petition (Loc.R. 14.01). Amending an existing CPO later costs $150. Free help — safety planning, filing, and courtroom advocacy — is available from the Family Crisis Network (24-hour line 419-586-1133).

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Mercer County

1. Get the statewide forms and local help. Use the Supreme Court of Ohio protection-order forms. The Family Crisis Network (a program of Our Home Family Resource Center, Celina) offers free help filing, safety planning, and courtroom advocacy — 24-hour line 419-586-1133. In an emergency, call 911.
2. File the petition with the Clerk. File the petition (R.C. 3113.31(C)) with the Clerk of Courts in the General Division (Room 205). If you seek custody, add a Parenting Proceeding Affidavit; if you seek support, add an Affidavit of Income & Expenses. There is no filing deposit.
3. Attend the same-day ex parte hearing. A magistrate or judge holds an ex parte hearing the day you file and can issue a temporary order that takes effect immediately. The order is served by the Sheriff (or another law-enforcement agency).
4. Attend the full hearing. A full hearing is set within the statutory timeframe; the ex parte order stays in effect until the court rules. A final DVCPO can last up to five years and may order counseling or treatment (Loc.R. 14.01(C)).

Mercer County Practice Notes

• Same-day ex parte hearing, no filing deposit. The court holds an ex parte hearing the day you file and can issue a temporary order immediately; there is no filing deposit for a DVCPO petition (Loc.R. 14.01). A final DVCPO can last up to five years. Amending an existing CPO later costs $150.
• Free local advocacy and after-hours help. The Family Crisis Network (Our Home Family Resource Center, 117 W. Fayette Street, Celina) offers a 24-hour crisis helpline (419-586-1133), emergency shelter, safety planning, help filing, and courtroom advocacy at no charge. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. In an emergency, call 911.
• Juvenile respondents go to Juvenile Court. When the respondent is a juvenile, the Juvenile Court handles juvenile civil protection orders (R.C. 2151.34) and juvenile DVCPOs (R.C. 3113.31) under Juv. Loc.R. 14.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I get a domestic-violence protection order in Mercer County?

File a DVCPO petition (R.C. 3113.31) with the Common Pleas General Division on the statewide Supreme Court of Ohio forms. The court holds an ex parte hearing the same day you file and can issue a temporary order immediately; there is no filing deposit (Loc.R. 14.01). If the respondent is a juvenile, the Juvenile Court handles it. In an emergency call 911.

Does a protection order cost anything in Mercer County?

No — there is no filing deposit for a DVCPO petition (Loc.R. 14.01). Amending an existing CPO later costs $150. Local help is available free from the Family Crisis Network (a program of Our Home Family Resource Center, Celina), which offers a 24-hour crisis line at 419-586-1133, safety planning, help filing, and courtroom advocacy.

Can I get emergency (same-day) custody in a Mercer County divorce?

Only in a true emergency supported by adequate affidavits showing immediate risk to the child (Loc.R. 15.05). Otherwise the court addresses temporary custody after the other parent is served and 14 days pass. True safety emergencies are often better addressed through a protection order or a child-welfare referral to Mercer County DJFS.

Where do I file for divorce in Mercer County?

With the Clerk of Courts in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas, Room 205 of the Mercer County Courthouse, 101 North Main Street, Celina, OH 45822, 419-586-6461. There is no separate Domestic Relations court — Judge Matthew K. Fox hears divorce in the General Division (Room 301, 419-586-2122).

Free Local Resources in Mercer County

• Mercer County Clerk of Courts — Legal Division (divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, CPO). Clerk Calvin Freeman, 101 N. Main St., Room 205, PO Box 28, Celina, OH 45822; (419) 586-6461; fax (419) 586-5826; clerk@mercercountycourts.com. Files all Domestic Relations and civil cases and confirms current deposits (divorce, dissolution, and post-decree motions are each a $350 deposit eff. 4/1/2024). No personal checks — cash, money order, or cashier's check, or pay online via LexisNexis. Court staff cannot give legal advice. Confirm the current amount and any e-filing registration (Common Pleas Loc.R. 29) with the Clerk before filing.
• Mercer County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (hears all Domestic Relations cases). Judge Matthew K. Fox, Magistrate Richard M. Delzeith, 101 N. Main St., Room 301, Celina, OH 45822; (419) 586-2122; cpc@mercercountycourts.com. Decides divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, DR post-decree, and domestic-violence civil protection orders. There is no separate Domestic Relations court.
• Mercer County Probate/Juvenile Division (never-married parents, non-parent custody). Judge Matthew L. Gilmore, Suite 307 (3rd floor), 101 N. Main St., Celina, OH 45822; juvenile line (419) 586-1249 or (419) 586-2418; fax (419) 586-4506; https://mercercountycourts.com/index.php. Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents, plus grandparent and other non-parent custody. New custody/support/visitation/paternity cases carry a $200 deposit (plus a $25 stenographer's fee); confirm current amounts with the court.
• Mercer County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 220 W. Livingston St., Room B181, PO Box 649, Celina, OH 45822-0649; (419) 586-7961; toll-free 800-207-3597; fax (419) 586-2151; hours M–F 8:30 AM–4:00 PM. Opens IV-D child-support cases, establishes paternity administratively, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders.
• A-OK Parenting Program (required for divorce/dissolution with minor children). Mercer County requires each parent in a divorce or dissolution with minor children to attend the A-OK Parenting Program before the final hearing (Common Pleas Loc.R. 21.02). Cost is a one-time $30 per person, paid at the class; you are registered automatically when you file, and the court mails your assigned date. The program runs 6:00–9:00 PM on the 4th Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September, and November in Room 303 of the courthouse. Juvenile (never-married) cases are generally not ordered into A-OK. Call (419) 586-2122 to reschedule.
• Ohio Legal Help & legal aid. Ohio Legal Help (https://www.ohiolegalhelp.org/) has plain-English guides and the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms for divorce, custody, support, and protection orders. Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO) serves Mercer County for income-eligible residents — confirm the current intake line.

Other Family-Law Topics in Mercer County

• Ohio Divorce Overview — How Ohio divorce and dissolution work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with an attorney for help with your Mercer County case.

Related to your protection orders case

• Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
• Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable dissolution.
• Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on protection orders and related Ohio family law topics.

• Civil Protection Orders in Ohio: How to Get a CPO — An Ohio civil protection order can provide fast, court-ordered protection from domestic violence — including no-contact terms, exclusive home use, and temporary custody. Here's how to get one.
• Emergency Custody in Ohio: When and How to Get an Ex Parte Order — When a child faces immediate danger, Ohio courts can grant emergency custody on short notice through an ex parte order. Here's what qualifies and what happens next.

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