Warren County Protection Order Attorneys

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 4, 2026

Warren County, Ohio · Lebanon

A Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (DVCPO) can order an abuser to stay away, leave the home, and surrender weapons. In Warren County there is no filing fee, and you can get an ex parte order the same day at the Domestic Relations Court, 500 Justice Drive. Bring a photo ID — the process can take up to 3 hours and CPO cases are heard until 3:00 p.m. daily.

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How do I get a protection order in Warren County, Ohio?

Go to the Warren County Domestic Relations Court at 500 Justice Drive, Lebanon, with a photo ID and file a Petition for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order under R.C. 3113.31 — there is no filing fee. You fill out the paperwork and testify before a Magistrate the same day, and the court can grant an ex parte order immediately, followed by a full hearing. A CPO protects against a family or household member, a current/former spouse, someone you lived with romantically within 5 years, or someone you dated within the last 12 months. Juvenile protection orders use WCJC Form 17.

Warren County protection orders, handled with care

A Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order can order an abuser to stay away, leave the home, and surrender weapons — and in Warren County there is no filing fee. You file in person at the Domestic Relations Court, 500 Justice Drive, with a photo ID; the process can take up to 3 hours, CPO cases are heard until 3:00 p.m. daily, and the court can grant an ex parte order the same day after you testify before a Magistrate. Gavvl Law prepares the R.C. 3113.31 petition and stands with you through the ex parte and full hearings.

A petition that supports same-day ex parte relief. The Magistrate acts the same day on your sworn testimony, so specifics matter. We help you complete the DVCPO petition (Form 10.01-D), or WCJC Form 17 when the protected person is a minor, laying out the violence, threats, or stalking with the detail the court needs to grant immediate protection.
The qualifying relationship confirmed. A CPO protects against a family or household member, a current or former spouse, someone you lived with romantically within 5 years, or someone you dated within the last 12 months. We confirm your relationship fits R.C. 3113.31 before you file so the petition isn't denied on eligibility.
Dismissal and modification rules navigated. Under DR Local Rules 3.16–3.17, dismissing an ex parte DVCPO requires the petitioner to appear in person and state the reason on the record, and modifying a full CPO takes a motion, service, and a hearing — a divorce filing is not enough. We handle those steps correctly on either side.

A CPO is civil, not criminal, though violating one is a separate crime, and Warren does not use mediation to decide CPO terms. There is no filing fee, so cost is never a barrier to safety — and if related divorce, custody, or support issues follow, we can carry them forward with payment plans and full representation as your case requires.

Flat-fee options

Flat fee: we file your DV civil protection order petition and represent you at the ex parte and full hearings — or, if you are the responding party, defend you at the full hearing.

Defend a protection order (full hearing): $2,900
File a DV protection order (petition + hearings): $3,500

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

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

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Where to File: Warren County Domestic Relations Court

500 Justice Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036
Phone: (513) 695-1344
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:30–1:00 p.m.)
Website: Court website
e-Filing: Online e-filing portal

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Warren County Juvenile Court (Probate/Juvenile Division)
900 Memorial Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036
Phone: (513) 695-1160
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

You've experienced physical violence, a threat of violence, or stalking/menacing.
The person is a family or household member, partner, or someone you dated within the last year.
You need a stay-away, no-contact, residence-exclusion, or weapons-surrender order.
You live in Warren County, the other person does, or the incident happened here.

Filing Fees

No filing fee for a Civil Protection Order · Photo ID required · Same-day ex parte order possible · CPO cases heard until 3:00 p.m. daily

Forms & Filing Packets

DVCPO petition (Domestic Relations Court) — No filing fee

Filed in person at the DR Court, 500 Justice Drive. No filing fee; bring a photo ID. CPO cases are heard until 3:00 p.m. daily.

Petition for Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (Form 10.01-D) — Asks the DR Court for a Civil Protection Order under R.C. 3113.31 against a family or household member. The court can grant ex parte protection the same day, followed by a full hearing.
Photo identification — Bring a government-issued photo ID. Plan for up to 3 hours; petitions are taken until 3:00 p.m.

Juvenile civil protection order (minor protected)

When the person to be protected is a minor, use the Juvenile Court's protection-order form.

Civil Protection Order (WCJC Form 17) — Used for juvenile civil protection orders or juvenile domestic violence civil protection orders at the Warren County Juvenile Court.

