Civil Protection Orders in Ross County

Where to File: Ross County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Ross County Court of Common Pleas, Probate/Juvenile Division
2 N. Paint Street, Suite A, Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone: (740) 774-1177
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You have been harmed or threatened by a family or household member.
• You need the court to order the abuser to stay away.
• You need emergency protection quickly, often the same day.
• You may need protection for your children as well as yourself.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for a protection-order petition · ex parte order can issue the same day · mediation prohibited (Local Rule 25.02) · Clerk (740) 702-3010 · in an emergency call 911

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Ross County

1. Call 911 if you are in danger. A civil protection order is a court process, not an emergency response — in immediate danger, call 911 first.
2. Prepare the petition. Describe the respondent (name, address, and identifying details under Local Rule 20.14) and what happened; the Clerk can only refuse it for a missing name or address.
3. File with no fee. File in the General Division through the Clerk of Courts, (740) 702-3010 — there is no filing fee.
4. Get the ex parte order. Ask the court for an emergency ex parte order, which can issue the same day to protect you until the full hearing.
5. Attend the full hearing. Present your evidence at the full hearing within the statutory window; mediation cannot be used to decide the order.

Ross County Practice Notes

• Adult DVCPO filed in the General Division (no fee). An adult domestic-violence civil protection order (R.C. 3113.31) is filed in the General Division through the Clerk of Courts (740-702-3010). There is no filing fee and an emergency ex parte order can issue the same day, followed by a full hearing (Local Rule 20.14). The building also houses the Probate/Juvenile offices — confirm the in-person intake desk with the Clerk. In an emergency, call 911.
• No separate Domestic Relations court. Divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment are heard by the General Division of the Ross County Court of Common Pleas — there is no separate Domestic Relations division. Two courtrooms preside: Courtroom 1 (Judge Michael M. Ater) and Courtroom 2 (Judge Matthew S. Schmidt), with Magistrates John DiCesare and Jennifer L. Ater. File through the Clerk of Courts, 2 N. Paint St., Suite B, Chillicothe, (740) 702-3010.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file for a protection order in Ross County?

An adult domestic-violence civil protection order (R.C. 3113.31) is filed in the General Division through the Clerk of Courts (740-702-3010). There is no filing fee, and an emergency ex parte order can issue the same day, followed by a full hearing (Local Rule 20.14). If the abuser is a juvenile, file a Juvenile CPO/DVCPO in the Juvenile Division using local forms 10.05A–E. In an emergency, call 911.

Does Ross County use mediation in family-law cases?

Yes. Under General Division Local Rule 25 the court adopts the Uniform Mediation Act and may order mediation in a domestic case, including disputes over allocation of parental rights (R.C. 3109.052). Mediation is prohibited as an alternative to prosecuting domestic violence and in deciding whether to grant, modify, terminate, or penalize a protection order. Parties generally share mediation costs equally; $50 of each DR deposit funds the county Mediation Fund.

Which court handles family-law cases in Ross County?

The General Division of the Ross County Court of Common Pleas (2 N. Paint St., Chillicothe) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The combined Probate/Juvenile Court (2 N. Paint St., Suite A) handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, under R.C. 2151.23) and adoptions (Probate). Cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts at (740) 702-3010.

Who are the family-law judges in Ross County?

The General Division has two courtrooms: Courtroom 1 — Judge Michael M. Ater, and Courtroom 2 — Judge Matthew S. Schmidt, with Magistrates John DiCesare and Jennifer L. Ater hearing many domestic matters. The combined Probate/Juvenile Court is presided over by Judge J. Jeffrey Benson.

Free Local Resources in Ross County

• Ross County Clerk of Courts (General Division / Domestic Relations). 2 N. Paint St., Suite B, Chillicothe, OH 45601; (740) 702-3010. Files all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases, posts the legal forms and the Divorce/Dissolution checklist, and confirms current deposits. Online payment via nCourt; records via eAccess. The General Division hears all DR matters — there is no separate Domestic Relations court.
• LegalAtoms — free guided divorce & dissolution prep. https://legalatoms.com/ross/ — the Clerk's free, guided tool (English and Spanish) that prepares Ross County divorce and dissolution paperwork to print and file. It does not give legal advice.
• Families in Transition (FiT) parenting class. The Child Protection Center, 138 Marietta Road, Suite E, Chillicothe; (740) 779-7431. Required within 60 days in any divorce/dissolution or custody/companionship-modification with minor children (Local Rule 20.12; Juvenile County Rule 13). Fee $25 (exact cash or PayPal); certificate valid one year. Confirm current class dates when registering.
• Ross County Probate/Juvenile Court. 2 N. Paint St., Suite A, Chillicothe; (740) 774-1177 or (740) 774-1179 (https://www.rossprobatejuvenile.com/). Judge J. Jeffrey Benson. Hears unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile) and adoptions (Probate), using local Forms 11 and 20–31.
• Ross County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 475 Western Ave, Ste. B, Chillicothe, OH 45601; (740) 773-2651 (https://jfs.ohio.gov/about/local-agencies-directory/csea-ross). Administrator Rick Reynolds. Establishes, calculates, collects, and enforces support; payments are routed through South Central Ohio Job & Family Services (SCOJFS).

Other Family-Law Topics in Ross County

• Ross County Divorce — Full filing guide with forms, the $400 deposit, and the parenting class.
• Ross County Custody — Where to file when parents are married vs. never married.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator — Run the 2024 Income Shares worksheet yourself.
• Ohio family-law resources — 88-county directory of courts and legal aid.

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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