Civil Protection Orders in Shelby County

Where to File: Shelby County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Shelby County Juvenile Court
100 E. Court Street, 2nd Floor, Sidney, OH 45365
Phone: (937) 498-7255
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You need court-ordered protection from a family/household member (DVCPO) or someone stalking or harassing you (CSPO).
• You want a same-day ex parte order while a full hearing is scheduled.
• You are filing as the petitioner (no filing or service fee applies).
• The respondent is an adult (a juvenile respondent goes to the Juvenile Court).

Filing Fees

Ohio law charges the petitioner no filing or service fee for a DVCPO or CSPO · Filed with the Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division (juvenile respondent → Juvenile Court) · Standardized forms are available through the court/Clerk and Ohio Legal Help · In an emergency call 911

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Shelby County

1. Get the right forms. Use the Ohio Supreme Court standardized DVCPO or CSPO petition, available through the court/Clerk and Ohio Legal Help.
2. File with the correct court. File with the Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division (or the Juvenile Court if the respondent is a juvenile). There is no filing or service fee.
3. Attend the ex parte hearing. The court can review your petition the same day and issue a temporary order to protect you immediately.
4. Attend the full hearing. A full hearing follows within the statutory period; both sides present evidence before the court issues a longer-term protection order.

Shelby County Practice Notes

• No fee for the petitioner. Ohio law charges the petitioner no filing or service fee for a DVCPO (R.C. 3113.31) or CSPO (R.C. 2903.214). Use the Ohio Supreme Court standardized protection-order forms, available through the court/Clerk and Ohio Legal Help.
• Same-day ex parte, then a full hearing. The court usually reviews the petition the same day and can issue a temporary ex parte order to protect you immediately. A full hearing follows within the statutory period, where both sides present evidence before the court issues a longer-term order.
• Where to file depends on the respondent. A DVCPO/CSPO is filed with the Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division in Shelby County. A protection order involving a juvenile respondent is handled by the Juvenile Court instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost anything to file for a protection order in Shelby County?

No. Ohio law charges the petitioner no filing or service fee for a domestic-violence civil protection order (R.C. 3113.31) or a civil stalking protection order (R.C. 2903.214). The court can issue a temporary ex parte order the same day and then hold a full hearing for a longer-term order.

How does the protection-order process work in Shelby County?

After you file, the court usually reviews your petition the same day and can issue a temporary ex parte order to protect you immediately. A full hearing follows within the statutory period where both sides present evidence; only after that hearing does the court issue a longer-term protection order.

Where do I file a protection order in Shelby County?

A DVCPO or CSPO petition is filed with the Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, which handles civil protection orders in Shelby County. Use the Ohio Supreme Court standardized protection-order forms, available through the court/Clerk and Ohio Legal Help. In an immediate emergency, call 911.

What if the person I need protection from is a juvenile in Shelby County?

A protection order involving a juvenile respondent is handled by the Shelby County Juvenile Court rather than the Domestic Relations Division. A criminal temporary protection order (TPO) can also arise from a related criminal case in the appropriate court.

Free Local Resources in Shelby County

• Shelby County Clerk of Courts. Handles Domestic Relations filings and provides local DR forms and instructions. Filings are the original plus 4 copies (Local DR Rule 4); e-filing per General Division Local Rule 39. Call (937) 498-7221 to confirm the current cost deposit and packet requirements before filing.
• Shelby County Juvenile Court (Probate & Juvenile). Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents, plus non-parent custody. Forms by matter at shelbycoprobate.org/shelby-county-juvenile-court/; (937) 498-7255. Every juvenile filing carries a $250 deposit (Juvenile Local Rule 4).
• Catholic Social Services — Parenting Seminar. Provides the court-ordered "Shield Your Child from Conflict" parenting seminar (Local DR Rule 13) at 100 South Main Street, Suite 101, Sidney. Register by phone or in person at (937) 498-4593; fee-waiver requests go directly to Catholic Social Services.
• Shelby County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). 227 South Ohio Avenue, Sidney; (937) 498-4981 (toll-free 800-561-5548). Establishes paternity and support, modifies and enforces orders, and processes payments through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (2% administrative fee).

Other Family-Law Topics in Shelby County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Shelby County family-law 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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• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
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