Civil Protection Orders in Summit County

Summit County, Ohio · Akron

A Civil Protection Order (CPO) under R.C. 3113.31 is the fastest legal protection Ohio offers a family or household member from abuse. In Summit County, CPO petitions are filed at the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division at 205 South High Street in downtown Akron. There is no filing fee, the court can grant ex parte protection the same day, and a full hearing typically follows within 7-10 court days.

How do I file a Civil Protection Order in Summit County, Ohio?

File a Petition for Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (Supreme Court Form 10.01-D) at the Summit County Domestic Relations Court, 205 South High Street, Akron. There is no filing fee. The court reviews the petition ex parte the same day; if the facts show present and immediate danger, a judge issues an Ex Parte CPO that takes effect the moment the respondent is served by the Sheriff. A full hearing is scheduled within 7 court days (10 if the order excludes the respondent from a shared home), where the respondent can respond. A final CPO can last up to five years and is renewable.

Civil Protection Orders in Ohio: How a DVCPO Works

A Gavvl Law attorney explains how a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order works in Ohio — who qualifies, how same-day ex parte protection is granted, what happens at the full hearing, and how long a final order lasts.

Watch the video explainer on YouTube

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

205 South High Street, Akron, OH 44308, Akron, OH 44308
Phone: (330) 643-2365
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Website: drcourt.org
e-Filing: https://drcourt.org/wp/forms/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Summit County Juvenile Court
650 Dan Street, Akron, OH 44310, Akron, OH 44310
Phone: (330) 643-2900
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

  • You and the respondent are family or household members: spouse / ex / co-parent / intimate partner / blood relative / current or former cohabitant.
  • The respondent has caused, attempted, or threatened serious physical harm, or committed stalking, sexual assault, or menacing.
  • You need immediate court protection — stay-away, no-contact, residence exclusion, temporary custody, or surrender of weapons.
  • You can describe specific incidents with dates and details in a sworn petition.

If the person who harmed you is NOT a family or household member (a stranger, neighbor, or co-worker), you may need a Stalking Protection Order under R.C. 2903.214 in the General Division instead. Not sure which order fits? Take the quiz →

Filing Fees

No filing fee · No-cost domestic-violence advocates available in Summit County

Forms & Filing Packets

Ex parte CPO packet (same-day relief) — No filing fee for CPO petitions

  • Petition for Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (Form 10.01-D) — Asks the Summit County Domestic Relations Court for a Civil Protection Order under R.C. 3113.31. Filed against a family or household member (spouse, ex, co-parent, intimate partner, blood relative, or current/former cohabitant). The court can grant ex parte protection the same day, with a full hearing typically within 7-10 court days.
  • Ex Parte Civil Protection Order (Form 10.01-H) — The proposed ex parte order you bring to the same-day review. Drafted to include no-contact, stay-away, residence-exclusion, temporary custody, and surrender-of-weapons terms as needed.
  • Copy of your driver's license or state ID — Front and back. Helps the Clerk and Sheriff serve the respondent at the correct address.

Full-hearing CPO packet (no immediate danger) — No filing fee for CPO petitions

Add: Children-related CPO terms

When the parties have children together, the CPO can address temporary custody, parenting time, child support, and surrender of weapons.

  • Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Form 10.01-I) — Filed with a CPO petition when the parties share children, so the Summit DR Court can address temporary custody and parenting time. Lists each child's 5-year address history to confirm Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.

Final-hearing option: Consent Agreement

If both parties agree at the full hearing, the court can enter a Consent Agreement CPO that lasts up to five years without findings on the abuse allegations.

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Summit County

  1. Confirm the relationship qualifies under R.C. 3113.31. Spouse, ex, co-parent, intimate partner, blood relative, or current/former cohabitant. If it doesn't qualify, a Stalking Protection Order under R.C. 2903.214 in the General Division may apply instead.
  2. Write specific facts in the petition. Dates, locations, what happened, witnesses, prior threats. Attach photos, texts, medical records, and police reports — anything that corroborates. Vague allegations get denied ex parte.
  3. File at 205 South High Street and request same-day ex parte review. No filing fee. Bring the petition, your ID, and any supporting documents to the 1st-floor Clerk's Office. A Judge (not a Magistrate) hears CPO petitions.
  4. Wait for Sheriff service and the full hearing. If ex parte relief is granted, the respondent is served by the Summit County Sheriff and the order is in effect immediately. The full hearing follows within 7-10 court days.
  5. Attend the full hearing prepared. Bring all witnesses, exhibits, and documentation. The court can issue a final CPO for up to five years, dismiss the petition, or enter a Consent Agreement CPO if both parties agree.

