Protection Orders in Miami County

Where to File: Miami County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Miami County Juvenile Court
2040 North County Road 25-A, Troy, OH 45373
Phone: (937) 440-5970
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (Local Juv. R. 18.01)

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You need protection from a family or household member who has harmed or threatened you.
• You need emergency protection quickly, often the same day.
• You may need protection for your children as well as yourself.
• You can describe what happened and identify the person to be restrained.

Filing Fees

Domestic-violence CPO: no filing fee or bond (R.C. 3113.31(K)) · filed in PAPER with the Clerk (E-Filing Local Rule 22(J)(2)) · ex parte order can issue the same day · in an emergency, call 911.

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Miami County

1. Call 911 if you are in danger. A civil protection order is a court process, not an emergency response — in immediate danger, call 911 first.
2. Prepare the petition. Use the Supreme Court of Ohio DV protection-order forms; describe what happened and identify the person to be restrained. For stalking/SOO, use the Ohio Legal Help SOO/CPO packet.
3. File on paper with the Clerk. File the petition in paper with the Miami County Clerk of Courts (E-Filing Local Rule 22(J)(2)) — there is no filing fee or bond.
4. Get the ex parte order and attend the hearing. Ask for an emergency ex parte order, which can issue the same day, then present your evidence at the full hearing.

Miami County Practice Notes

• DVCPOs are filed on paper and cost nothing. A domestic-violence civil protection order under R.C. 3113.31 is filed in paper with the Clerk of Courts (E-Filing Local Rule 22(J)(2)) — it is one of the limited exceptions to mandatory e-filing. No filing fee or bond is charged to the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31(K)).
• Same-day ex parte protection. If your petition and affidavit show an immediate danger, the court can grant an ex parte order the same day to protect you until a full hearing is held within the statutory window. A protection order is a court process, not an emergency response — in immediate danger, call 911 first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a protection order in Miami County?

File a petition for a domestic-violence civil protection order (R.C. 3113.31) in PAPER with the Clerk of Courts (E-Filing Local Rule 22(J)(2)) using the Supreme Court of Ohio DV protection-order forms. There is no filing fee or bond charged to the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31(K)). An emergency ex parte order can issue the same day, followed by a full hearing. For a stalking or sexually-oriented-offense protection order, use the SOO/CPO packet at Ohio Legal Help. In an emergency, call 911.

How fast can I get a protection order in Miami County?

An ex parte domestic-violence civil protection order can be granted the same day you file if your petition and affidavit show an immediate danger (R.C. 3113.31). The ex parte order protects you until a full hearing is held within the statutory window, where the court decides whether to issue a longer-term order. There is no filing fee or bond. Protection orders are filed in paper with the Clerk; in an emergency, call 911.

Do I have to e-file my case in Miami County?

Yes, for most Common Pleas (including Domestic Relations) cases. E-filing is mandatory effective June 1, 2026 under E-Filing Local Rule 22, and deposits and fees are paid through the e-file system. A few filings stay on paper: civil protection orders, garnishments, QDRO/DOPO division-of-property orders, and filings by vexatious litigators. Juvenile post-complaint documents under 26 pages that require no deposit may be emailed to juvenilefile@miamicountyohio.gov.

Which court handles family-law cases in Miami County?

The General Division of the Miami County Court of Common Pleas (215 W. Main Street, Troy) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — Judges Jeannine Pratt and Stacy Wall also constitute the Domestic Relations Division, so there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The Juvenile Court (2040 N. County Road 25-A, Troy; (937) 440-5970) handles parentage, custody, support, and parenting time for unmarried parents and non-parent legal custody. The Probate Court (215 W. Main St.; (937) 440-6050) handles adoptions and name changes. DR documents are filed through the Clerk of Courts, (937) 440-6046.

Free Local Resources in Miami County

• Miami County Clerk of Courts (Common Pleas / Domestic Relations). 215 W. Main Street, Troy, OH 45373; (937) 440-6046. Files all Domestic Relations documents and collects deposits through the e-file system (mandatory as of June 1, 2026). Confirm the current divorce/dissolution/legal-separation deposit here, or file an Affidavit of Indigency to seek a waiver.
• Miami County Domestic Relations Forms. https://www.miamicountyohio.gov/domestic-relations-forms/ — the county's DR forms, organized by case type, plus Appendix A (the required-filings checklist). Do not print forms double-sided.
• Parenting seminar — "Helping Children Succeed After Divorce". https://www.miamicountyohio.gov/parenting-seminar/ — required for parents of children under 18 in a divorce, dissolution, or paternity case (Local R. 8.06). Sessions are Wednesday mornings (~2.5 hours); complete before the dissolution decree is filed or within 45 days of service. Reschedule through the assigned Magistrate's office.
• Miami County Juvenile Court. 2040 North County Road 25-A, Troy, OH 45373; (937) 440-5970 (Clerk, option 2); juvenilefile@miamicountyohio.gov. Judge Scott Altenburger. Decides parentage, custody, support, and parenting time for unmarried parents and non-parent legal custody. Paternity/custody/visitation: $135.00 per child (no fee to CSEA or Children's Services).
• Miami County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). https://www.miamicountyohio.gov/child-support-enforcement-agency-csea/ — opens IV-D cases, calculates support, collects by wage withholding through Ohio Child Support Payment Central, and enforces orders. No filing fee is charged to CSEA (Local Juv. R. 4.06).
• Miami County Probate Court. 215 W. Main Street, Troy, OH 45373; (937) 440-6050. Judge Scott Altenburger. Handles adoptions, name changes, marriage licenses, and minor guardianships. Accepts the Supreme Court of Ohio Probate standardized forms plus local forms.

Other Family-Law Topics in Miami County

• Miami County Divorce — Full filing guide — Form 6/Form 7, the Appendix A packet, and e-filing.
• Miami County Custody — Where to file when parents are married vs. never married.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator — Run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet yourself.
• Ohio family-law resources — 88-county directory of courts and legal aid.

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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