Civil Protection Orders in Preble County

Where to File: Preble County Court of Common Pleas — General Division (Domestic Relations)

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Preble County Juvenile & Probate Court
101 East Main Street, 2nd Floor, Eaton, OH 45320
Phone: (937) 456-8136
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed national holidays)

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You're a family or household member who has been abused or threatened.
• You need immediate, enforceable protection from the other person.
• You want a no-contact order and possibly exclusive use of the home.
• You may need temporary parenting time or support included in the order.
• For a dating relationship that isn't 'family or household,' you may need a civil stalking protection order instead.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for a domestic-violence CPO petitioner · filed on paper with the Preble County Clerk of Courts, 101 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Eaton, (937) 456-8160 · ex parte review the same day/promptly; full hearing generally within 7–10 court days (R.C. 3113.31); order up to five years · in an emergency call 911

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Preble County

1. Get the petition forms. Use the Supreme Court of Ohio domestic-violence protection-order forms (Petition Form 10.01-D and related).
2. File on paper with the Clerk. File the petition on paper with the Preble County Clerk of Courts, 101 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Eaton — there is no filing fee for the petitioner.
3. Attend the ex parte review. The court reviews the petition the same day or promptly and can issue a temporary ex parte CPO, then schedules the full hearing.
4. Attend the full hearing. Both sides give sworn testimony; the court can issue a final CPO with no-contact and other protections for up to five years. In an emergency, call 911.

Preble County Practice Notes

• Paper-filed CPOs and the ex parte / full-hearing timeline. CPO petitions are an exception to Preble County's mandatory e-filing and are accepted on paper with the Clerk of Courts. When the petition shows an immediate danger, the court reviews it the same day (or promptly) and can issue a temporary ex parte order, then sets a full hearing generally within 7–10 court days (R.C. 3113.31). At the full hearing both sides give sworn testimony, and a final CPO can last up to five years. Preble County's posted materials don't set a county-specific ex parte cutoff beyond the statute — confirm same-day filing cutoffs with the Clerk at (937) 456-8160.
• A CPO is a separate case; help is available. A CPO is a separate civil case from any divorce or custody case; parenting/support terms in a CPO can be superseded by later orders in a domestic-relations or juvenile case. A separate civil stalking/sexually-oriented-offense protection order (R.C. 2903.214) is available for people who are not family or household members. Help with a petition may be available through the Preble County Prosecutor's Office Victim Witness Division — ask the Clerk. In an emergency, call 911.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost anything to get a protection order in Preble County?

No. There is no filing fee for a petitioner seeking a domestic-violence Civil Protection Order under R.C. 3113.31. CPO petitions are filed with the Preble County Clerk of Courts, 101 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Eaton, (937) 456-8160, and are accepted on paper (an exception to the county's mandatory e-filing). Help may be available through the Preble County Prosecutor's Office Victim Witness Division. In an emergency, call 911.

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

When the petition shows an immediate danger, the court reviews it the same day (or promptly) and can issue a temporary ex parte CPO and schedule a full hearing, which R.C. 3113.31 generally sets within 7–10 court days. At the full hearing both sides give sworn testimony and the court may issue a CPO valid for up to five years. Preble County's posted materials do not set a county-specific ex parte cutoff beyond the statute — confirm same-day filing cutoffs and hearing scheduling with the Clerk at (937) 456-8160.

Can I file by mail or fax in Preble County?

E-filing is required for all civil, criminal, dissolution, and divorce filings through the Preble County Clerk of Courts e-Filing system (https://pa.preblecountyohio.net/eservices/). Paper filings are accepted only for pro se (self-represented) filers, garnishments, Court of Appeals filings, and civil protection orders. Pro se filers bring the original plus 4 copies of each document and the deposit to the Clerk's Office at 101 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Eaton. Proposed orders must be uploaded as Word documents with a 2-inch signature space. Confirm details with the Clerk at (937) 456-8160.

Can I get emergency or temporary custody in Preble County?

Yes. While a divorce, legal separation, annulment, or post-decree case is pending, the Common Pleas General Division can issue temporary and ex parte orders. Under Local Rule DR 12, if both parents still live in the marital residence the ex parte order keeps things 'business as usual' with each parent a residential parent; if the parents already live apart, the ex parte order gives residential-parent status to whoever had actual physical custody before filing. An affidavit is required. Temporary support, parenting time, debts, and spousal support are set under DR 13–16, and a substantial emergency can be set for a prompt hearing under DR 24. For child abuse, neglect, or dependency, the Juvenile Court handles emergency cases.

Does Preble County have a separate divorce (Domestic Relations) court?

Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard in the Preble County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (the Domestic Relations docket), before Judge Stephen R. Bruns with Magistrate Erica J. Gordon, on the 3rd floor of the Preble County Courthouse, 101 East Main Street, Eaton, OH 45320. File with the Clerk of Courts (Shonda Haynes) at (937) 456-8160. Custody and support for never-married parents are handled by the separate Juvenile & Probate Court on the 2nd floor at (937) 456-8136.

Free Local Resources in Preble County

• Preble County Court of Common Pleas (Domestic Relations). Local forms, the Model Parenting Time Schedule, the Standard Parenting Time Order, and filing information for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, custody, support, and protection orders at https://preblecountyohio.net. E-filing is required (pro se filers may file on paper); the Clerk of Courts (Shonda Haynes, (937) 456-8160) handles intake at 101 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Eaton. Court staff cannot give legal advice or complete forms.
• Preble County Juvenile & Probate Court. Handles never-married-parent parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support, plus non-parent custody, at 101 East Main Street, 2nd Floor, Eaton (Hon. Jenifer K. Overmyer; Magistrate K. Brent Copeland). Juvenile Court (937) 456-8136; Probate Court (937) 456-8137. Website https://prebleohiojuvenileprobate.org. Confirm current deposits and genetic-testing costs with the court.
• Preble County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Opens IV-D cases, establishes paternity administratively, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, collects support by wage withholding, and enforces orders. Located at 1500 Park Avenue, Eaton, OH 45320; phone (937) 456-1499. Support payments run through the Ohio Child Support Payment Central.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.
• Child abuse / neglect hotline. Report suspected child abuse or neglect to Preble County Job & Family Services — Children Services at 1500 Park Avenue, Eaton: 24-hour hotline (937) 456-1135, Option 1. Statewide hotline 1-855-642-4453 (1-855-O-H-CHILD), 24/7. In an emergency, call 911.

Other Family-Law Topics in Preble County

• Preble County Divorce — Full filing guide for divorce in the Preble County Court of Common Pleas.
• Preble County Custody — Married parents file inside divorce; never-married parents file in the Juvenile Court.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Preble 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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