Emergency & Temporary Custody in Portage County

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

Portage County, Ohio · Ravenna

When a child is in danger, you need the court to act quickly. In Portage County, temporary custody and support are requested under Local Rule 11(G), which requires a sworn Uniform DR Affidavit 5 and an evidentiary hearing. If the danger comes from a family or household member, a protection order can include temporary custody and can issue the same day.

How do I get emergency custody in Portage County, Ohio?

In a pending or new Domestic Relations case, ask for temporary custody and support by filing the Uniform DR Affidavit 5. Under Portage County's Local Rule 11(G), the court will not issue temporary custody or child support without that affidavit and an evidentiary hearing, so file it early and be ready to present evidence. If the danger comes from a family or household member, a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order — which has no filing fee and can be issued ex parte the same day in an emergency (R.C. 3113.31) — can include temporary custody. If a child may be abused, neglected, or dependent, call the PCJFS Child & Adult Protective Services hotline at 330-296-CARE (330-296-2273) or 911.

Ohio Custody by the Numbers

Best interest The single standard that governs every Ohio custody decision Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04
No set age There is no age a child can choose a parent — the judge weighs a mature child's wishes Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(B)
Change in circumstances Required, plus a best-interest finding, before the residential parent can be changed Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(E)(1)
Shared parenting Either parent may ask the court for a joint parenting plan Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(G)

Compare Types of Custody in Ohio

Custody type	Who makes major decisions	Where the child lives	Best when
Shared parenting	Both parents jointly, under a written plan	Time is split per the plan (not always 50/50)	Parents can communicate and cooperate on decisions
Sole legal & residential	One parent	Primarily with that parent	One parent is unable or unwilling to co-parent
Split custody	Each parent for the child in their care	Siblings are divided between the two homes	Rare — only when it serves each child's best interest
Legal custody to a non-parent	The relative or caregiver granted custody	With the non-parent caregiver	Neither parent can safely care for the child

Where to File: Portage County Domestic Relations Court

203 W. Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266
Phone: (330) 297-3475
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: www.portagecounty-oh.gov/portage-county-domestic-relations-court

Emergency Custody is the right path if…

A child faces an urgent risk to safety or wellbeing.
You need a temporary order quickly while the bigger case is decided.
You can present evidence of the danger at a hearing (required under Local Rule 11(G)).
You know whether the threat is a family/household member (which allows a DVCPO).

Filing Fees

Temporary custody/support under Local Rule 11(G) is filed within your DR case using the Uniform DR Affidavit 5 (confirm any cost with the Clerk) · a DVCPO has no filing fee and can issue ex parte the same day · the PCJFS abuse hotline is 330-296-CARE (330-296-2273). 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

Temporary custody/support under Local Rule 11(G) — Filed within your DR case — confirm any cost with the Clerk

File the Uniform DR Affidavit 5 in your Domestic Relations case. The court holds an evidentiary hearing before issuing temporary custody or support.

Uniform Domestic Relations Affidavit 5 (temporary orders) — Required under Local Rule 11(G) to request temporary custody, parenting time, or child support. The court will not issue interim orders without this affidavit and an evidentiary hearing.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.

Protection order with temporary custody (family/household member) — No filing fee for the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31)

If the danger is a family or household member, file a DVCPO petition with the Clerk — no filing fee — which can issue ex parte the same day and include temporary custody.

Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order Packet (Portage County Clerk of Courts) — The petition packet for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order against a family or household member (R.C. 3113.31). There is no filing fee for the petitioner.

How to File Emergency Custody in Portage County

Assess the danger. If a child may be abused, neglected, or dependent, call PCJFS Child & Adult Protective Services at 330-296-CARE (330-296-2273) or 911 first.
File Affidavit 5. In your Domestic Relations case, file the Uniform DR Affidavit 5 to request temporary custody or support under Local Rule 11(G).
Prepare for the hearing. Local Rule 11(G) requires an evidentiary hearing — gather documents and witnesses showing the risk to the child.
Consider a DVCPO. If the threat is a family or household member, file a DVCPO with the Clerk (no fee), which can issue ex parte the same day and include temporary custody.

Portage County Practice Notes

Local Rule 11(G) requires a hearing. Portage County's defining temporary-order rule: the Domestic Relations Court will not issue temporary custody or child support without a filed Uniform DR Affidavit 5 and an evidentiary hearing. Plan to present evidence, not just allegations.
Use a DVCPO for same-day relief. When the danger comes from a family or household member, a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (no filing fee) can be issued ex parte the same day in an emergency and can include temporary custody, which is often faster than a temporary order in the divorce.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a temporary or emergency custody order in Portage County?: Under Local Rule 11(G), the Portage County Domestic Relations Court will not issue temporary custody or child support without a filed Uniform DR Affidavit 5 and an evidentiary hearing. File Affidavit 5 in your case and be ready to present evidence of the danger or need. If the danger comes from a family or household member, a DVCPO (no filing fee) can include temporary custody and can issue ex parte the same day (R.C. 3113.31).
What do I do if a child is in immediate danger in Portage County?: If a child may be abused, neglected, or dependent, call the PCJFS Child & Adult Protective Services hotline at 330-296-CARE (330-296-2273) or 911. For protection from a family or household member, file a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order with the Clerk — there is no filing fee, and the court can issue an ex parte order the same day in an emergency.
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).

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.

Related to your emergency custody case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Grandparents' Rights — Seek visitation or custody when it serves the child's best interest.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on emergency custody and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Emergency Custody guide — Statewide overview of emergency custody in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
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