Protection Orders in Putnam County

Where to File: Putnam County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Putnam County Juvenile & Probate Court
245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875
Phone: (419) 523-3012
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You've been threatened, harmed, or stalked and need legal protection.
• The abuser is a family or household member (domestic-violence CPO) or someone else (stalking order).
• You need an order quickly, including a possible same-day ex parte order.
• You want protection regardless of whether you file for divorce or custody.

Filing Fees

A domestic-violence Civil Protection Order has no filing fee for the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31) · the free Pro Se Clinic at (419) 523-6200 (with Legal Aid of Western Ohio) can help · in immediate danger call 911

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Putnam County

1. Get the statewide forms. Use the Ohio Supreme Court protection-order forms (petition, ex parte order, full order). The free Pro Se Clinic at (419) 523-6200 can help you complete them.
2. File at the Court of Common Pleas. File the petition through the Clerk of Courts, 245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, (419) 523-3110. There is no filing fee for a domestic-violence CPO.
3. Ask for an ex parte order if in danger. If an affidavit shows an immediate risk of harm, ask for a same-day ex parte order. In a true emergency, call 911 first.
4. Attend the full hearing. A full hearing follows in about 7–10 days, where both sides are heard. A final order can last up to five years.

Putnam County Practice Notes

• No fee, and same-day relief when danger is immediate. A domestic-violence Civil Protection Order (R.C. 3113.31) costs nothing to file. The court can issue a temporary ex parte order the same day if an affidavit shows an immediate risk of harm; a full hearing follows in about 7–10 days, and a final order can last up to five years. A protection order stands on its own, separate from any divorce or custody case.
• Two related orders, two statutes. A domestic-violence CPO (R.C. 3113.31) protects against a family or household member. A civil stalking protection order (R.C. 2903.214) protects against someone who is not — based on menacing-by-stalking conduct. If the respondent is under 18, the case is heard in the Juvenile/Probate Court at (419) 523-3012.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. A domestic-violence Civil Protection Order under R.C. 3113.31 carries no filing fee for the petitioner — ever. Putnam County uses the statewide Ohio Supreme Court protection-order forms (petition, ex parte order, full order). The free Pro Se Clinic at (419) 523-6200 can help you prepare.

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

The court can issue a temporary ex parte protection order the same day if an affidavit shows an immediate risk of harm. A full hearing follows in about 7–10 days, where both sides are heard, and a final order can last up to five years. A protection order stands on its own, separate from any divorce or custody case.

What is a civil stalking protection order in Putnam County?

A civil stalking protection order (R.C. 2903.214) protects you from someone who is not a family or household member — for example, an acquaintance, neighbor, or ex you never lived with — based on menacing-by-stalking conduct. Like a domestic-violence CPO, it can include an ex parte order followed by a full hearing. If the respondent is under 18, the case is heard in the Juvenile/Probate Court at (419) 523-3012.

Is there free help for filing family-law cases in Putnam County?

Yes. Putnam County runs a free Pro Se Clinic — an instructional session on divorce, dissolution, and custody, offered with Legal Aid of Western Ohio. It's educational (not legal representation), and you can schedule it at (419) 523-6200. Protection orders cost nothing to file, the CSEA's paternity services are free, and a poverty affidavit can waive court deposits if you qualify.

Free Local Resources in Putnam County

• Putnam County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations). Provides current filing fees, the county's Domestic Relations forms, and filing instructions for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment. File in person or by mail at 245 E. Main Street, Ottawa, OH 45875, or by fax/email (20 pages or fewer; $3 per transmission plus $1 per page) to (419) 523-5284 / cpefile@putnamcountyohio.gov. Call (419) 523-3110.
• Putnam County Juvenile & Probate Court. Handles custody, parentage, and parenting time for never-married parents, non-parent custody, children-services cases, and adoption. Confirm its local forms and filing fees at (419) 523-3012.
• Putnam County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Establishes paternity with free genetic testing, sets and reviews support administratively, and enforces orders by wage withholding. Payments run through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (2% processing fee). Call 567-376-3780.
• Putnam County Pro Se Clinic (with Legal Aid of Western Ohio). A free instructional session on divorce, dissolution, and custody — educational, not legal representation. Schedule it at (419) 523-6200.
• Putnam County Job & Family Services. Report concerns about a child's safety at 567-376-3777. In an immediate emergency, call 911.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official 2024 Income Shares worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.

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.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Civil Protection Orders guide — Statewide overview of civil protection orders in Ohio.
• Toledo family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Toledo metro.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.