Emergency & Temporary Orders in Noble County, Ohio

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

Noble County, Ohio · Caldwell · General Division

While a divorce or legal separation is pending, the court can issue temporary orders for parenting, support, and use of property. True child-safety emergencies may move faster through a protection order or Children Services.

How do I get an emergency or temporary order in Noble County, Ohio?

Request temporary custody, parenting time, or support in your complaint or by a motion supported by an affidavit (Civ.R. 75; Local Rule 21.02), filed with the Clerk of Courts at 350 Court House, Caldwell. For an ex parte order, counsel arranges a personal conference with Judge Riddle and presents the complete file with a proposed entry; ex parte restraining orders require an affidavit meeting Civ.R. 75(I)(2). The court generally will not award custody ex parte to a party who doesn't already have physical custody. For child-safety emergencies, a domestic-violence civil protection order can include temporary custody on an ex parte basis the same day, or contact Children Services.

Ohio Custody by the Numbers

Best interest The single standard that governs every Ohio custody decision Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04
No set age There is no age a child can choose a parent — the judge weighs a mature child's wishes Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(B)
Change in circumstances Required, plus a best-interest finding, before the residential parent can be changed Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(E)(1)
Shared parenting Either parent may ask the court for a joint parenting plan Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(G)

Compare Types of Custody in Ohio

Custody type	Who makes major decisions	Where the child lives	Best when
Shared parenting	Both parents jointly, under a written plan	Time is split per the plan (not always 50/50)	Parents can communicate and cooperate on decisions
Sole legal & residential	One parent	Primarily with that parent	One parent is unable or unwilling to co-parent
Split custody	Each parent for the child in their care	Siblings are divided between the two homes	Rare — only when it serves each child's best interest
Legal custody to a non-parent	The relative or caregiver granted custody	With the non-parent caregiver	Neither parent can safely care for the child

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

350 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724
Phone: (740) 732-4408
Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Thu 8:00 AM–12:00 PM (no Thursday afternoon court session)
Website: noblecommonpleas.org/
e-Filing: https://efile.henschen.com

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Noble County Court of Common Pleas — Juvenile Division
280 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724
Phone: (740) 732-5047
Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Thu 8:00 AM–12:00 PM

Emergency & Temporary Orders is the right path if…

Seek a Noble County emergency / temporary order if…

A divorce or legal separation is pending and you need parenting, support, or property orders now.
You need temporary stability for the children while the case proceeds.
You can support your request with an affidavit (Civ.R. 75 / Local Rule 21.02).
For a true child-safety emergency, you're ready to consider a protection order or Children Services.
You already have physical custody (the court generally won't award custody ex parte otherwise).

Filing Fees

Temporary-orders motion: filed within your divorce · Protection order: no filing fee

Forms & Filing Packets

Temporary orders during a divorce (Civ.R. 75)

Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Asks the court for temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Tip: Attach a current Financial Affidavit (Affidavit 1) and Affidavit 2 (Property).
Affidavit of Income & Expenses (Ohio SC Affidavit 1) — Income, expenses, and basic financial information. Each party files their own. Must be notarized.
Noble County Court Forms & E-Filing — The court's forms page. Noble County directs filers to the Ohio Supreme Court standardized forms and offers General Division e-filing at https://efile.henschen.com.

Immediate child-safety emergency — No filing fee for a civil protection order

Ohio Supreme Court DV / Civil Protection Order Forms (10.01–10.05 series) — The statewide standardized petition and order forms for a domestic-violence, dating-violence, civil-stalking, or sexually-oriented-offense civil protection order. File the petition with the Noble County Clerk of Courts (General Division). There is no filing fee.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.

How to File Emergency & Temporary Orders in Noble County

Request relief in the case. Ask for temporary support, custody, parenting time, or exclusive use of the home in your complaint or by a motion supported by an affidavit (Civ.R. 75; Local Rule 21.02).
For an ex parte order. Counsel arranges a personal conference with the judge and presents the complete file with a proposed entry. Ex parte restraining orders require an affidavit meeting Civ.R. 75(I)(2); custody generally is not awarded ex parte to a party who lacks physical custody.
For a true emergency. If a child is in immediate danger, a domestic-violence civil protection order can include temporary custody and stay-away terms on an ex parte basis (often same-day), or contact Children Services. Call 911 in an emergency.

