Enforcing an Order (Contempt) in Mercer County, Ohio

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Mercer County, Ohio · Celina · General Division

When the other party ignores a court order, contempt is how you enforce it. In Mercer County you file a motion to show cause in the same court that issued the order — the General Division or the Juvenile Court — instead of self-help.

How do I enforce a court order through contempt in Mercer County, Ohio?

File a motion to show cause (contempt) in the court that issued the order. In the General Division, file UDRF 24 (Motion & Affidavit) and UDRF 25 (Order to Show Cause Containing Notice) — Loc.R. 24.05, a $350 deposit. In the Juvenile Court, file a Motion for Contempt with a Notice of Rights, a supporting affidavit, a Request for Service, and a proposed Show Cause Order — Juv. Loc.R. 6.05, a $200 deposit. The affidavit must identify the specific order and paragraph violated and attach a copy. Don't withhold parenting time or support to retaliate — that can put you in contempt too. After a contested Juvenile contempt finding, up to $750 in attorney fees is presumed reasonable.

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

101 N Main St, Room 205, PO Box 28, Celina, OH 45822
Phone: (419) 586-6461
Hours: Monday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
Website: www.mercercountyoh.gov/elected-officials/clerk-of-courts/

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

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

A contempt motion is the right path in Mercer County if…

The other party is violating a specific custody, parenting-time, support, or property order.
You can identify the exact order and paragraph that was violated and attach a copy.
You're filing in the same court that issued the order — General Division or Juvenile Court.
You want the court to enforce the order rather than resorting to self-help.
You understand you can't withhold parenting time or support in retaliation.

Filing Fees

General Division: $350 deposit (UDRF 24/25, Loc.R. 24.05) · Juvenile Court: $200 deposit (Juv. Loc.R. 6.05). After a contested Juvenile contempt finding, up to $750 in attorney fees is presumed reasonable. Confirm amounts with the Clerk (419-586-6461) or Juvenile Court (419-586-1249).

Forms & Filing Packets

Contempt of a General Division (divorce) order — $350 deposit

Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Mercer County Common Pleas Local Rules of Court (Rules of Court 2026) — The General Division's local rules, including DR filing requirements (Rule 15), temporary and ex parte orders (Rules 15.04–15.05), parenting education / A-OK (Rule 21), post-decree motions (Rule 24), relocation (Rule 25), e-filing (Rule 29), and DVCPO procedure (Rule 14).

Contempt of a Juvenile Court order — $200 deposit

Mercer County Juvenile Court Forms — The Probate/Juvenile Division's own forms for never-married parents: Complaint for Parentage / Allocation of Parental Rights (Custody) / Parenting Time, parenting plans, motions to change custody or parenting time, motions for contempt with Show Cause Order, financial and health-insurance affidavits, the IV-D application, and the Grandparent Power of Attorney / Caretaker Authorization Affidavit.
Mercer County Juvenile Division Rules of Court (eff. 2026) — The Juvenile Division's local rules and Appendix A deposit schedule, including custody/parentage filing (Rule 6.04), modification (Rule 6.04(D)), contempt (Rule 6.05), relocation (Rule 6.06), and the Local Rule 7 parenting-time guidelines (Appendix B).

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Mercer County

Document the violation. Identify the specific order and paragraph that was violated, attach a copy of the order, and write a supporting affidavit describing exactly what happened and when.
Prepare the motion and show-cause order. In the General Division, prepare UDRF 24 (Motion & Affidavit) and UDRF 25 (Order to Show Cause Containing Notice). In the Juvenile Court, prepare a Motion for Contempt with a Notice of Rights, supporting affidavit, Request for Service, and a proposed Show Cause Order.
File in the issuing court. File with the Clerk of Courts (General Division, $350) or the Probate/Juvenile Clerk (Suite 307, $200). The court issues a show-cause order setting a hearing and requiring the other party to appear.
Attend the hearing. At the hearing the court decides whether the other party is in contempt and what sanctions or purge conditions apply. After a contested Juvenile contempt finding, up to $750 in attorney fees is presumed reasonable.

Mercer County Practice Notes

Don't self-help. You cannot withhold parenting time because support is unpaid, or stop paying support because parenting time is denied — doing so can put you in contempt. File a motion to show cause in the court that issued the order instead.
Attorney fees in Juvenile contempt. After a contested contempt finding in Juvenile Court, up to $750 in attorney fees is presumed reasonable (Juv. Loc.R. 6.05). The affidavit must identify the specific order and paragraph violated and attach a copy.
Two courts, two judges named Matthew. Mercer County splits family law between two courts in the same building. The Court of Common Pleas General Division (Judge Matthew K. Fox, Room 301) hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, DR post-decree motions, and DVCPOs; cases are filed with the Clerk of Courts (Room 205). The combined Probate/Juvenile Division (Judge Matthew L. Gilmore, Suite 307) hears never-married parentage, custody, parenting time, and support. The same magistrate, Richard M. Delzeith, serves both courts.

Frequently Asked Questions

The other parent isn't following our order — what can I do in Mercer County?: File a motion to show cause (contempt) in the court that issued the order — in a DR case, UDRF 24 (Motion & Affidavit) and UDRF 25 (Order to Show Cause), Loc.R. 24.05; in a Juvenile case, a Motion for Contempt with a proposed Show Cause Order (Juv. Loc.R. 6.05, $200). Don't withhold parenting time or support to retaliate — file a motion instead.
Can I recover attorney fees in a Mercer County contempt case?: In Juvenile Court, after a contested contempt finding up to $750 in attorney fees is presumed reasonable (Juv. Loc.R. 6.05). Courts can also award fees for enforcing support or parenting-time orders. Talk to a lawyer about whether fees are likely in your situation.
How much is a post-decree motion in Mercer County?: A General Division post-decree / post-judgment motion is $350; a relocation notice is $100. In Juvenile Court, a motion (including a contempt motion) is $200 and a relocation notice is $50. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk (419-586-6461) or the Juvenile Court (419-586-1249).
How is child support handled in Mercer County?: Support is set under R.C. Chapter 3119 using the Ohio child-support worksheet and is administered by the Mercer County CSEA (220 W. Livingston St., Room B181, 419-586-7961). A IV-D application (DR 10 in DR cases) is required; CSEA collects by wage withholding, distributes payments, and can enforce through license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals.

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.

Related to your contempt case

Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Related guides

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

Contempt Motions in Ohio Family Court: Enforcing Your Order — When the other parent ignores a court order — withholding the children or refusing to pay support — a contempt motion is how Ohio courts enforce it. Here's how the process works.
Post-Decree Modifications in Ohio: Changing Your Order After Divorce — Your divorce decree isn't carved in stone. When life changes, Ohio lets you modify custody, parenting time, and support — but each requires meeting a specific legal standard. Here's how.

Keep exploring

Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
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