Civil Protection Orders in Ohio: How to Get Safe

Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day

• Ohio Domestic Violence Network: 1-800-934-9840
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (TTY 1-800-787-3224)
• For sexual violence (Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence): 1-844-644-6435

You can leave this page fast. If you are worried someone is watching what you do online, close this tab and clear your browser history when you are done.

What is a civil protection order?

A civil protection order is an order signed by a judge. It tells a person to stop doing things that are hurting you or putting you in danger. People sometimes call it a "CPO." Depending on your situation, a judge can order the other person to stop hurting or threatening you, stay away from you, your home, your job, or your kids' school, stop contacting you, move out of a home you share, turn in their firearms, follow temporary rules about your children, and stay away from your pets. A judge can order this protection for up to five years. You do not need a criminal case, a police report, or a conviction to ask for a civil protection order.

Is this the same as a "restraining order"?

In Ohio courts they are different. A restraining order is part of another case, like a divorce, and usually stops one side from doing something while that case is going on — breaking it is not a crime. A protection order stands on its own and is built to keep you safe from abuse, threats, or violence — breaking it is a crime, and the person can be arrested for it.

Which protection order fits my situation?

Ohio has four kinds of civil protection orders. The right one depends on your relationship to the person hurting you, the kind of harm you are experiencing, and how old that person is.

1. Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order — protects you from a family or household member, such as a current or former spouse, someone you live with or used to live with, someone you share a child with, a parent or child, or certain other relatives.
2. Dating Violence Civil Protection Order — a newer order for people in a dating relationship who do not live together; the relationship usually needs to have happened within the past year.
3. Civil Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order — available no matter your relationship to the other person, for victims of stalking (menacing by stalking — a pattern of two or more connected incidents) or a sexual offense.
4. Juvenile Civil Protection Order — fits when the person hurting or threatening you is under 18 years old; these cases are handled in the county's juvenile court.

You do not need the other person to be charged, arrested, or convicted to ask for any of these civil orders.

Who can a protection order protect?

A protection order can protect you. It can also protect your children or other family or household members if they are in danger too. For the stalking and sexual-offense orders, you can ask to add other people, but you will need to show the court that the same person also harmed or involved them.

What does a protection order cost?

There is no cost to file for a protection order in Ohio. You do not pay a filing fee or court costs to ask for one. If the judge grants the order, the court can make the other person pay the costs. You also do not need a lawyer to file, but a lawyer can help — and some survivors can get help for free.

How do you get a protection order? Step by step

1. Reach out for help first. Talk with a domestic violence advocate or a lawyer to make a safety plan, understand the risks, and fill out the forms.
2. Fill out the petition. Describe what happened and what you are afraid of, and include every important event — the court may limit your case to what you wrote down.
3. File at the courthouse. File where you live, where the other person lives, or where the harm happened, usually in person at the Clerk's office; call ahead and ask about any extra local forms.
4. Go to the emergency ("ex parte") hearing. On the day you file or the next day, the court may hold a short hearing where you talk to the judge without the other person present, and decide whether to grant an emergency order that starts right away.
5. Make sure the other person is "served." A sheriff usually delivers the papers in person; your full hearing cannot go forward until service is done.
6. Go to the full hearing. Usually within about 7 to 10 business days, the other person can attend and tell their side; you will testify and show evidence to explain why you need protection.
7. Get your order and keep copies. Keep a copy with you in case you need to call the police, and give copies to your child's school, your workplace, or local law enforcement.

Filing details vary by county. See our local county court guides for protection orders in Franklin County (Columbus), Hamilton County (Cincinnati), Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Montgomery County (Dayton), and Summit County (Akron).

Be careful before you agree to anything

Sometimes the other side will offer a deal instead of having a full hearing. You do not have to accept any agreement you do not understand or are not comfortable with. Watch for a "mutual stay-away order" against both people, which can put you at legal risk, and being asked to drop your protection order and sign a different agreement instead. Before you sign anything like this, talk to a lawyer.

How long does it last? Can I renew it?

A civil protection order can last up to five years. You can ask to renew it, but you have to take action before it expires. The expiration date is printed on the first page of your order, so mark it down.

What if the other person breaks the order?

