Contempt & Enforcement in Noble County, Ohio

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

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

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

File a Noble County contempt motion if…

• The other party has violated a support, parenting-time, custody, or property order.
• The violation is ongoing or repeated despite a clear court order.
• You're filing in the division that issued the order (General Division or Juvenile Division).
• You can document the specific terms that were violated.
• You want the court to enforce compliance and, where appropriate, impose penalties.

Filing Fees

$80 deposit (General Division, unless the CSEA files) · $80 + assessments (Juvenile Division)

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Noble County

1. File in the issuing division. File a motion to show cause / motion for contempt in the division that issued the order being violated — the General Division for a divorce decree, or the Juvenile Division for a never-married order.
2. Describe the violation and serve. State the specific terms violated, attach a Request for Service, and pay the $80 deposit (unless the CSEA files in a support matter). Local Rule 12.03 requires post-decree service in the General Division.
3. Hearing and enforcement. The court holds a hearing; if it finds a willful violation it can impose penalties and order compliance. For unpaid medical bills in a juvenile case, attach the Explanation of Health Care Bills form.

Noble County Practice Notes

• DR contempt vs. Juvenile contempt. Contempt of a divorce decree is a General Division matter; contempt of a never-married order is a Juvenile Division matter. File in the division that issued the order being enforced.
• Support runs through the Noble County CSEA. Child support is administered by the Noble County Child Support Enforcement Agency (46049 Marietta Rd., P.O. Box 250, Caldwell). The Clerk transmits copies of support-related filings to the CSEA under Local Rule 21.09, and support orders carry the mandatory language required by Local Rule 21.06.
• 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

File a motion to show cause / motion for contempt in the division that issued the order (General Division for a divorce decree; Juvenile Division for a never-married order). The court can enforce support, parenting time, custody, and property terms; willful violations can carry penalties.

How much does a modification or contempt motion cost?

In the General Division the deposit for an Application for Modification and Citation for Contempt is $80 (unless filed by the CSEA), and a custody investigation deposit is $80 (Local Rule 7). The Juvenile Division charges its $80 civil-action filing fee plus statutory assessments. Confirm current amounts with the issuing division.

How do I change a custody or support order in Noble County?

File the matching Ohio Supreme Court standardized motion in the division that issued your order — the General Division for a divorce decree, or the Juvenile Division for a never-married order. A support change generally requires a substantial change in circumstances; a custody change generally requires a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding.

Does Noble County have a standard parenting-time schedule?

Yes. The county's Standard Order of Parenting Time (alternate weekends, a midweek visit, eight alternating holidays, a split winter break, and two two-week summer periods, plus a long-distance schedule) applies by default in both divorce and unmarried-parent cases unless the parties agree otherwise or show good cause to deviate.

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.

Other Family-Law Topics in Noble County

• Ohio Divorce Overview — How Ohio divorce and dissolution work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with an attorney for help with your Noble County 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.

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