Enforcing an Order in Preble County

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

Preble County, Ohio · Eaton

When the other parent ignores a court order — withholding parenting time, not paying support, or refusing to divide property — you can ask the court to enforce it through contempt. You file a motion for contempt with a show-cause request in the court that issued the order, and the court can require the violator to comply, pay your attorney fees, or face penalties.

How do I file a contempt motion in Preble County, Ohio?

File a Motion for Contempt with a supporting affidavit and a show-cause request (Ohio uniform Forms 24/25) in the court that issued the order — the Court of Common Pleas General Division ((937) 456-8160) or the Juvenile Court ((937) 456-8136). The court sets a hearing and can order the violator to comply (purge the contempt), pay your attorney fees, or face penalties under R.C. 2705.02 and 2705.031. For unpaid child support, the Preble County CSEA ((937) 456-1499) also enforces orders through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals. A magistrate may hear the motion; objections are due within 14 days.

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

101 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Eaton, OH 45320
Phone: (937) 456-8160
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: preblecountyohio.net
e-Filing: https://pa.preblecountyohio.net/eservices/

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)

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

You have a court order the other party is violating.
The other parent is withholding parenting time you're entitled to.
Child support, spousal support, or property terms aren't being paid or honored.
You want the court to compel compliance and possibly award attorney fees.
Informal efforts to resolve the violation haven't worked.

Filing Fees

File the contempt/show-cause motion (Forms 24/25) in the court that issued the order — Common Pleas ((937) 456-8160) or Juvenile Court ((937) 456-8136) · confirm the current deposit with that court · the CSEA ((937) 456-1499) also enforces support · penalties under R.C. 2705.02 / 2705.031

Forms & Filing Packets

Contempt for parenting time or property/decree terms — Confirm the motion deposit with the issuing court

File the Motion for Contempt with affidavit and a show-cause request (Forms 24/25) in the issuing court; the court orders the other party to appear and explain why they should not be held in contempt.

Preble County Model Parenting Time Schedule (effective Nov. 1, 2019) — The Domestic Relations Court's detailed, age-banded guideline parenting-time schedule. Posted under download forms at preblecountyohio.net; it guides companionship time when parents do not file their own agreed plan.

Contempt for unpaid child support — Confirm the motion deposit with the issuing court · CSEA (937) 456-1499

File the contempt motion in the issuing court and also work with the Preble County CSEA, which enforces support through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals.

Motion for Change of Child Support (Ohio SC Form 28) — The Ohio uniform motion to change child support, medical support, or the tax exemption after a change of circumstances. File in the division that issued the order.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time the court sets or changes support.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Preble County

Document the violation. Gather proof — missed exchanges, a support payment history, or unmet decree terms — and identify the exact order provision being violated.
File the contempt and show-cause motion. File the Motion for Contempt with affidavit and the show-cause request (Forms 24/25) in the court that issued the order.
Serve and use the CSEA for support. Serve the other party; for unpaid support, also work with the Preble County CSEA ((937) 456-1499), which has additional enforcement tools.
Attend the hearing. The court can order compliance (purge), attorney fees, or penalties; objections to a magistrate's decision are due within 14 days.

Preble County Practice Notes

Preble County CSEA and child-support payments. The Preble County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), 1500 Park Avenue, Eaton, OH 45320, (937) 456-1499, opens IV-D cases, can establish paternity administratively (with genetic testing if needed), runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, and enforces orders. Support payments run through the Ohio Child Support Payment Central. Contact the CSEA for payment details.
Magistrates and 14-day objections. Domestic Relations matters may be heard by Magistrate Erica J. Gordon, and Juvenile/Probate matters by Magistrate K. Brent Copeland. A party may file written objections to a magistrate's decision within 14 days (Civ.R. 53 / Juv.R. 40).
Two separate courts: Common Pleas (Domestic Relations) and Juvenile. Preble County runs two separate family-law courts in the Preble County Courthouse, 101 East Main Street, Eaton. The Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Domestic Relations) on the 3rd floor (Hon. Stephen R. Bruns, Magistrate Erica J. Gordon, Clerk of Courts Shonda Haynes, (937) 456-8160) handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment — plus the custody, parenting time, and support that travel with them for married or divorcing parents. The separate Juvenile & Probate Court on the 2nd floor (Hon. Jenifer K. Overmyer, Magistrate K. Brent Copeland, Juvenile (937) 456-8136) handles paternity, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents, and non-parent custody.

Frequently Asked Questions

The other parent isn't following our order — what can I do in Preble County?: File a Motion for Contempt with affidavit and a show-cause request (Ohio uniform Forms 24/25) in the court that issued the order; the court sets a hearing and can order the violator to comply (purge), pay attorney fees, or face penalties (R.C. 2705.02, 2705.031). Child-support enforcement also runs through the Preble County CSEA at (937) 456-1499. A magistrate may hear the motion, and objections to a magistrate's decision are due within 14 days.
What does the Preble County CSEA do?: The Preble County Child Support Enforcement Agency opens IV-D cases, can establish paternity administratively (with genetic testing if needed), runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, collects support by automatic wage withholding, distributes it, and enforces orders. Reach the CSEA at 1500 Park Avenue, Eaton, OH 45320, (937) 456-1499. Support payments run through the Ohio Child Support Payment Central.
How do I change a custody, support, or parenting-time order in Preble County?: File a post-decree motion in the same court that issued the order — the Court of Common Pleas General Division ((937) 456-8160) for divorce/dissolution/legal-separation cases, or the Juvenile Court ((937) 456-8136) for never-married-parent cases. Use the Ohio uniform motions (Form 26 to change parenting time, Form 27 to change custody — which requires a change in circumstances plus a best-interest finding under R.C. 3109.04(E), and Form 28 to change child support). The Court may also order the Seminar for Separating Parents with a post-decree custody or parenting-time motion.
Do I file in Common Pleas or the Juvenile Court in Preble County?: If you are married to (or were married to) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment in the Court of Common Pleas, General Division ((937) 456-8160). If you were never married, parentage, custody, parenting time, and support are handled by the separate Preble County Juvenile & Probate Court (Hon. Jenifer K. Overmyer; Magistrate K. Brent Copeland), (937) 456-8136. Grandparent and other non-parent custody requests are filed in the Juvenile Court.
What is the standard parenting-time schedule in Preble County?: The Domestic Relations Court encourages parents to agree on their own plan. If they don't, the court's age-banded Model Parenting Time Schedule (effective November 1, 2019) guides companionship time, and the court enters its Standard Parenting Time Order. Both are posted at preblecountyohio.net under download forms. The court sets or modifies a schedule on the child's best interest (R.C. 3109.04).

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.

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.

Keep exploring

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