Enforcing an Order in Monroe County

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

Monroe County, Ohio · Woodsfield

When the other party ignores a court order — withholding the child, skipping parenting-time exchanges, or not paying support — contempt is how you enforce it. You file a motion asking the court to order the violator to appear and explain why they shouldn't be held in contempt; the court can set purge conditions and impose penalties for willful noncompliance. In Monroe County you file in the division that issued the order.

How do I enforce a custody, parenting-time, or support order in Monroe County, Ohio?

File a Motion for Contempt with Affidavit (Form 24/JF 3) and a Show Cause Order and Notice (Form 25/JF 4) in the division that issued the order — the General Division for divorce/dissolution orders (Clerk (740) 472-0761) or the Juvenile Division for unmarried-parent orders (Room 39, (740) 472-5790). The court sets a hearing and can order the violator to comply (purge), pay fees, or face penalties for willful noncompliance (R.C. 2705.02, 2705.031). A General Division motion deposit is $60; a Juvenile reopen is $60. Child-support enforcement also runs through the Monroe County CSEA at (740) 472-1602.

Where to File: Monroe County Court of Common Pleas — General Division

101 North Main Street, Room 33, Woodsfield, OH 43793
Phone: (740) 472-0841
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)
Website: www.monroecountyohio.com/government/clerk_of_courts/common_pleas_court/index.php

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Monroe County Combined Probate/Juvenile Division
101 North Main Street, Room 39, Woodsfield, OH 43793
Phone: (740) 472-5790
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

You have a final order the other party is violating.
You want the court to enforce the order, not change it.
The violation is willful (the other party can comply but won't).
You can identify which division issued the original order.

Filing Fees

General Division contempt motion $60 · Juvenile reopen $60 · CSEA support enforcement (no separate filing fee) · fee waiver available · confirm current amounts with the Clerk (740) 472-0761 or Juvenile Division (740) 472-5790

Forms & Filing Packets

Enforce a divorce or dissolution order — $60 motion deposit

File the Motion for Contempt (Form 24) with a Show Cause Order (Form 25) in the General Division to enforce spousal support, property division, child support, or parenting time set in your divorce or dissolution.

Motion for Contempt with Affidavit (Ohio SC Form 24 / JF 3) — Starts a contempt case to enforce a decree or order term — spousal support, property division, child support, or parenting time.
Show Cause Order and Notice (Ohio SC Form 25 / JF 4) — Filed with the contempt motion; the court signs it to order the other party to appear and explain why they should not be held in contempt.

Enforce a Juvenile (unmarried-parent) order — $60 Juvenile reopen

File the Motion for Contempt (SF 24/JF 3) with a Show Cause Order (SF 25/JF 4) in the combined Probate/Juvenile Division to enforce a custody, parenting-time, or support order between unmarried parents or a non-parent custodian.

Motion for Contempt with Affidavit (Ohio SC Form 24 / JF 3) — Starts a contempt case to enforce a decree or order term — spousal support, property division, child support, or parenting time.
Show Cause Order and Notice (Ohio SC Form 25 / JF 4) — Filed with the contempt motion; the court signs it to order the other party to appear and explain why they should not be held in contempt.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Monroe County

Identify the issuing division. Determine whether the order came from a divorce/dissolution (General Division) or a Juvenile case (Room 39), and file there.
Prepare the motion and show-cause order. Complete the Motion for Contempt with Affidavit (Form 24) describing the violation and the Show Cause Order and Notice (Form 25) for the court to sign; sign originals in blue ink.
File and serve. File with the $60 deposit (or a fee waiver) and arrange service so the other party is ordered to appear.
Attend the hearing. Present evidence of the willful violation; the court can set purge conditions and impose penalties, and refer support enforcement to the CSEA.

Monroe County Practice Notes

Contempt is filed where the order was issued. This is separate from modification. Divorce/dissolution orders are enforced in the General Division; Juvenile orders (unmarried parents or non-parent custodians) are enforced in the combined Probate/Juvenile Division (Room 39). The Show Cause Order (Form 25) is the document the court signs to compel the other party to appear.
Purge conditions and CSEA enforcement. For willful noncompliance the court can set a purge (a way to fix the violation) and impose penalties, including fines or jail (R.C. 2705.02, 2705.031). For unpaid child support, the Monroe County CSEA ((740) 472-1602) can also enforce through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and credit reporting.

Frequently Asked Questions

The other parent isn't following our order — what can I do in Monroe County?: File a Motion for Contempt (Form 24/JF 3) with a Show Cause Order and Notice (Form 25/JF 4) in the division that issued the order; the Court can set a purge and impose penalties for willful noncompliance (R.C. 2705.02, 2705.031). Divorce/dissolution orders are enforced in the General Division (motion deposit $60); Juvenile orders are enforced in the Juvenile Division (reopen $60). Child-support enforcement also runs through the Monroe County CSEA at (740) 472-1602.
What is the Monroe County CSEA and a IV-D application?: The Monroe County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) is housed in the Monroe County Department of Job and Family Services at 100 Home Avenue, Woodsfield ((740) 472-1602). A IV-D application (JFS 07076) opens a child-support case so CSEA can prepare the support worksheet for free, collect support through wage withholding, distribute it, and enforce the order through license suspension, tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals.
Do I file in the General Division or Juvenile Court in Monroe County?: If you are married to (or were married to) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in the General Division (Clerk (740) 472-0761). If you were never married, paternity and custody are handled by the combined Probate/Juvenile Division in Room 39 (Juvenile (740) 472-5790) under Hon. James W. Peters. Grandparent and other non-parent custody requests are always filed in the Juvenile Division.
How do I change a custody, support, or parenting-time order in Monroe County?: File a post-decree motion in the division that issued the order — the General Division for divorce/dissolution cases, the Juvenile Division for unmarried-parent cases. Use Form 27/JF 6 to change custody (which requires a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding under R.C. 3109.04(E)), Form 26/JF 5 to change parenting time, or Form 28/JF 7 to change support. A General Division motion deposit is $60 (change of custody $100); a Juvenile reopen is $60.

Free Local Resources in Monroe County

Monroe County Clerk of Courts (General Division). Current filing fees, deposit amounts, and filing instructions for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment. Clerk Beth Ann Rose, Room 26; call (740) 472-0761 before filing. The county uses the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms and accepts e-filing through the Henschen portal (https://efile.henschen.com/).
Monroe County Combined Probate/Juvenile Division. Handles never-married-parent custody, parentage, parenting time, and child support, plus non-parent custody and adoptions, under Hon. James W. Peters in Room 39. Juvenile line (740) 472-5790; Probate line (740) 472-1654.
Monroe County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA / DJFS). Housed in the Monroe County Department of Job and Family Services at 100 Home Avenue, Woodsfield. Prepares the support worksheet for free, opens IV-D cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Phone (740) 472-1602.
Parenting Session — OSU Extension. The two-hour 'Helping Children Cope With Divorce' session required under Local Rule XV. Register through OSU Extension at (740) 472-0810; the fee is $10 under the rule / $15 per the Court's class page — confirm when you register.
Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.

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.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
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