Breaking a protection order is a crime. If the other person violates the order, you can call the police — officers can arrest the person for violating the order; a prosecutor can file criminal charges that may lead to fines, probation, or jail; and you can ask the court that issued the order to hold the person in contempt of court. The contempt step can be complicated, so talk to a lawyer or advocate first.

Will my order work in other states?

Yes. A valid Ohio protection order is meant to be honored and enforced in other states too, under a federal law called "full faith and credit." That means your protection can travel with you if you move or travel.

How is this different from a criminal protection order?

Civil protection orders are not the only kind in Ohio — some orders come from a criminal case instead. A Domestic Violence Temporary Protection Order is asked for inside a criminal domestic violence case when the person charged is a family or household member. A Criminal Protection Order can apply in a criminal case for things like assault, stalking, or a sexual offense when you are not family or household members. Both usually end when the criminal case ends. A "10G" order is a no-contact order a criminal court can issue after a conviction; it can last for the person's whole probation period and a 10G does not always cover children, so some survivors still get a civil order to protect their kids. If you have a criminal case and a civil case at the same time, talk to a lawyer before filing.

Firearms

Some protection orders trigger a federal law that bars the other person from having guns while the order is in effect. The court is required to warn them about these firearm rules. If firearms are a worry in your situation, tell your advocate or lawyer — it is an important safety detail.

Keeping your address private

If you are afraid the other person will find you, you may be able to keep your home address private. Ohio has an Address Confidentiality Program (sometimes called "Safe at Home") that gives qualifying survivors a substitute address to use. You can also ask the court to keep your address confidential in your case papers. Ask an advocate how to enroll.

When you should definitely talk to a lawyer

A protection order can be the right step, but in some situations it can get complicated or even risky. Please reach out for legal advice if the other person is especially dangerous (for example, they have seriously hurt you, threatened to kill you, strangled or "choked" you, harmed pets, or have weapons), if children or custody are involved, if you already have another case going on like a divorce or custody case, if there is a criminal case about the same events, or if you are an immigrant.

An honest word about safety

A protection order is a powerful tool, but it is still a piece of paper. It cannot guarantee your safety, and asking for one can sometimes increase risk for a short time. That is not a reason to feel hopeless — it is a reason to plan. An advocate can help you build a safety plan that fits your life.

How Gavvl Law can help

At Gavvl Law, we help families across all 88 Ohio counties with protection orders and the family law issues that often come with them, like custody and divorce. We can help as much or as little as you need — full representation where we handle your case and stand beside you in court, or limited-scope help with just one part, like preparing your petition, getting ready for your hearing, or representing you at the hearing.

Get help and support

• Ohio Domestic Violence Network — 24-hour statewide hotline: 1-800-934-9840 — odvn.org
• National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1-800-799-7233 (TTY 1-800-787-3224) — thehotline.org
• Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence — hotline: 1-844-644-6435 — oaesv.org
• Local domestic violence and rape crisis programs — many offer free advocacy, safety planning, court support, and sometimes free legal help.
• In an emergency, always call 911.

For more educational videos, visit the Ohio Domestic Violence Network on YouTube.

This page is general legal information, not legal advice. Ohio laws and local court rules can change, and every situation is different. For advice about your specific case, please talk with a lawyer.

Protection Order Video Explainers

These short videos from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network explain civil protection orders and safety planning in plain language.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to get a protection order?

No. You can file on your own, and there is no filing fee. But a lawyer can help, especially if children, another court case, or a criminal case is involved.

Do I need a police report or criminal case first?

No. A civil protection order is its own process. You do not need charges or a conviction against the other person.

How fast can I get protection?

Sometimes the same day. On the day you file, a judge may grant an emergency ("ex parte") order that starts right away, until your full hearing.

What if we have children together?

A judge can include temporary rules about custody and parenting time in a protection order. Because this can get complicated, it is a good idea to talk to a lawyer.

Can I cancel the order later if I change my mind?

It is not as simple as just calling it off. Once a court issues a protection order, you cannot simply cancel or waive it on your own — the court is involved. Talk to a lawyer or advocate about your options.

What's the difference between a restraining order and a protection order?

A restraining order is part of another case, like a divorce, and breaking it is not a crime. A protection order stands alone to keep you safe, and breaking it is a crime.