Enforcing Orders Through Contempt in Seneca County

Where to File: Seneca County Court of Common Pleas - Domestic Relations Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Seneca County Juvenile & Probate Court
103 East Market Street, Tiffin, OH 44883, Tiffin, OH 44883
Phone: (419) 447-4912
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

• The other party is violating a clear, existing court order.
• You can identify the exact provision being violated (parenting time, support, or property terms).
• Informal efforts to get compliance have failed.
• You want the court to order compliance and possibly impose penalties.

Filing Fees

$350 Domestic Relations post-decree motion · $163 per case/child Juvenile contempt citation · a contempt finding can include costs and attorney fees · confirm amounts with the Clerk (419) 447-0671 or Juvenile Court (419) 447-4912

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Seneca County

1. Pinpoint the violation. Identify the exact order provision being violated — parenting time, child support, or a property/conduct term — and gather proof.
2. Draft a compliant motion. State the specific basis and include a Notice of Rights, a brief in support, and a supporting affidavit that identifies the order by date and paragraph and attaches a copy (Local DR Rule 8).
3. File with the deposit. File in the existing case — a $350 post-decree motion in Domestic Relations or a $163 per case/child citation in Juvenile Court.
4. Serve and prepare. Ensure the other party is properly served and organize your evidence of each violation by date.
5. Attend the hearing. Ask the court to order compliance and, where appropriate, costs and attorney fees; purge conditions may let the other party avoid penalties by complying.

Seneca County Practice Notes

• Local Rule 8 sets strict motion requirements. A contempt motion is commenced with a Motion stating the specific basis, a Notice of Rights, a brief in support, supporting affidavits, a Request for Service, and the filing fee (Local DR Rule 8; Juvenile Local Rule 7.05). The affidavit must identify the violated order by filing date and paragraph and attach a copy; support contempts state the delinquency amount and medical contempts the unpaid amounts.
• You can't self-help by withholding parenting time. A parent may not withhold parenting time because the other parent disobeyed another order — including nonpayment of support (Juvenile Local Rule 7.05). Bring proof of the violation: pay records, a parenting-time log, or messages.
• Mediation can't substitute for a protection-order violation. Mediation is prohibited as an alternative to prosecuting or adjudicating domestic violence and for granting, modifying, terminating, or penalizing a protection order (Local DR Rule 2.07).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file for contempt to enforce an order in Seneca County?

A contempt motion must state the specific basis and include a Notice of Rights, a brief in support, supporting affidavit(s), a Request for Service, and the filing fee (Local DR Rule 8; Juvenile Local Rule 7.05). The affidavit must identify the violated order by filing date and paragraph and attach a copy; support contempts state the delinquency amount. The deposit is $350 for a post-decree motion in Domestic Relations or $163 per case/child for a Juvenile contempt citation. A parent may not withhold parenting time because the other parent disobeyed another order.

How much does it cost to file a Domestic Relations case in Seneca County?

Under the Clerk's fee schedule (effective Aug. 4, 2021): $450 to file a divorce, legal separation, or dissolution; $250 for a counterclaim; $350 for post-decree motions; $1,000 for a Guardian ad Litem deposit if a GAL is requested; $50 for a consent judgment entry; and $100 per party for mediation. A protection order (DVCPO/CSPO) has no filing fee. Indigent filers may file a Motion to File Without Payment of Costs with an affidavit of indigence. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (419) 447-0671.

What are the Juvenile Court filing fees in Seneca County?

Under Appendix A to the Juvenile Local Rules (effective Feb. 1, 2026): a new civil or paternity case is $178 per case/child; a custody, support, shared-parenting, parenting-time, or tax-exemption modification in an existing case is $163 per case/child; a contempt citation is $163 per case/child; the Guardian ad Litem deposit is $1,500; and a home-investigation deposit is $1,000. Confirm current amounts with the Juvenile Court at (419) 447-4912.

Which court handles my family case in Seneca County?

Married parents — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody/support inside those cases, plus civil protection orders — go to the Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division at the Seneca County Justice Center, 103 E. Market St., Tiffin, heard by Judge Steve C. Shuff or Judge Damon D. Alt and their magistrates. Unmarried parents (parentage, custody, parenting time, support), abuse/neglect/dependency, and delinquency go to the Juvenile Court; adoptions go to the Probate Court — Juvenile and Probate are a combined court under Judge Jay A. Meyer at the same address ((419) 447-4912 Juvenile / (419) 447-3121 Probate).

Free Local Resources in Seneca County

• Seneca County Clerk of Courts. Processes Domestic Relations filings and provides current deposits, local forms, and filing instructions. Legal Department, 103 E. Market Street, Suite 101, Tiffin, OH 44883 · (419) 447-0671 · fax (419) 443-7919 · https://senecacountyclerk.org/ (online Court Case Inquiry, eFile, and payments). Confirm deposits and packet requirements before filing.
• Seneca County Domestic Relations Forms. Official Domestic Relations packets and forms for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, post-decree motions, and protection orders. https://senecaohcourts.gov/divisions/domestic-relations-forms/ · Local Rules: https://senecaohcourts.gov/additional-resources/#rules
• Seneca County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Seneca County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. 900 E. CR 20, Tiffin, OH 44883 · (419) 447-5011. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.
• Seneca County Victim's Assistance Program. Helps prepare DVCPO and Civil Stalking protection-order petitions and connects petitioners with a victim advocate. 79 S. Washington Street, Tiffin, OH 44883 · (419) 448-5070. First Step Domestic Violence Shelter: (419) 435-7300. Emergencies: 911.

Other Family-Law Topics in Seneca County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Seneca County family law attorney for help with your case.

Related to your contempt case

• Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
• Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
• Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Related guides

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

• Contempt Motions in Ohio Family Court: Enforcing Your Order — When the other parent ignores a court order — withholding the children or refusing to pay support — a contempt motion is how Ohio courts enforce it. Here's how the process works.
• Post-Decree Modifications in Ohio: Changing Your Order After Divorce — Your divorce decree isn't carved in stone. When life changes, Ohio lets you modify custody, parenting time, and support — but each requires meeting a specific legal standard. Here's how.

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