Civil Protection Orders in Scioto County

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

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Scioto County Juvenile Court
602 7th St #201, Portsmouth, OH 45662, Portsmouth, OH 45662
Phone: (740) 355-8306
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM)

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• A family or household member has physically harmed, attempted to harm, or threatened you.
• You need an immediate, enforceable no-contact or stay-away order.
• You want protection terms that can include temporary custody and removal from the home.
• You're seeking protection, not primarily a custody ruling (though a CPO can include temporary custody).

Filing Fees

No court cost or filing fee for a DVCPO (DR Rule 7.02(B)) · filed in the Domestic Relations Division · ex parte hearing the same day · full hearing about 7–10 days later · juvenile CPO (R.C. 2151.34) handled by the Juvenile Division.

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Scioto County

1. Confirm the relationship. A DVCPO under R.C. 3113.31 applies to a family or household member; if the respondent is under 18, the Juvenile Division handles a juvenile CPO (R.C. 2151.34).
2. Complete the petition. Fill out the Petition for a DV Civil Protection Order (Form 10.01-D), describing the most recent and most serious incidents in detail.
3. File in the DR Division — no fee. File in the Scioto County Domestic Relations Division (DR Rule 7.02); there is no court cost or filing fee.
4. Attend the same-day ex parte review. The court reviews your petition ex parte the day you file and can issue an immediate temporary order.
5. Return for the full hearing. A full hearing is set within about 7–10 days, where both sides are heard before a longer-term order is issued.

Scioto County Practice Notes

• Same-day ex parte review, no filing fee. A DVCPO under R.C. 3113.31 is filed in the Scioto County Domestic Relations Division (DR Rule 7.02) and reviewed ex parte the same day, with a full hearing set shortly afterward. There is no court cost or filing fee (DR Rule 7.02(B)). Bring a detailed account of the most recent and most serious incidents.
• A CPO is different from a Mutual Restraining Order. The Mutual Restraining Order issued automatically in a divorce (DR Rule 2.02) only protects assets and bars harassment — it is not physical protection. A DVCPO is a separate, enforceable order against violence and can include no-contact, stay-away, residence-exclusion, temporary custody, and weapons-surrender terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Same day for the ex parte order. A Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order under R.C. 3113.31 is filed in the Scioto County Domestic Relations Division (DR Rule 7.02) and heard ex parte the day you file, with a full hearing set shortly afterward. There is no court cost or filing fee (DR Rule 7.02(B)). Use the Ohio Supreme Court DV forms (10.01-D petition and 10.01-H order). Where the respondent is under 18, a juvenile civil protection order (R.C. 2151.34) is handled by the Juvenile Division (Juv. Local Rule 13).

Can I get an emergency custody order in Scioto County?

Only in a genuine emergency. In the Domestic Relations Division, DR Rule 7.09 lets you ask for an emergency ex parte order on a showing of extreme emergency, and the moving party must be available for immediate examination under oath. In the Juvenile Division, an emergency custody request is reviewed promptly under that court's rules. If the danger is domestic violence, file a Civil Protection Order under R.C. 3113.31, which is heard ex parte the same day it is filed and carries no filing fee.

Does Scioto County have a separate Domestic Relations court?

Yes. Scioto County has a standalone Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas at 602 7th St, Room 303, Portsmouth, before Judge Jerry L. Buckler and Magistrate Robert M. Johnson, (740) 355-8316. The DR Division hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, parentage under R.C. 3111, custody and support for both married and unmarried parents, post-decree matters, and domestic-violence civil protection orders. The Juvenile Division shares concurrent jurisdiction over unmarried custody, parentage, and support cases.

Free Local Resources in Scioto County

• Scioto County Clerk of Courts — Legal Division. Provides the current Clerk fee schedule (rev. 1/1/2024), local forms, and filing instructions for divorce, dissolution, and custody cases. Visit https://sciotoclerk.com/legal-division/ before filing to confirm deposits and accepted payment methods.
• Scioto County Domestic Relations Division. The standalone DR court (Judge Jerry L. Buckler; Magistrate Robert M. Johnson) at 602 7th St, Room 303, Portsmouth, (740) 355-8316 (fax (740) 355-8205). Hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, parentage, custody, and support, and distributes the DR packets and local forms. Hours Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM). https://sciotocountydrcourt.com
• Scioto County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Scioto County's IV-D agency at 710 Court Street, Portsmouth, opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Confirm the agency's current direct phone. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.
• "Successful Co-Parenting" Parenting Class — OSU Extension. The court-approved 3-hour parenting-education seminar for parents with minor children, taken online at https://scponline.osu.edu (registered via DR Form 11). Complete it within 60 days and file the Certificate of Attendance before the final hearing (DR Rule 6.02).

Other Family-Law Topics in Scioto County

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

Keep exploring

• Ohio Civil Protection Orders guide — Statewide overview of civil protection orders in Ohio.
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