Enforcing Orders by Contempt in Tuscarawas County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 15, 2026

Tuscarawas County, Ohio · New Philadelphia

When the other party disobeys a court order — withholding the children, ignoring the parenting-time schedule, or not paying support — you can ask the court to hold them in contempt. File in the division that issued the order: the General Division's Motion to Show Cause for Contempt (deposit $145) for divorce/dissolution orders, or the Juvenile Division's Motion for Contempt for never-married-parent orders.

How do I enforce a court order by contempt in Tuscarawas County?

File a contempt motion in the court that issued the order. In the General Division, file the Motion to Show Cause for Contempt (deposit $145); in the Juvenile Division, file the Motion for Contempt (Local Rule 6.2 forms accompany a reopening motion). The court sets a hearing and can order the disobeying party to comply, pay your attorney's fees, or face jail or a fine until they comply. For support enforcement, the CSEA can also act through wage withholding, license suspension, tax intercept, and credit reporting. Bring proof of the order and the violations to the hearing.

Where to File: Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

125 E High Ave, New Philadelphia, OH 44663
Phone: (330) 364-8811
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the Clerk at (330) 365-3243 to confirm current hours)
Website: www.co.tuscarawas.oh.us/government/court_of_common_pleas_court_general_division/index.php
e-Filing: https://eservices.tuscarawasohcourts.com/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division
125 E High Ave, New Philadelphia, OH 44663
Phone: (330) 365-3244
Hours: Monday–Friday (call the court to confirm current hours)

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other party is disobeying a current court order.
You have a custody, parenting-time, or support order to enforce.
You can document the specific violations.
You are filing in the court that issued the order.
Negotiation or mediation has not resolved the problem.

Filing Fees

General Division Motion to Show Cause for Contempt: $145 deposit · Juvenile Motion for Contempt: deposit set by that division — confirm with the Clerk · Support can also be enforced by the CSEA (800-685-2732).

Forms & Filing Packets

Contempt in the General Division (married/divorced) — $145 deposit

File the Motion to Show Cause for Contempt to enforce a divorce/dissolution order.

Motion to Show Cause for Contempt (Tuscarawas General Division) — Asks the court to hold a party in contempt for disobeying a General Division order. Deposit $145.

Contempt in the Juvenile Division (never-married)

File the Juvenile Motion for Contempt; a reopening motion includes the Local Rule 6.2 forms.

Motion for Contempt — Tuscarawas Juvenile — Ask the Juvenile Court to find a party in contempt for failing to obey its orders.
Affidavit of Basic Information, Income, and Expenses (Ohio SC; Local Rule 6.2) — Ohio Supreme Court standardized affidavit required with every initial Juvenile filing and every reopening motion under Local Rule 6.2.
Confidential Information Page (Local Rule 6.2) — Required with every initial Juvenile filing and every reopening motion under Local Rule 6.2.

Time-sensitive enforcement

Add a Request for Expedited Hearing in the Juvenile Division when the matter cannot wait.

Request for Expedited Hearing — Tuscarawas Juvenile — Ask for a faster setting when the matter is time-sensitive, including emergency custody.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Tuscarawas County

Confirm the order and violations. Identify the exact order being violated and gather proof of each violation.
Pick the right court. File the General Division Motion to Show Cause (divorce/dissolution) or the Juvenile Motion for Contempt (never-married).
File and serve. File the motion and pay the deposit (Juvenile cases add the Local Rule 6.2 forms), then serve the other party.
Attend the hearing. Present your evidence; the court can order compliance, fees, or a purgeable jail/fine sanction.

Tuscarawas County Practice Notes

File where the order was issued. Contempt is filed in the court with continuing jurisdiction: the General Division for divorce/dissolution orders (Motion to Show Cause, $145), the Juvenile Division for never-married-parent orders (Motion for Contempt with Local Rule 6.2 forms).
Document the violations. Bring the order and clear proof of each violation — dates, missed exchanges, payment records. The court can order compliance, award attorney's fees, and impose jail or a fine that the party can purge by complying.
CSEA enforces support too. For unpaid support, the CSEA can enforce through wage withholding, license suspension, federal tax intercept, and credit reporting in addition to a court contempt finding.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enforce a court order by contempt in Tuscarawas County?: File the Motion to Show Cause for Contempt in the General Division (deposit $145) for a divorce/dissolution order, or the Juvenile Motion for Contempt for a never-married-parent order. The court can order compliance, award attorney's fees, and impose a purgeable jail or fine sanction.
Do I file in the General Division or the Juvenile Division in Tuscarawas County?: If you are married to (or were married to) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided in the General Division as part of your divorce or dissolution. If you were never married, paternity and custody are handled by the Juvenile Division. Grandparent and other non-parent custody requests are always filed in the Juvenile Division.
Who collects and enforces child support in Tuscarawas County?: The Tuscarawas County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), administered by the Prosecutor's Office (Director Traci A. Berry), opens IV-D cases, collects by wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. The CSEA line is 800-685-2732.

Free Local Resources in Tuscarawas County

Tuscarawas County Clerk of Courts (General Division). Clerk Wendy D. Jones, Suite 230, PO Box 628, New Philadelphia, OH 44663. Accepts filings in person, by mail, by email (clerkfiling@co.tuscarawas.oh.us, $0.25/page service copies), by e-file (eservices.tuscarawasohcourts.com), or by fax (330-343-4682). Call (330) 365-3243 to confirm deposits and packet requirements before filing.
Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. Hears divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and adult DVCPO/CSPO cases at 125 E High Ave, New Philadelphia; (330) 364-8811. DR forms are county-local packets provided via the County Bar Association and SEOLS. How-to videos at youtube.com/@TuscarawasCountyCourts.
Tuscarawas County Juvenile Division. Judge Adam W. Wilgus. Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents, plus grandparent visitation and non-parent custody. Local Rule 6.2 requires the Affidavit of Basic Information and a Confidential Information Page with initial filings.
Tuscarawas County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Administered by the Prosecutor's Office (Director Traci A. Berry). Opens IV-D support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. CSEA line: 800-685-2732.
Protection orders — SEOLS & Prosecutor's Office. Standardized DVCPO/CSPO petition forms and self-help guidance are available through Southeastern Ohio Legal Services / Ohio Legal Help. For local help, contact the Tuscarawas County Prosecutor's Office at (330) 365-3214. There is no filing fee; call 911 in an emergency.

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.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
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