Protection Orders in Portage County

Where to File: Portage County Domestic Relations Court

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• Someone has hurt you, threatened you, or made you fear for your safety.
• You need the court to order that person to stay away and stop contacting you.
• You can identify whether the person is a family/household member, a dating partner, or neither.
• You can describe the most recent incidents and any pattern of conduct for the petition.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for the petitioner on a DVCPO, dating-violence, or civil-stalking order · the court can issue an ex parte order the same day in an emergency and sets a full hearing · a final order can last up to five years (R.C. 3113.31). Portage County does not publish a fixed Domestic Relations deposit, so confirm the current amount with the Clerk of Courts – Domestic Relations at (330) 297-3475 before filing.

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Portage County

1. Choose the right petition. Pick a DVCPO (family/household member), a dating-violence order, or a civil-stalking order based on your relationship to the other person.
2. File with the Clerk — no fee. File the petition with the Portage County Clerk of Courts. There is no filing fee for the petitioner.
3. Ask for an ex parte order if in danger. If there is immediate danger, ask for a temporary ex parte order, which the court can often issue the same day (R.C. 3113.31).
4. Attend the full hearing. A full hearing is set where both sides are heard; bring evidence and witnesses. A final order can last up to five years.

Portage County Practice Notes

• No filing fee for the petitioner. There is no filing fee for the petitioner on a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (R.C. 3113.31); the same no-fee filing applies to dating-violence and civil-stalking petitions. You do not need a lawyer to file, though representation helps at the full hearing.
• Same-day protection, then a full hearing. If there is immediate danger, the court can issue a temporary ex parte order — often the same day. A full hearing follows, where both sides are heard before a longer-term order issues. A final DVCPO can last up to five years. Mediation is never used to grant or set the terms of a protection order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost anything to file for a protection order in Portage County?

No — there is no filing fee for the petitioner in a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (R.C. 3113.31), and the same no-fee filing applies to dating-violence and civil-stalking petitions. You file with the Portage County Clerk of Courts; you do not need a lawyer to file.

Where do I file for a protection order in Portage County?

File with the Portage County Clerk of Courts. A Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order against a family or household member (R.C. 3113.31) is heard in the Domestic Relations Court. The Clerk has the DVCPO and dating-violence packets; a civil-stalking order (R.C. 2903.214) is for a respondent who is not a family or household member.

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

If there is immediate danger, the court can issue a temporary ex parte order — often the same day. A full hearing — where both sides are heard before a longer-term order issues — is then set, and a final order can last up to five years (R.C. 3113.31).

Is mediation available — and is it used for protection orders — in Portage County?

Yes, the Portage County Domestic Relations Court offers mediation through a staff mediator (Rachel Pico) for parenting matters, and mediators screen for domestic violence. Mediation is never used to adjudicate domestic violence or to grant, modify, or set the terms of a protection order. Confirm the current process with the Court before relying on it.

Free Local Resources in Portage County

• Portage County Domestic Relations Court (Judge Paula Giulitto). 203 W. Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266; Clerk of Courts – Domestic Relations (330) 297-3475, open 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, protection orders, and all unmarried-parent parentage, custody, parenting-time, and support cases. Hosts the Domestic Relations Forms page, the divorce and parentage checklists, and the free 'Children Are Forever' parenting class. Offers e-filing; fax/email filing is $1 per transmission plus $1 per page.
• Portage County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA / PCJFS). Portage County Job & Family Services, (330) 297-3750. Opens IV-D cases, sets and collects support by wage withholding, can establish paternity and order genetic testing, and runs the Child & Adult Protective Services abuse hotline at 330-296-CARE (330-296-2273).
• Portage County Juvenile/Probate Court. Part of the combined Juvenile/Probate Court in Ravenna. Handles abuse/neglect/dependency and delinquency (Juvenile) and adoptions (Probate). Note: in Portage County, routine parentage and custody for unmarried parents are heard in the Domestic Relations Court, not here.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator. ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov — run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet yourself before filing so you know the likely support amount.

Other Family-Law Topics in Portage County

• Portage County Divorce — Full filing guide with the Court's checklist, deposit, and deadlines.
• Portage County Custody — Why both married and never-married custody go to the Domestic Relations Court.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator — Run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet yourself.
• Ohio family-law resources — 88-county directory of courts and legal aid.

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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• Ohio Civil Protection Orders guide — Statewide overview of civil protection orders in Ohio.
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