Civil Protection Orders in Ottawa County

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

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Ottawa County Probate & Juvenile Court (Juvenile Division)
315 Madison Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452
Phone: (419) 734-6840
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM)

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• Someone has hurt, threatened, or stalked you and you need them ordered to stay away.
• You need protection quickly, including an emergency order the same day.
• The person is a family/household member, a dating partner, or someone stalking you.
• You want a civil order (no criminal charge required to file).

Filing Fees

No filing fee for any civil protection order · emergency ex parte order possible the same day · full hearing ~7 business days (DVCPO) or ~10 business days (stalking) · final order up to five years — in an emergency call 911. Confirm with the Clerk at (419) 734-6755

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Ottawa County

1. Pick the right petition. Use Form 10.01-D for a family/household member, Form 10.01-P for a dating partner, or Form 10.03-D for stalking by someone else; add the parenting information (Form 10.01-F) if children are involved.
2. File with the Clerk — no fee. File the petition and a Case Designation Sheet with the Clerk of Courts at 315 Madison St., Port Clinton. There is no filing fee.
3. Get the emergency (ex parte) order. The court reviews your petition the same day and can issue an emergency ex parte order if it finds an immediate danger.
4. Attend the full hearing. Attend the full hearing the court sets (about 7 business days for a DVCPO, 10 for a stalking order); a final order can last up to five years.

Ottawa County Practice Notes

• No fee, and an emergency order can issue the same day. There is no filing fee for the petitioner of any civil protection order in Ottawa County. When the court finds an immediate danger, it can issue an emergency ex parte order the same day, before the respondent is heard, then sets a full hearing — within about 7 business days for a domestic-violence order and about 10 business days for a stalking order.
• A protection order is civil, but violations are criminal. A protection-order case is civil, so no one is arrested at the hearing and no attorney is appointed (you may hire your own). The petition is filed with the Clerk of Courts using the Ohio Supreme Court standardized form and a Case Designation Sheet. Once an order is in place, violating it can bring criminal charges — call local police to report a violation, and call 911 in an emergency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a protection order cost anything in Ottawa County?

No. There is no filing fee for the petitioner of a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (R.C. 3113.31), a Dating Violence Protection Order, or a Civil Stalking / Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (R.C. 2903.214). File the petition with the Clerk of Courts at 315 Madison St., Port Clinton. The court can issue an emergency ex parte order the same day, before a full hearing.

How fast can I get a protection order in Ottawa County?

When you file a petition, the court can issue an emergency ex parte protection order the same day if it finds an immediate danger. The court then sets a full hearing — within about 7 business days for a domestic-violence civil protection order, and within about 10 business days for a civil stalking protection order. A final order issued after the full hearing can last up to five years. In an emergency, call 911 first.

Where do I file a protection order in Ottawa County?

An adult civil protection order is filed with the Ottawa County Clerk of Courts at the Court of Common Pleas, 315 Madison St., Port Clinton, using the Ohio Supreme Court standardized petition and a Case Designation Sheet. A protection-order case is civil, so no one is arrested at the hearing and no attorney is appointed (you may hire your own). Violating the order later, however, can bring criminal charges — call local police to report a violation.

How do I get emergency custody when a child is in danger in Ottawa County?

If a child is in immediate danger and a divorce or legal separation is already pending, you request emergency temporary orders under Civ.R. 75(N) in the Domestic Relations case. If there is no Domestic Relations case — for example, never-married parents — an emergency custody request goes through the Probate & Juvenile Court at 315 Madison St., Port Clinton ((419) 734-6840). If the real need is protection from abuse rather than a custody order, a civil protection order may be the faster tool, and in a true emergency call 911.

Free Local Resources in Ottawa County

• Ottawa County Clerk of Courts (Common Pleas / Domestic Relations). 315 Madison St., Room 106B, Port Clinton, OH 43452. Phone (419) 734-6755; filings email cpclerksfilings@co.ottawa.oh.us; website https://ottawacountyclerkofcourts.com/. The Clerk accepts divorce, dissolution, legal-separation, annulment, and protection-order filings and confirms current deposits. Court staff cannot give legal advice.
• Ottawa County Probate & Juvenile Court (Judge Frederick C. Hany II). 315 Madison St., Port Clinton, OH 43452. Juvenile Division (419) 734-6840; Probate Division (419) 734-6830; website https://www.ocpjcourt.com/. Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents and non-parent custody, plus adoptions. Hours Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed noon–1:00 PM).
• Ottawa County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). The county CSEA establishes, modifies, collects, and enforces child support and can establish parentage administratively. The court skill does not publish a current CSEA address, phone, or website — confirm the agency's current contact information with the Clerk or the county before relying on it.
• Parenting / coparenting education. Parents of minor children in a Domestic Relations case are generally expected to complete a parenting-education (coparenting) program. The court skill does not publish a current provider, format, or cost — confirm the required class, deadline, and fee with the Domestic Relations Division before filing.

Other Family-Law Topics in Ottawa County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Ottawa County custody attorney for help with your case.

Related to your protection orders case

• Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
• Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable dissolution.
• Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.

Related guides

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

• 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.
• 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.

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