Noble County Contempt & Enforcement Attorneys

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

Noble County, Ohio · Caldwell · General or Juvenile Division

When the other party ignores a court order — withholding parenting time, skipping support, or refusing to follow property terms — you can ask the court to enforce it with a motion to show cause filed in the division that issued the order.

Hire Gavvl for your Noble County contempt case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Noble County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

How do I enforce a family-court order in Noble County, Ohio?

File a motion to show cause / motion for contempt in the division that issued your order — the General Division (350 Court House) for a divorce decree, or the Juvenile Division (280 Court House) for a never-married order. The General Division deposit is $80 (unless the CSEA files); the Juvenile Division charges its $80 civil-action filing fee plus assessments. Attach a Request for Service. If the court finds a willful violation, it can impose penalties and order compliance; unpaid medical bills may require the Explanation of Health Care Bills form.

Noble County contempt and enforcement, handled

When the other party ignores a Noble County order — withholding parenting time, skipping support, or refusing to follow the property terms — you can ask the court to enforce it with a motion to show cause filed in the division that issued the order. Gavvl Law drafts the contempt motion that documents the specific terms violated, attaches the Request for Service, and pays the $80 deposit in the General Division (unless the CSEA files) or the $80 Juvenile fee plus assessments. It is a flat fee agreed up front, with payment plans, and full representation through the hearing.

  • A motion built on the exact terms violated. Contempt succeeds when the motion points to the specific order language the other party broke, so we quote the decree or entry precisely and lay out the pattern of non-compliance. In the General Division the motion must be served under Local Rule 12.03, and we complete that service so the show-cause hearing actually gets set.
  • Filed back in the court that issued the order. Contempt of a divorce decree is a General Division matter; contempt of a never-married order is a Juvenile Division matter — you enforce in the court that entered the order. We file in the issuing division and handle the Thursday-half-day filing schedule at the Caldwell courthouse so a deadline never slips past a closed counter.
  • Flat fee, from motion to penalties. We handle enforcement as a flat-fee matter with financing available, and if the court finds a willful violation it can impose penalties and order compliance. For unpaid medical bills in a juvenile support case, we attach the Explanation of Health Care Bills form so the reimbursement claim is properly before the court.

Support enforcement in Noble County runs through the county CSEA, which can file its own contempt action, so we coordinate with the agency rather than duplicate it — and because the same judge hears the underlying case, the court already knows the order we're asking it to enforce, which keeps the show-cause hearing focused on the violation.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the motion for contempt / show cause to enforce an order the other party is violating. You appear at any hearing.

  • Contempt (single issue): $950
  • Contempt (multiple issues): $1,450

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your contempt case or see payment plans & financing.

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: Court website
e-Filing: Online e-filing portal

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

Enforce a General Division (divorce) order — $80 (unless the CSEA files)

Enforce a Juvenile Division order — $80 civil-action filing fee + $15 + $10 + $3 assessments

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

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.

Continue your Noble County research

Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.