Enforcing Orders in Portage County

Where to File: Portage County Domestic Relations Court

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

• You have a valid court order the other person is violating.
• You want the court to enforce the existing order — not change it.
• You can show specifically what the other person failed to do.
• You understand a support contempt must also be served on the CSEA.

Filing Fees

Contempt motions are filed in the Domestic Relations Court that issued the order — the motion deposit is set by the Court, so confirm the current amount with the Clerk · a support contempt must be served on the CSEA (PCJFS), (330) 297-3750. 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 Post-Decree Contempt in Portage County

1. Confirm it's an enforcement issue. Make sure you want to enforce the existing order (contempt), not change it (modification).
2. Document the violations. Gather records of missed payments or denied parenting time to show exactly what the other person failed to do.
3. File the motion to show cause. File in the Portage County Domestic Relations Court that issued the order and pay the motion deposit set by the Court.
4. Serve the CSEA if support. For a support contempt, serve the Portage County CSEA (PCJFS), (330) 297-3750, so it can document the arrears.

Portage County Practice Notes

• Contempt enforces; modification changes. Use contempt (R.C. 2705.02/2705.031) to make someone comply with an existing order. If what you really need is a different order — a new amount or schedule — file a modification instead. Filing the wrong one wastes time and money.
• Serve the CSEA on support cases. A motion to enforce a support order must be served on the Portage County CSEA (PCJFS), (330) 297-3750, which administers the order and can document the arrears before the court that issued the support hears the motion.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I use contempt in Portage County?

Use contempt to enforce an existing order — spousal support, property division, and the child support or parenting time set in your case (R.C. 2705.02/2705.031). Contempt enforces the order; to change it, file a modification instead. The motion is filed in the Domestic Relations Court that issued the order; confirm the current motion deposit with the Clerk.

Do I have to notify the CSEA for a support contempt in Portage County?

Yes. A motion to enforce a support order must be served on the Portage County CSEA (PCJFS), (330) 297-3750, which administers the order and can document the arrears. The motion is then heard by the Domestic Relations Court that issued the support order.

How do I change a child-support order in Portage County?

File a Motion for Change of Child Support under R.C. 3119.79 with a fresh Ohio worksheet and current financial disclosure in the Domestic Relations Court that issued the order, and give the Portage County CSEA a copy. Confirm the current motion deposit with the Clerk at (330) 297-3475.

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 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.

• Contempt Motions in Ohio Family Court: Enforcing Your Order — When the other parent ignores a court order — withholding the children or refusing to pay support — a contempt motion is how Ohio courts enforce it. Here's how the process works.
• Post-Decree Modifications in Ohio: Changing Your Order After Divorce — Your divorce decree isn't carved in stone. When life changes, Ohio lets you modify custody, parenting time, and support — but each requires meeting a specific legal standard. Here's how.

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• Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
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