Civil Protection Orders in Vinton County

Where to File: Vinton County Court of Common Pleas (General Division)

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Vinton County Probate/Juvenile Court
100 East Main Street, McArthur, OH 45651
Phone: (740) 790-7003
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• You are a family or household member who needs protection from violence, threats, or stalking.
• You can describe the incidents with enough detail for the court to act.
• You can complete the standard DV Task Force forms and file them with the Clerk.
• You understand a DVCPO is separate from a divorce or custody case (though it can include temporary parenting/support terms).

Filing Fees

There is no filing fee for a DVCPO petitioner (R.C. 3113.31); the court may later allocate costs to the respondent · the ex parte order can issue the same or next business day · mediation is prohibited in protection-order cases. Court fees and deposits change, and Vinton County's posted cost schedule is dated 2015 — confirm the current amount with the Vinton County Clerk of Courts at (740) 596-3001 before filing. For never-married-parent and juvenile cases, confirm deposits with the Probate/Juvenile Court at (740) 790-7003.

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Vinton County

1. Get to safety. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Statewide help is available from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233).
2. Complete the forms. Fill in the Ohio DV Task Force standard petition with enough detail for the court to proceed; the Clerk provides the forms on request.
3. File with the Clerk. File the petition with the Clerk of Courts. There is no filing fee for the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31).
4. Attend the hearings. Attend the ex parte hearing (the same or next business day) and the assigned full hearing, where both sides present evidence.

Vinton County Practice Notes

• No filing fee for the petitioner, with ex parte relief the same or next business day. A DVCPO petition has no filing fee for the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31). The court can issue a temporary ex parte order the same or next business day. A full hearing is then assigned where both sides present evidence; a full order can last up to 5 years and can be renewed.
• Mediation is prohibited in protection-order cases. Under the county's mediation rules (Loc. R. 22 / Juv. R. 16), mediation is not used in protection-order proceedings and is not a substitute for a DVCPO. Violations of a protection order are criminal. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a civil protection order in Vinton County?

File a petition using the Ohio DV Task Force standard forms with the Clerk of Courts; there is no filing fee for the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31). The court can issue a temporary ex parte order the same or next business day if there is immediate danger. A full hearing is then assigned where both sides present evidence. A full order can last up to 5 years and can be renewed. Mediation is prohibited in protection-order cases. If you are in danger now, call 911.

How fast can I get an emergency order in Vinton County?

For a domestic violence civil protection order (R.C. 3113.31), the court can issue a temporary ex parte order the same or next business day if there is immediate danger. For other matters, the court acts on a Motion for Temporary Orders in the pending case. If a child or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 911.

How much does it cost to file a family law case in Vinton County?

Vinton County's posted cost schedule is dated 2015, so confirm current amounts with the Clerk before filing. As posted, the deposit is $325 for a divorce or dissolution, $200 for a new civil action, $175 for a post-decree motion or contempt, and $100 for a juvenile custody filing. A DVCPO petition has no filing fee for the petitioner (R.C. 3113.31). An Affidavit of Indigency (Civ.R. 3(E)) can waive the deposit. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (740) 596-3001.

Free Local Resources in Vinton County

• Vinton County Clerk of Courts. The Clerk (Jeremiah R. Griffith) handles filing, fees, and the docket for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and domestic-relations post-decree matters. Vinton County is paper-only — file in person or by mail at 100 East Main Street, McArthur. Confirm current deposits and packet requirements at (740) 596-3001 (clerkofcourt@vintonco.com) or https://vintoncounty.com/government/clerk-of-courts/.
• Vinton County Probate/Juvenile Court. The combined Probate/Juvenile Court (Hon. N. Robert Grillo) handles never-married parentage, custody, parenting time, and child support, plus non-parent custody and adoption. Confirm juvenile filing deposits and procedures at (740) 790-7003.
• Vinton County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). The CSEA, at 30975 Industrial Park Road, McArthur ((740) 596-2584), opens the IV-D case, sets support under Ohio's guidelines, collects by income withholding, distributes payments, and can review existing orders. Open a IV-D case whenever support is established or changed.
• Ohio Child Support Calculator. Run the official Ohio 2024 Income Shares child-support worksheet at https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/ before any case that sets or changes support.

Other Family-Law Topics in Vinton County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Vinton 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.

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