Protection Orders in Paulding County

Where to File: Paulding County Court of Common Pleas - General Division (Domestic Relations)

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Paulding County Juvenile & Probate Court
115 N. Williams Street, Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879
Phone: (419) 399-8255
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You have been harmed or threatened and need court-ordered protection.
• The other person is a family or household member (DVCPO) or someone who has stalked or harmed you (CSPO).
• You want no-contact, stay-away, residence-exclusion, or temporary custody terms.
• You may need same-day ex parte protection while a full hearing is scheduled.

Filing Fees

No filing fee or bond is charged to a protection-order petitioner (R.C. 3113.31(K)) · file before 2:00 p.m. for a same-day ex parte hearing (Local Rule 24) · a final order can last up to five years · Clerk (419) 399-8210 · Emergencies: 911

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Paulding County

1. Get the petition packet. Pick up the Ohio Supreme Court protection-order forms from the Clerk of Courts, (419) 399-8210; court staff can provide forms but cannot complete them for you.
2. File before 2:00 p.m. for same-day review. File the petition in the Common Pleas General Division; if filed before 2:00 p.m., the ex parte hearing is held the same day (Local Rule 24). There is no filing fee.
3. Attend the ex parte hearing. Explain the immediate danger; the court may issue an ex parte order with no-contact, stay-away, residence-exclusion, and temporary custody/support terms.
4. Attend the full hearing. Both sides may appear at the full hearing; the court can issue a final order lasting up to five years, served on and enforced against the respondent.

Paulding County Practice Notes

• Same-day ex parte if you file before 2:00 p.m.. Under Local Rule 24, the ex parte hearing is held the same day if the petition is filed before 2:00 p.m.; petitions filed after 2:00 p.m. are heard the next business day. The court provides the Ohio Supreme Court protection-order packets, but court staff cannot help complete the forms. A DVCPO can include temporary custody, parenting-time, and support terms that interact with any pending divorce or juvenile case.
• No fee — and protection up to five years. There is no filing fee or bond for a protection-order petitioner. After the ex parte order, a full hearing is held within the statutory window where both sides may appear, and the court may issue a final order lasting up to five years, enforced by law enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a protection order in Paulding County?

File a Petition for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (R.C. 3113.31) against a family or household member — or a Civil Stalking / Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (R.C. 2903.214) against someone who isn't — in the Common Pleas General Division through the Clerk of Courts, (419) 399-8210, using the Ohio Supreme Court protection-order forms the Clerk provides. There is no filing fee or bond charged to the petitioner. If you file before 2:00 p.m., the ex parte hearing is held the same day; after 2:00 p.m., the next business day (Local Rule 24). A final order can last up to five years. Where the respondent is a juvenile, the petition is filed in Juvenile Court. Emergencies: 911.

Which court handles my family case in Paulding County?

Married parents — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody, parenting time, and support decided inside those cases, plus civil protection orders — go to the Common Pleas Court, General Division (Domestic Relations docket), Judge Tiffany R. Beckman, 115 N. Williams St., Suite 201, Paulding, filed through the Clerk of Courts at (419) 399-8210. Unmarried parents (parentage, custody, parenting time, support), abuse/neglect/dependency, and delinquency go to the Paulding County Juvenile Court, and adoptions and name changes go to the Probate Court — Juvenile and Probate are a combined court under Judge Harvey D. Hyman in Suite 202 ((419) 399-8255 Juvenile / (419) 399-8256 Probate).

Can I get an emergency (ex parte) custody order in Paulding County?

While a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or post-decree motion is pending, you can ask for temporary orders on custody, parenting time, and support, and in urgent situations for ex parte relief. An ex parte order on parental rights, support, or exclusive use of the marital home requires an affidavit establishing exigent circumstances; the order tells the other party they may request a hearing, which is then set within 28 days (Local Rule 19.04). If a child is in immediate danger, contact law enforcement and Paulding County Children Services; if the issue is violence, a DVCPO heard the same day (filed before 2:00 p.m.) may be faster.

Free Local Resources in Paulding County

• Paulding County Clerk of Courts. Clerk Sarah Jo Harpel files all divorce, dissolution, and Domestic Relations documents. 115 N. Williams St., Room 104, Paulding, OH 45879 · (419) 399-8210 · fax (419) 399-8248 · clerk@pauldingcountyoh.com. E-filing is by email and currently available to attorneys only (Local Rule 23); an original complaint or initial pleading may not be filed by fax or email. Confirm current deposits and packet requirements before filing.
• Paulding County Common Pleas Court - General Division. Domestic Relations cases are heard by Judge Tiffany R. Beckman; contact Court Administrator Lynn Vance at (419) 399-8220 or lvance@pauldingcounty-oh.com. Local forms and Local Rules: http://www.pauldingcommonpleas.com/local-rules.html · eServices records search: http://www.pauldingcommonpleas.com/eservices/
• Assisting Our Kids ("A-OK") Parenting Program. Local Rule 19.08 requires all parties in a divorce/dissolution with minor children — and any case allocating parental rights — to complete the A-OK parenting class within 75 days of filing. Take it online at https://www.assistingourkids.com/ for $30.00; the certificate is valid for three years. Print and deliver the certificate to the court or email it to lvance@pauldingcounty-oh.com.
• Paulding County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Paulding County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders; child-support orders are forwarded by the Clerk to the CSEA (Local Rules 19.02, 19.09). Confirm the current direct line with the county. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.
• Paulding County Juvenile & Probate Court. Judge Harvey D. Hyman hears never-married custody, paternity, and juvenile matters (Juvenile (419) 399-8255; Probate/adoption (419) 399-8256). 115 N. Williams St., Suite 202, Paulding, OH 45879 · https://www.pauldingjuvenilecourt.com/

Other Family-Law Topics in Paulding County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Paulding County family law 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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