Trumbull County Contempt & Enforcement Attorneys

Hire Gavvl for your Trumbull County contempt case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Trumbull County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start (flat fees from $1,095).

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

Hire Gavvl Law to enforce your Trumbull County order

When the other party ignores a custody, parenting-time, or support order, you enforce it in Trumbull County with a stand-alone Motion for Contempt (Form 24), also called a Motion to Show Cause, filed in the division that issued the order at the Family Court, 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren. Gavvl Law drafts the motion, presses for purge conditions and the presumptive fee award, sets one flat fee approved before filing, and gives full representation through the show-cause hearing.

• A show-cause motion, not a reopened case. You do not relitigate the whole matter — you file a Motion for Contempt (Form 24) in the issuing division, the court sets a show-cause order, and the other party must appear and explain the non-compliance. We prepare that motion so the hearing is scheduled without back-and-forth over the paperwork.
• The county's own fee rule can shift your cost. Under Trumbull County Family Court Local Rule 33.03(C), when the court finds contempt an attorney-fee award of is presumptively reasonable, and larger fees are available with proof of extra time. We document the violation so that presumptive award — plus more where warranted — is on the table.
• Purge conditions and real consequences. A party found in contempt is usually given purge conditions — pay the arrears, return property, or make up parenting time — and can face jail or a fine if they still refuse. We present the missed payments or denied time clearly, with the post-decree fee (divorce / Juvenile) built into a flat quote.

Trumbull County's Local Rule 33.03(C) makes a attorney-fee award presumptively reasonable on a contempt finding, which means the county's own rule can put the cost of enforcement on the party who broke the order rather than on you. We use that local rule to make enforcement worth pursuing.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the motion for contempt / show cause to enforce an order the other party is violating. You appear at any hearing.

• Contempt (single issue): $1,095
• Contempt (multiple issues): $1,670

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

On limited-scope services of $2,000 or more, Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan with no interest and no credit check — takes 60% down to start, then the balance in three monthly payments, the first due 28 days after your initial payment. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your contempt case or see payment plans & financing.

Real people, — with direct lines

• Stephanie Green — Managing Partner
• Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner
• Niva Elgin — Senior Case Manager · Licensed New Mexico Attorney

Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — or Niva Elgin, our senior case manager and a licensed New Mexico attorney. They've heard hundreds of situations like yours and will tell you plainly what you need, and what you don't. Meet the firm.

Your attorney

One of our Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorneys is your attorney for the case — from the first strategy call to the final order in Trumbull County. You have their name and a direct line the day your file opens. Our attorneys.

Your case team

Niva Elgin keeps your case moving as Senior Case Manager. Madeline Wampler, Certified Paralegal, handles documents and scheduling. Erin Schultz, Finance Manager, handles billing and payment plans. Real people who answer when you call.

• 95+ five-star Google reviews
• 60+ years of combined Ohio family-law experience
• Super Lawyers Rising Stars honorees on the team: Elizabeth Warren (2021–2023) and Samantha Berkhofer (2019–2021)
• Every flat fee published before you call

From first call to retained, — and every step after

1. Consultation — A 30-minute phone call, $25. You talk with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, or Niva Elgin about what's happening and what Ohio law actually does with it. Before you hang up you'll know whether you need a lawyer at all — and if you do, you leave with a written quote: the service we recommend, the price, your financing options, and your next steps.
2. Choose — Pick the level of help. Pay, or set up financing. Limited-scope flat fee or full representation — you choose, with real numbers in front of you. Pay online, or secure a Gavvl Direct payment plan or third-party financing in a few minutes. Nothing is billed until you decide.
3. Sign — Your agreement arrives by email. Review the client agreement and sign it electronically — from your phone if you like. While you do, your attorney reviews your intake.
4. Get started — Your first attorney call goes on the calendar. Limited scope: your attorney's first call is scheduled from your intake. Full representation: a paralegal reaches out the same or next business day to open your file and gather what's needed, then schedules your first attorney call — and if something is urgent, you speak with the attorney first.

It's easier than ever to retain an excellent attorney.

How you'll stay updated — you never have to wonder

Every client gets GavvLink™, our client portal, on day one. Your whole case — messages, calendar, billing, status — lives in one place, and your team is a message away.

• Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
• Case calendar with reminders. Every hearing, deadline, and milestone, with a reminder before each one.
• Case status updates. See where your case stands and what happens next, updated as it moves.
• Payments and billing in real time. Every entry on your account as it posts, plus links to make a payment or add funds.
• Your case team, one message away. Full-representation clients message their paralegal and case manager the same way — and they answer.
• 24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

Can I do this without an attorney?

sometimes, yes. Ohio lets you represent yourself, and for a genuinely agreed dissolution or a simple motion, some people do. The Trumbull County forms and local rules are linked in the questions below, and our free tools will draft a parenting plan or estimate child support before you spend anything.

Here's what the online-divorce platforms leave out: most Ohio counties require their own forms and language on top of the statewide ones, and a rejected filing is the most common reason people call us after trying it alone. A $25, 30-minute call tells you whether you can do this yourself — and if you can, we'll say so.

