Enforcing Orders by Contempt in Trumbull County

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, 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.

Filing Fees

Post-decree motion: $105 in a divorce case · $131 on the Juvenile side · $750 attorney fee presumptively reasonable when contempt is found (Local Rule 33.03(C)).

Forms & Filing Packets

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 ($105 divorce / $131 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 $750 attorney fee.

Trumbull County Practice Notes

• 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.
• $750 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 $750 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enforce a Trumbull County order if my ex won't comply?

Enforcement is by a stand-alone Motion to Show Cause / Motion for Contempt filed in the division that issued the order. Under Family Court Local Rule 33.03(C), an attorney-fee award of $750 is presumptively reasonable when contempt is found, on top of any purge conditions the court sets. The post-decree motion fee is $105 in a divorce case and $131 on the Juvenile side; the motion and notice are served on the other party, who must appear and 'show cause' why they should not be held in contempt.

How much does it cost to file in Trumbull County?

Effective May 1, 2025, the Trumbull County Family Court charges a $301 deposit for a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment complaint, and $105 for a post-decree motion in a divorce case. On the Juvenile side, a new action (parentage, custody, or support) is $186 and a post-decree juvenile motion is $131. A domestic-violence civil protection order is filed with no deposit. If you cannot afford the deposit, file a Poverty Affidavit (Affidavit of Indigency) asking the court to waive it. Confirm current amounts with the DR Clerk at (330) 675-2627 or the Juvenile Clerk at (330) 675-2375.

Do I file in the Domestic Relations or Juvenile Division in Trumbull County?

Trumbull County runs ONE combined Trumbull County Family Court at 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, with the same judges hearing both sides. The Domestic Relations Division (Clerk (330) 675-2627) handles divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody, parenting time, and support that travel with them for married or divorcing parents. The Juvenile Division (Clerk (330) 675-2375) handles paternity and custody for never-married parents, grandparent / non-parent custody, and child support outside a marriage.

What does Trumbull County CSEA do?

The Trumbull County Child Support Enforcement Agency opens IV-D cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, collects support by wage withholding, distributes it to the receiving parent, and enforces orders through license suspension, tax intercept, and contempt referrals. Reach the CSEA at 159 E. Market St., Suite 200, Warren, OH 44481, (330) 675-2732 (alternate (800) 720-2732). Paternity-establishment and IV-D questions go to the Trumbull County CSEA at (330) 675-2732.

How long does a Trumbull County case usually take?

A dissolution is heard 30–90 days after filing (R.C. 3105.64). An uncontested (default) divorce, where the other spouse won't respond, typically finishes in a few months — the defendant has 28 days to file an Answer after being served. A contested divorce usually runs 8–18 months depending on temporary-orders activity, discovery, and the assigned judge's calendar. Judges Samuel F. Bluedorn and David L. Engler hear the Family Court docket.

Free Local 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 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

• Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
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