Enforcing Orders Through Contempt in Muskingum County

Where to File: Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

A Muskingum County contempt motion fits if…

• You have an existing court order — support, parenting time, or property division.
• The other party has clearly violated that order (missed payments, withheld parenting time, refused to transfer property).
• You want the court to compel compliance and, where allowed, recover arrears or attorney fees.
• You can document the specific violations with dates and records.

Filing Fees

$150 post-judgment deposit · +$50 per party for Sheriff service · fee waiver available. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 455-7898.

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Muskingum County

1. Document the violations. Gather dates, payment records, messages, and a copy of the order showing exactly how it was violated.
2. File the Motion for Contempt. File the Motion for Contempt (tab 26) in the existing case with the Clerk's DR Division and pay the $150 deposit (add $50 per party for Sheriff service) or request a waiver.
3. Serve and attend the hearing. Serve the other party (Request for Service, tab 44) and attend the contempt hearing, where the Court decides whether to find contempt and set purge conditions.

Muskingum County Practice Notes

• Contempt compels compliance. A Motion for Contempt (tab 26) enforces support, parenting-time, and property terms. A party found in contempt is usually given purge conditions — a way to fix the violation — and may have to pay arrears and the other side's attorney fees.
• Support enforcement also runs through CSEA. For child support, CSEA can enforce an order administratively through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and credit reporting, in addition to a court contempt motion.
• One court hears everything — even unmarried-parent cases. Unlike most Ohio counties, Muskingum County routes ALL family-law matters to the Domestic Relations Court (Local Rule 10.01): divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, parentage, custody, parenting time, support, non-parent custody, and DVCPO/stalking petitions. The Juvenile Court handles only delinquency and abuse/neglect/dependency; the Probate Court handles only adoptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

The other parent won't follow our Muskingum County order — what can I do?

File a Motion for Contempt (tab 26) in the existing case with the DR Division of the Clerk. Contempt enforces support, parenting-time, and property terms; the post-judgment motion deposit is $150 (plus $50 per party for Sheriff service).

How much does it cost to file a family-law case in Muskingum County?

A divorce, legal separation, or annulment deposit is $225; a dissolution is $175 ($200 with children); a custody, parenting-time, or support complaint is $175; a post-judgment motion is $150. Add $50 per party for Sheriff service. There is no fee for a DVCPO petitioner. A Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit can waive the deposit. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 455-7898.

What is a Title IV-D application and why do I need one?

A Title IV-D Application (tab 54) opens a case with the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Once opened, CSEA collects support through automatic wage withholding, distributes it, and can enforce the order through license suspension, tax intercept, credit reporting, and contempt referrals. File it whenever a support order is issued.

Where do I file a divorce or dissolution in Muskingum County?

In the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division (Judge Maria N. Kalis), through the Clerk of Courts, DR Division, at 22 N. 5th Street, 2nd Floor, Zanesville — (740) 455-7898. An advance cost deposit is required before filing (Local Rule 1.07).

Free Local Resources in Muskingum County

• Muskingum County Clerk of Courts — Domestic Relations Division. Files all DR documents at 22 N. 5th Street, 2nd Floor, Zanesville — (740) 455-7898. An advance cost deposit is required before filing (Local Rule 1.07); a Civil Fee Waiver Affidavit can waive it. Forms are on the Court's Domestic Forms page (tabs 1–66).
• Domestic Relations Help Desk (free legal clinic). Free help for income-eligible people with simple custody, divorce, and dissolution cases — 4th Monday monthly, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., at the DR Court, 22 N. 5th Street, 2nd Floor. Preregister with Legal Aid of Southeastern & Central Ohio (LASCO) at (614) 827-0504 (intake (866) 529-6446; seols.org).
• Domestic Relations Court Mediation Department. The Court runs an in-house Mediation Department. It can order mediation, accepts voluntary post-decree requests without a motion, and offers mediation before a case is filed — call (740) 455-7190 (Local Rules 3.01–3.09).
• Transitions (domestic-violence shelter & CPO advocacy). Provides shelter and free protection-order advocacy and can attend court with you — (740) 454-3213. There is no filing fee for a DVCPO petitioner (R.C. 3113.31(K)).
• Co-Parenting Seminar registration. The required 2-hour Co-Parenting Seminar (Local Rule 7.07) is offered online; register by calling the Court at (740) 455-7190. The $10 seminar fee is among the Court's costs — confirm the current cost when registering.

Other Family-Law Topics in Muskingum County

• Statewide Divorce Overview — How Ohio divorce, property division, and support work at a high level.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator — Estimate support under the 2024 Ohio Income Shares model before you file.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Muskingum County family-law attorney for help with your case.

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.
• Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.