• Free parenting plan builder
• Free child support estimate
• Attorney-written guides
• See the Trumbull County forms & local rules

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

Where to File: Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations (Trumbull County Family Court)

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Department (Trumbull County Family Court)
220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, OH 44481
Phone: (330) 675-2375
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

• There is a clear court order and the other party is not complying with it.
• You've documented the missed support, denied parenting time, or other violation.
• You want the court to compel compliance and possibly award your attorney fees.
• Negotiation or a CSEA review hasn't fixed the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which forms do I need to file for contempt in Trumbull County?

Stand-alone Motion for Contempt (Show Cause)

Filed in the division that issued the order. The motion and a notice of hearing are served on the other party, who must appear and show cause.

• Motion for Contempt and Affidavit (Ohio uniform Form 24) — A stand-alone motion asking the court to enforce a prior order and hold the other party in contempt for not complying.
• Motion to Waive or Defer Filing Fee & Proposed Order (Trumbull County local form) — Trumbull County Family Court's local motion to waive or defer the post-decree filing fee if you cannot afford it.
• Request for Appointed Counsel with Affidavit of Indigency (Trumbull County DR local form) — Because contempt can carry jail time, an indigent party facing contempt can ask the Trumbull County Family Court to appoint counsel using this local form.

How to file post-decree contempt in Trumbull County

1. Confirm the order and the violation. Make sure there's a clear, final order and document exactly how the other party violated it (missed payments, denied parenting time, etc.).
2. File the Motion for Contempt. File Form 24 (Motion to Show Cause) in the division that issued the order and pay the post-decree fee (divorce / Juvenile).
3. Serve the show-cause order. The court issues a show-cause order; it and the motion are served on the other party with a hearing date.
4. Attend the hearing. Present your evidence. If contempt is found, the court sets purge conditions and can award the presumptive attorney fee.

What does post-decree contempt cost in Trumbull County?

Two numbers matter. The court's filing fee, which the Clerk sets and can confirm. And the attorney work: Our published flat fees from $1,095 cover drafting and filing the paperwork (limited scope — the court's filing fee is invoiced separately), with payment plans available. Prefer full representation? An attorney can carry the whole case on a retainer — every number is published in the pricing section above.

What forms do I need for post-decree contempt in Trumbull County?

It depends on your situation — children, temporary orders, and which court you file in all change the packet. Answer the quick questions in the paperwork section above and your exact Trumbull County checklist appears, with every official form linked as a PDF.

How long does post-decree contempt take in Trumbull County?

It depends on how much you and the other side agree. Agreed matters generally move through Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations (Trumbull County Family Court) in months, not years; contested cases take longer. The part you control is filing a complete, correct packet the first time — bounced paperwork is the most common self-filing delay.

Do we really need lawyers if we agree?

Maybe not — and we'll say so at a $25 consultation. But an agreement only counts if it survives on paper, in the exact packet Trumbull County's court expects, and what you file becomes a binding court order that is hard to fix later. Precision drafting for people who already agree is most of what our flat-fee work is: done once, done right.

Where are the Trumbull County local rules, and what does this court do differently?

Judges, magistrates, and filing fees change, so we do not publish them here. Trumbull County posts the current information itself:

• Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations (Trumbull County Family Court) — local rules, standing orders, and the current judges and magistrates.
• Trumbull County Clerk of Courts — current filing fees and deposits, e-filing, and case records.

• Contempt is a stand-alone motion. You don't reopen the whole case — you file a Motion for Contempt (Motion to Show Cause) in the division that issued the order. The court issues a show-cause order and the other party must appear and explain the non-compliance.
• attorney fee is presumptively reasonable. Under Trumbull County Family Court Local Rule 33.03(C), when the court finds contempt, an attorney-fee award of is presumptively reasonable. Larger fees can be awarded with proof of additional time.
• Purge conditions and sanctions. A party found in contempt is usually given purge conditions — pay the arrears, return property, or make up parenting time. If they still don't comply, the court can impose jail time or a fine.

Are there free legal resources in Trumbull County?

• Trumbull County Family Court. Local forms, local rules, the Parenting and Companionship Guidelines, and filing information for divorce, dissolution, custody, support, and protection orders at www.co.trumbull.oh.us/family-court. DR Clerk (330) 675-2627; Juvenile Clerk (330) 675-2375. Court staff cannot give legal advice or help complete forms.
• Trumbull County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Trumbull County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders at 159 E. Market St., Suite 200, Warren, OH 44481, (330) 675-2732. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator. The state's official 2024 Income Shares worksheet at ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov. Run it, print, and sign it before any hearing that sets or changes support.
• Someplace Safe — Domestic Violence Services. Trumbull County's domestic-violence program runs a 24-hour crisis hotline at (330) 393-3005 with emergency shelter, safety planning, and court advocacy for civil protection orders.

Other Family-Law Topics in Trumbull County

• Trumbull County Divorce — Full filing guide for contested divorce in the Trumbull County Family Court, Domestic Relations Division.
• Trumbull County Dissolution — The no-fault, agreement-first path — Form 17 petition, separation agreement, and the 30–90 day hearing.
• Trumbull County Custody — Married parents file inside divorce; never-married parents file in the Juvenile Division.

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.

Keep exploring Trumbull County family law

• Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
• Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
• Trumbull County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Trumbull County guide.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.