Noble County Practice Notes

Ex parte orders need a personal conference. Under Local Rule 21.02, counsel seeking an ex parte order must arrange a personal conference with the judge and present the complete file with a proposed entry; the court generally will not award custody ex parte to a party who does not already have physical custody of the child.
Court is closed Thursday afternoons. The Clerk of Courts keeps reduced hours — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, and Thursday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM only (no Thursday afternoon court session). Plan in-person filings, calls, and deadlines around the Thursday half day.
Protection orders can move faster. For child-safety emergencies, a domestic-violence civil protection order can include temporary custody and stay-away terms on an ex parte basis and can issue the same day, with a full hearing within 7–10 court days — file with the Clerk of Courts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an emergency or temporary order during my divorce?: Request temporary custody, parenting time, or support in the complaint or by a motion supported by an affidavit (Civ.R. 75; Local Rule 21.02). For an ex parte order, counsel arranges a personal conference with the judge and presents the file with a proposed entry; the court generally will not award custody ex parte to a party who does not already have physical custody.
What if my child is in immediate danger?: For child-safety emergencies, a domestic-violence civil protection order can include temporary custody and stay-away terms on an ex parte basis and can issue the same day, with a full hearing shortly after — file with the Clerk of Courts. Child-safety removals typically proceed through Children Services and the Juvenile Division. In an emergency, call 911.
How fast can I get a protection order in Noble County?: An ex parte protection order can often issue the same day after you testify under oath. A full hearing follows within 7–10 court days (after the respondent is served), and a final civil protection order can last up to 5 years.
Does it cost anything to file for a civil protection order in Noble County?: No. Ohio law bars charging a petitioner to seek a domestic-violence, dating-violence, civil-stalking, or sexually-oriented-offense civil protection order (R.C. 3113.31; R.C. 2903.214). File the petition with the Clerk of Courts in the General Division.
Where do I file for divorce in Noble County?: With the Clerk of Courts in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas at 350 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724, (740) 732-4408. Per Local Rule 1.01 there is no separate Domestic Relations court — Judge Kelly A. Riddle hears divorce in the General Division. You can e-file at https://efile.henschen.com.

Free Local Resources in Noble County

Noble County Clerk of Courts (General Division / Domestic Relations). 350 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724; (740) 732-4408; fax (740) 732-5604; email areiter@noblecountyohio.gov; website https://noblecommonpleas.org/. Accepts divorce, dissolution, legal-separation, annulment, civil-protection-order, and DR post-decree filings, and confirms current deposits. E-filing is available at https://efile.henschen.com. Court staff cannot give legal advice.
Noble County Juvenile Division. 280 Court House, Caldwell, OH 43724; (740) 732-5047 (Judge Kelly A. Riddle). Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents and non-parent (relative) custody. The same Standard Order of Parenting Time used in divorces applies here by default.
Noble County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 46049 Marietta Rd., P.O. Box 250, Caldwell, OH 43724. The CSEA establishes, modifies, collects, and enforces child support and can establish paternity administratively (sometimes with genetic testing). Confirm the agency's current direct line with the Clerk or the county before relying on it.
Parenting / coparenting education. Noble County does not publish a standing parenting-education requirement or an approved program. Because a judge may order a class case-by-case, confirm with the Clerk of Courts at (740) 732-4408 (divorce/dissolution/legal separation) or the Juvenile Court at (740) 732-5047 (unmarried parents) whether a class is required, which program the court accepts, and the deadline to file any certificate.
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. Southeastern Ohio Legal Services serves Noble County for income-eligible residents — confirm the current intake line.

Related to your emergency orders case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Grandparents' Rights — Seek visitation or custody when it serves the child's best interest.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.

Related guides

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

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.
Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Emergency Custody guide — Statewide overview of emergency custody in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
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