Civil Protection Orders in Richland County

Where to File: Richland County Domestic Relations Court

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You need protection from a family or household member who harmed or threatened you.
• You can describe the abuse and the protection you need in a petition.
• You may need a same-day ex parte order because of immediate danger.
• The person is a spouse, ex-spouse, co-parent, or someone you live or lived with (otherwise use a CSPO).

Filing Fees

No filing fee for a DVCPO (R.C. 3113.31) · a Civil Stalking Protection Order is filed in the General Division (R.C. 2903.214) · confirm any local packet requirements with the DR Court at (419) 774-5573

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Richland County

1. Confirm the relationship. A DVCPO is for a family or household member; if the person isn't, file a Civil Stalking Protection Order in the General Division instead.
2. File the petition. File the statewide DV protection-order petition in the Richland County Domestic Relations Court in Mansfield — there is no filing fee.
3. Seek a same-day ex parte order. If you show immediate danger, ask the court to issue an ex parte (temporary) order the same day.
4. Attend the full hearing. Appear at the full hearing within about 7-10 days, where the court decides whether to issue a final order lasting up to five years.

Richland County Practice Notes

• Same-day ex parte; full hearing within ~7-10 days; up to 5 years. On a showing of immediate danger, the DR Court can issue an ex parte (temporary) order the same day. A full hearing typically follows within about 7-10 days so the respondent can appear, and a final DVCPO can last up to five years. Mediation is not used to decide or set the terms of a protection order (Local Rule 23). The statewide Supreme Court DV petition and order forms are used; confirm any local packet with the court.
• DVCPO vs. CSPO — get the division right. A DVCPO (family/household member, R.C. 3113.31) is filed in the Domestic Relations Court. A Civil Stalking Protection Order (non-household, R.C. 2903.214) is filed in the General Division — see https://www.richlandcourtsoh.us/stalking.php. They are different statutes and different clerk intakes. Protection-order records are not viewable on the public CourtView portal (18 U.S.C. 2265(d)(3)).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost anything to get a domestic-violence protection order in Richland County?

No — there is no filing fee for the person seeking a DVCPO (R.C. 3113.31). It is filed in the Domestic Relations Court. The court can issue an ex parte (temporary) order the same day if you show immediate danger; a full hearing typically follows within about 7-10 days, and a final order can last up to five years. Mediation is not used to set protection-order terms (Local Rule 23).

Where do I file if the person isn't a family or household member?

A Civil Stalking Protection Order (R.C. 2903.214) is filed in the General Division of Common Pleas, not the Domestic Relations Court — see https://www.richlandcourtsoh.us/stalking.php. It is a different statute and a different clerk's intake from a DVCPO.

Which court hears family-law cases in Richland County, Ohio?

Almost all of them go to the Richland County Domestic Relations Court (Judge Beth Owens; Chief Magistrate Brian Kellogg) at 50 Park Ave. East, Third Floor, Mansfield, (419) 774-5573. The DR Court hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, civil domestic-violence (DVCPO), parentage/paternity, allocation of parental rights (custody), parenting time, non-parent custody, and all post-decree matters — even for never-married parents. The separate Juvenile Court handles only abuse/neglect/dependency (CPS), delinquency, unruly, and truancy. A Civil Stalking Protection Order (non-household) is filed in the General Division, not the DR Court.

Can I e-file my case in Richland County?

Yes. All civil case types have been e-filable since June 1, 2023, through the Clerk of Courts' CourtView eAccess portal. E-filing is accessed through the Clerk of Courts office. Pay deposits through the Clerk or PayGov — the Clerk warns filers not to use third-party payment apps.

Free Local Resources in Richland County

• Richland County Clerk of Courts. Handles filing and e-filing for the Common Pleas Court, including Domestic Relations. Clerk Heidi Ewing · (419) 774-3526 · https://www.richlandcourtsoh.us/clerkHome.php. All civil case types e-file through the Clerk's CourtView eAccess portal (available since June 1, 2023); online payments run through PayGov on the Clerk's ePayments page. Confirm current deposits and packet requirements before filing.
• Richland County DR Court Forms, Fees & Local Rules. Official Domestic Relations forms, fee schedule, pleadings checklists, and the 2026 Local Rules. Forms: https://www.richlandcountyoh.gov/departments/domesticrelations/domesticforms · Fees: https://www.richlandcountyoh.gov/departments/domesticrelations/courtfees · Pleadings checklists: https://www.richlandcountyoh.gov/departments/domesticrelations/procedureinformationlinks · Self-represented help: https://www.richlandcountyoh.gov/departments/domesticrelations/proceedingwithoutanattorney.
• Richland County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Richland County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. CSEA scheduling at the DR Court: Rhiannon Wright · (419) 774-5692. File a Title IV-D Application (JFS-07076) when establishing or modifying support.
• Legal Aid & Ohio Legal Help. Free and low-cost legal information for Richland County residents who cannot afford an attorney. Legal Aid: https://www.richlandcourtsoh.us/legalAid.php · Ohio Legal Help: https://www.richlandcourtsoh.us/legalHelp.php. If you can't afford the filing deposit, ask the Clerk about an Affidavit of Indigency (fee waiver) under Ohio Civil Rule 3(E).

Other Family-Law Topics in Richland County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Richland 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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