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Warren County

Go to the DR Court with a photo ID. Visit the Warren County DR Court at 500 Justice Drive. There is no filing fee. Allow up to 3 hours; petitions are taken until 3:00 p.m.
Complete the petition and proposed order. Use the R.C. 3113.31 DVCPO petition (Form 10.01-D), or WCJC Form 17 if the protected person is a minor, describing the violence, threats, or stalking.
Testify before the Magistrate the same day. The court can grant an ex parte order immediately based on your sworn testimony.
Attend the full hearing. A full hearing follows where the court can issue a final order; bring evidence and any witnesses.

Warren County Practice Notes

A CPO is civil, not criminal. A Civil Protection Order is a civil order — it can require no contact, stay-away, residence exclusion, temporary custody, and weapons surrender, but it is not a criminal conviction. Violating a CPO is a separate criminal offense, and a CPO can run alongside criminal charges.
Dismissing or modifying a Warren CPO has strict rules. Under DR Local Rules 3.16–3.17, dismissing an ex parte DVCPO requires the petitioner to personally appear and state the reason on the record, and modifying a full-hearing CPO requires a motion, service, and a hearing. A divorce decree or a filing in a divorce case is not enough to modify a DVCPO.
Mediation is not used for CPOs. Warren County does not use mediation to decide CPO terms or as an alternative to a domestic-violence prosecution, and DV screening is required before any parenting mediation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a Civil Protection Order work in Warren County, and is it the same as criminal charges?: No — a Civil Protection Order is civil, not criminal, though violating one is a separate crime. There is no filing fee. Bring a photo ID to the Domestic Relations Court at 500 Justice Drive; the process can take up to 3 hours and CPO cases are heard until 3:00 p.m. daily. You fill out the petition and testify before a Magistrate the same day, and the court can grant an ex parte order immediately. A CPO protects against a family or household member, a current/former spouse, someone you lived with in a romantic relationship within 5 years, or someone you dated within the last 12 months.
Do I file in Domestic Relations or Juvenile Court in Warren County?: Warren County splits the two courts onto different campuses. The Domestic Relations Court at 500 Justice Drive hears married-parent matters — divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, and the custody/support that travels with them. The Juvenile Court at 900 Memorial Drive hears never-married-parent matters — paternity, custody, parenting time, child support, and grandparent/non-parent custody. Under Rees v. Rees (2026-Ohio-1235, 12th Dist.), grandparent and relative visitation goes to DR when the parents are or ever were married or a parent is deceased.
How long does a Warren County case usually take?: Dissolution: the hearing is set 31–90 days after filing. Uncontested (non-contested) divorce or legal separation: the hearing is set 65 or more days after filing. Contested divorce: the Supreme Court guideline is 12 months without children and 18 months with children. Post-decree motions are heard in about 4–6 weeks. Civil Protection Orders: an ex parte order can issue the same day, with a full hearing held shortly after.
How much does it cost to file in Warren County?: Domestic Relations deposits (Clerk Breighton Smith, eff. 7/1/2025): a divorce or dissolution case is $400 with children and $300 without children; a case served by publication is $500; a married-living-apart custody/support complaint is $350; a post-decree motion is $75; and personal service by the Sheriff is $50 per party. An Affidavit of Indigency reduces the deposit to $15. Juvenile Court complaints (custody, parentage, support, visitation, shared parenting) are $160 plus $50 per additional child, and Juvenile motions are $75. Civil Protection Orders have no filing fee.

Free Local Resources in Warren County

Warren County DR Help Center & Document Center. The DR Help Center at 500 Justice Drive helps self-represented parties fill out printed Document Center forms on Tuesdays 1–3 p.m. and Thursdays 9–11 a.m. All Domestic Relations forms and case-type filing packets are posted at warrencountyohio.gov/Domestic_Relations_Court/Forms.
Warren County Probate/Juvenile Legal Help Center. Walk-in help at 900 Memorial Drive on Thursdays 8 a.m.–noon, where an attorney answers legal questions and provides filing packets regardless of financial situation (no attorney-client relationship is formed).
Warren County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Warren County's IV-D agency at (513) 695-1580, csea.warrencountyohio.gov, opens and enforces support cases, runs the Ohio Income Shares calculation, and processes payments through OCSPC.
Warren County CASA Program. More than 50 trained CASA volunteers, directed by Melissa Perduk, advocate for abused and neglected children in the child-welfare system. Details at warrencountyohio.gov/Probate_Juvenile/CASA/CASA/Index.

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.