Emergency & Temporary Custody in Richland County

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

Richland County, Ohio · Mansfield

While a divorce, dissolution, or custody case is pending, the Richland County Domestic Relations Court can issue temporary orders for parenting, support, and use of the home. In urgent situations, the court can issue an ex parte (emergency) custody order without first hearing from the other side — these are temporary, not a final custody decision.

How do I get an emergency custody order in Richland County, Ohio?

For temporary orders, file a Proposal for Temporary Orders (Form 04.00) with a current Financial Affidavit (Form 05.00); the statewide Affidavit 5 is the standard temporary-orders motion. For an emergency (ex parte) custody request, file the motion with a supporting affidavit showing the child faces an immediate risk of harm, using the DR Court's Ex Parte Custody pleadings checklist. The court may issue an order the same day and set a prompt follow-up hearing so the other parent can be heard. Temporary orders are governed by Civ.R. 75 and last until the final decree.

Ohio Custody by the Numbers

Best interest The single standard that governs every Ohio custody decision Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04
No set age There is no age a child can choose a parent — the judge weighs a mature child's wishes Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(B)
Change in circumstances Required, plus a best-interest finding, before the residential parent can be changed Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(E)(1)
Shared parenting Either parent may ask the court for a joint parenting plan Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(G)

Compare Types of Custody in Ohio

Custody type	Who makes major decisions	Where the child lives	Best when
Shared parenting	Both parents jointly, under a written plan	Time is split per the plan (not always 50/50)	Parents can communicate and cooperate on decisions
Sole legal & residential	One parent	Primarily with that parent	One parent is unable or unwilling to co-parent
Split custody	Each parent for the child in their care	Siblings are divided between the two homes	Rare — only when it serves each child's best interest
Legal custody to a non-parent	The relative or caregiver granted custody	With the non-parent caregiver	Neither parent can safely care for the child

Where to File: Richland County Domestic Relations Court

50 Park Ave. East, Third Floor, Mansfield, OH 44902-1861
Phone: (419) 774-5573
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: www.richlandcountyoh.gov/departments/domesticrelations

Emergency Custody is the right path if…

A child faces an immediate risk of harm and you need an order now.
You need a temporary parenting schedule, support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending.
You have (or are opening) a DR case where the order can be entered.
You can submit an affidavit showing the urgency or the need for interim orders.

Filing Fees

Temporary-order motions are generally filed within the pending case · confirm any motion deposit with the Clerk of Courts at (419) 774-3526 · fee waiver via Form 01.00

Forms & Filing Packets

Emergency (ex parte) custody — Confirm any motion deposit with the Clerk

File the motion with a supporting affidavit showing immediate risk, using the Ex Parte Custody checklist; the court may issue a same-day order and set a prompt follow-up hearing.

Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (Richland Form 06.00) — Required in any case with minor children — lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years to confirm Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
Ex Parte Custody pleadings checklist — The DR Court's emergency-custody packet checklist — follow it so a timely follow-up hearing is set.

Standard temporary orders — Filed within the pending case (confirm any deposit)

File a Proposal for Temporary Orders (Form 04.00) with a current Financial Affidavit (Form 05.00); the statewide Affidavit 5 is the standard temporary-orders motion.

Proposal for Temporary Orders (Richland Form 04.00) — Requests interim parenting, support, and use-of-home orders while the case is pending. File with a current Financial Affidavit (Form 05.00).
Financial Affidavit (Richland Form 05.00) — Richland uses its own local Financial Affidavit for income, expenses, and assets — confirm via the matching pleadings checklist whether the local form or the SCOO affidavit is wanted.
Motion for Temporary Orders (Civ. R. 75(N)) — Asks the court for temporary custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or exclusive use of the home while the case is pending. Tip: Attach a current Financial Affidavit (Affidavit 1) and Affidavit 2 (Property).

How to File Emergency Custody in Richland County

Assess the urgency. Decide whether the child faces immediate danger (ex parte) or whether you need standard temporary orders while the case is pending.
Prepare the affidavit. Write a supporting affidavit — for an emergency, describe the immediate risk; for temporary orders, complete the Financial Affidavit (Form 05.00).
Use the right packet. File the Ex Parte Custody checklist for an emergency, or the Proposal for Temporary Orders (Form 04.00) for standard interim relief.
Attend the follow-up hearing. If an ex parte order issues, appear at the prompt follow-up hearing where the other parent can respond.

Richland County Practice Notes

Ex parte orders are temporary and trigger a prompt hearing. An ex parte custody order can issue same-day on a sufficient showing of immediate risk, but it is temporary — the court sets a prompt follow-up hearing so the other parent can be heard. Follow Richland's dedicated Ex Parte Custody pleadings checklist so the packet is complete and the hearing is set on time.
Civ.R. 75 governs temporary orders. Standard temporary orders are decided after the other side can respond and remain in effect until modified or replaced by the final decree (Civ.R. 75 and local rule). File the Proposal for Temporary Orders (Form 04.00) with the Financial Affidavit (Form 05.00).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get temporary support or a temporary parenting schedule during my case?: File a Proposal for Temporary Orders (Richland Form 04.00) with a current Financial Affidavit (Form 05.00); the statewide Affidavit 5 is the standard temporary-orders motion/affidavit. Temporary orders are governed by Civ.R. 75 and remain in effect until modified or replaced by the final decree. For an emergency (ex parte) custody request, follow the DR Court's Ex Parte Custody pleadings checklist.
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.
Will a Guardian ad Litem be appointed in my Richland County custody case?: The DR Court can appoint a Guardian ad Litem to represent the child's best interest in a contested custody or parenting matter, consistent with Ohio Sup.R. 48. The court also has local tools that often accompany contested custody work — Request for Home Investigation (Form 08.00), Order for Custody Evaluation (Form 22.00), Order for Psychological Evaluation (Form 23.00), and Order for Drug Testing (Form 25.00). Confirm the current GAL deposit and appointment process with the DR Court (419-774-5573).
How much does it cost to file in the Richland County DR Court?: Published DR cash deposits include $450 for a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, paternity, or allocation-of-parental-rights complaint; $200 for a counterclaim; $300 for a reallocation, parenting-time, contempt, or other post-decree motion; $250 each to register a foreign decree or support order; $125 for a motion to compel; $50 for a process server; and $20 for a Notice of Intent to Relocate. A DVCPO has no filing fee. These are deposits against costs, not the total cost of a case — confirm the current schedule with the Clerk. If you can't afford the deposit, file the fee-waiver Application (Form 01.00). Pay through the Clerk or PayGov, not a third-party app.

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).

Related to your emergency custody case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Grandparents' Rights — Seek visitation or custody when it serves the child's best interest.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on emergency custody and related Ohio family law topics.

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.
Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
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.

Keep exploring

Ohio Emergency Custody guide — Statewide overview of emergency custody in Ohio.
Medina family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Medina metro.
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