Enforcing Orders in Wayne County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Wayne County, Ohio · Wooster

A court order only helps if it's followed. When the other party willfully ignores a custody, parenting-time, or support order, you can file a Motion for Contempt and ask the Wayne County court to enforce it. File in the court that issued the order — the Domestic Relations Division or the Probate and Juvenile Court. Contempt is coercive: the court can set purge conditions that let the violator avoid the penalty by complying.

How do I enforce a court order in Wayne County, Ohio?

File a Motion for Contempt (Form 24) with the show-cause order (Form 25) in the court that issued the order — the Domestic Relations Division for a divorce or dissolution order, or the Probate and Juvenile Court for a never-married-parent order. State exactly what was violated and attach the Affidavit for Specific Facts (Form 32). The court issues an order requiring the other party to appear and show cause why they should not be held in contempt; that order must be served. Civil contempt is coercive — the court can set purge conditions (pay the arrears, restore missed parenting time) that suspend the penalty if met, and remedies can include fines, jail, make-up parenting time, and attorney fees.

Where to File: Wayne County Court of Common Pleas, General & Domestic Relations Divisions

107 W. Liberty Street, Wooster, OH 44691
Phone: (330) 287-5590
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Website: www.waynecourtofcommonpleas.org
e-Filing: https://www.wayneclerkofcourts.org

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Wayne County Probate and Juvenile Court
107 W. Liberty Street, 2nd Floor, Wooster, OH 44691
Phone: (330) 287-5561
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

The other party is willfully violating an existing court order.
Child support, spousal support, or a property term is not being paid.
Court-ordered parenting time is being withheld.
You have already tried to resolve it and the violation continues.
You can show the specific order and how it was violated.

If you instead need to change the order going forward, file a modification. See modifications in Wayne County.

Filing Fees

File in the court that issued the order · Re-open a closed Domestic Relations case $85 · Fee waiver via Form 47 + Form 38 · The show-cause order must be served on the other party · Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (330) 287-5590

Forms & Filing Packets

Contempt of a Domestic Relations order

Enforce a divorce or dissolution order at the Domestic Relations Division.

Motion for Contempt and Affidavit (Ohio SC Form 24) — Asks the court to hold the other party in contempt for willfully violating an order.
Order and Notice of Hearing on Contempt (Ohio SC Form 25) — The order to appear and show cause, served with the contempt motion.
Affidavit for Specific Facts in Support of Motion (Wayne Form 32) — Sworn statement of the facts supporting an emergency or post-decree motion.

Contempt of a Juvenile order

Enforce a never-married-parent custody, parenting-time, or support order at the Probate and Juvenile Court.

Motion to Modify and/or Enforce Parenting Time or Visitation — Changes or enforces a juvenile parenting-time order (also the Juvenile Form 7.1 enforcement motion).
Motion by Obligee to Enforce a Support Order — Used by the parent owed support to enforce a juvenile support order.

Can't afford the deposit

File these together if you cannot advance the deposit.

Motion to Proceed Without Advancing a Filing Fee Deposit (Wayne Form 47) — File this with the Indigency Affidavit (Form 38) if you cannot advance the cost deposit.
Indigency Affidavit (Wayne Form 38) — Sworn financial affidavit that supports a fee-waiver request. Filed with Form 47. Tip: Two versions are published; confirm the current operative version with the Clerk if unsure.

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Wayne County

Identify the violated order. Pull the exact custody, parenting-time, or support order and note precisely what the other party failed to do.
Prepare the contempt packet. File the Motion for Contempt (Form 24) and the show-cause order (Form 25) with the Affidavit for Specific Facts (Form 32) in the issuing court.
Serve the show-cause order. Have the order requiring the other party to appear and show cause served by certified mail or process server.
Attend the hearing with proof. Bring the order and evidence of the violation. The court can find contempt and set purge conditions the violator must meet to avoid the penalty.
Enforce the remedy. If the violator doesn't purge, the court can impose fines, jail, make-up parenting time, and attorney fees.

Wayne County Practice Notes

Modification vs. contempt. Use contempt when the other party is willfully violating the existing order; use a modification when you need a different order going forward. They are separate procedures with separate packets — you can file both when both apply.
Civil contempt is coercive, not just punitive. The court's goal is compliance. It can set purge conditions — pay the arrears, restore missed parenting time, transfer the asset — that suspend the penalty if met. Remedies can still include fines, jail, make-up parenting time, and attorney fees.
Service of the show-cause order is required. The order requiring the other party to appear and show cause must be properly served. Plan for certified mail or personal service, and bring proof of the violation — the specific order and what was not done — to the hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enforce a court order in Wayne County?: File a Motion for Contempt (Form 24) with the show-cause order (Form 25) and the Affidavit for Specific Facts (Form 32) in the court that issued the order. The court requires the other party to appear and show cause, and that order must be served. Civil contempt is coercive — the court can set purge conditions that suspend the penalty if met.
What can the court order in a contempt case in Wayne County?: Civil contempt is coercive: the court can find the violator in contempt and set purge conditions (pay the arrears, restore missed parenting time) that suspend the penalty if met. Remedies can include fines, jail, make-up parenting time, and attorney fees.
Should I file a modification or a contempt motion in Wayne County?: Use a modification when circumstances have changed and you need a different order going forward. Use a contempt motion when the other party is willfully violating the existing order. They are separate procedures with separate packets, and you can file both when both apply.
What can I do if the other parent isn't paying support in Wayne County?: The parent owed support can file a Motion by Obligee to Enforce a Support Order or a Motion for Contempt (Form 24) with the show-cause order (Form 25). The court can order payment of arrears and impose penalties including fines, jail, and attorney fees. The CSEA can also enforce through wage withholding.
What does it cost to re-open a case after the decree in Wayne County?: Re-opening a closed Domestic Relations case (a post-decree motion) carries an $85 fee. A QDRO is $25, and a GAL appointment carries a $1,000 deposit. Juvenile deposits are set by the court's administrative cost order. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk at (330) 287-5590.

Free Local Resources in Wayne County

Wayne County Clerk of Courts. Posts current filing fees and DR forms, and processes filings. Court Costs & Fees schedule at wayneclerkofcourts.org. Call (330) 287-5590 to confirm deposits and packet requirements before filing.
Wayne County Domestic Relations Division. Publishes the numbered DR forms (1–53) and required-document packets at waynecourtofcommonpleas.org/resources/domestic-relations-templates. The DR scheduler, Tina Porter, can be reached at 330-287-5547.
Wayne County Probate and Juvenile Court. Handles parentage, custody, parenting time, and support for never-married parents, plus non-parent custody. Forms at wayneprobateandjuvenile.org; phone 330-287-5561. A juvenile help desk meets the 1st and 3rd Friday.
Counseling Center of Wayne and Holmes Counties — Parenting Seminar. Provides the court-ordered Helping Children Succeed seminar and the Kids First program (ages 8–12) at 2285 Benden Drive, Wooster. $35 per parent, prepaid; register at least 2 business days ahead at ccwhc.org/services or (330) 264-9029.
Wayne County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Opens IV-D support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders (2% processing fee). File the IV-D Application (JFS 07076) to establish or modify support.

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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