Summit County Practice Notes

  • Two floors, one building. The Summit DR Court splits hearings across floors — Magistrate hearings on the 3rd floor, Judge hearings on the 4th. CPO petitions are heard by a Judge. The Clerk's Office is on the 1st floor and opens at 7:30 a.m. Everyone clears a metal detector, so arrive early.
  • Ex parte criteria. A judge grants ex parte relief only on a finding of present and immediate danger of domestic violence. The petition — and any in-person testimony at the same-day review — must show specific, recent facts, not general fear.
  • Full hearing within 7-10 court days. If the ex parte order is granted, the full hearing is set within 7 court days (10 if a residence exclusion is involved). If ex parte relief is denied, you can still proceed to the full hearing, where the standard is preponderance of the evidence.
  • Free advocates. Summit County partners with domestic-violence advocacy services that can help you complete the petition and prepare for hearings at no cost. Ask the Clerk for the on-site advocate when you file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file a Civil Protection Order in Summit County?
File the Petition for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order at the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, 205 South High Street, Akron, OH 44308. There is no filing fee for a CPO. The Clerk's Office is on the 1st floor and opens at 7:30 a.m. — earlier than the rest of the court. Ask for the same-day ex parte review when you file.
How fast can a Summit County CPO take effect?
If your sworn petition shows present and immediate danger of domestic violence, a Summit DR judge can sign an Ex Parte CPO the same day you file. It becomes effective the moment the respondent is served by the Sheriff. A full hearing is then set within 7 court days (10 if the order excludes the respondent from a shared residence), where the respondent can appear and respond.
How long does a final Summit County CPO last?
A final Civil Protection Order in Summit County can last up to five years and is renewable. The court can include no-contact, stay-away, residence-exclusion, temporary custody, parenting-time, support, and surrender-of-weapons terms. Violating a CPO is a separate criminal offense, so Akron police and the Summit County Sheriff can arrest on a violation.
Do I qualify for a CPO, or do I need a different order?
A Civil Protection Order under R.C. 3113.31 is for family or household members: a spouse or ex-spouse, a co-parent, an intimate partner, a blood relative, or a current or former cohabitant. If the person who harmed or threatened you is a stranger, acquaintance, neighbor, or co-worker, you instead seek a Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order under R.C. 2903.214, which is filed in the General Division, not the DR Court.
What are the filing fees, and what if I can't afford them?
There is no filing fee for a Civil Protection Order. For a non-parent custody case in Juvenile Court, expect a standard filing deposit of roughly $100-$150. If you cannot afford it, file the Financial Disclosure / Affidavit of Indigency to ask the court to waive the fee, or the Application for a Fee Payment Plan to pay in installments.

Free Local Resources in Summit County

  • Summit Free Legal Clinic at Open M. Court-hosted community clinic in Akron offering free legal advice for self-represented parties.
  • Summit County DR Court. drcourt.org — CPO forms, Local Rules, judge bios, and the parenting-class LMS. Clerk's Office (1st floor) opens at 7:30 a.m.
  • Summit County Juvenile Court. juvenilecourt.summitoh.net · (330) 643-2900. Custody, visitation, support, and Grandparent Power of Attorney forms at 650 Dan Street.
  • Summit County CSEA (Child Support Enforcement Agency). Opens IV-D cases and collects/distributes child support through wage withholding once a support order is in place.
  • Victim Assistance Program of Summit County. Free advocates who help domestic-violence survivors complete CPO petitions and prepare for hearings.

Other Family-Law Topics in Summit County

Related to your cpo 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.

Keep exploring

Call +1-844-694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.