Enforcing Orders Through Contempt in Wyandot County

Where to File: Wyandot County Court of Common Pleas

Post-Decree Contempt is the right path if…

• The other party is violating a clear, existing court order.
• You can identify the exact provision being violated (parenting time, support, or property terms).
• Informal efforts to get compliance have failed.
• You want the court to order compliance and possibly impose penalties.

Filing Fees

$50 motion in an existing open case · show-cause hearing generally within ~30 days · a contempt finding can include costs and attorney fees · confirm amounts with the Clerk (419) 294-1432 or Juvenile Court (419) 294-2545

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Wyandot County

1. Pinpoint the violation. Identify the exact order provision being violated — parenting time, child support, or a property/conduct term — and gather proof.
2. Draft a compliant motion. Under Local Rule 24.2, state the basis specifically, attach a supporting affidavit, include a notice of hearing, and add the statutory warning language.
3. File with the $50 deposit. File in the existing DR or Juvenile case; the show-cause hearing is generally set within about 30 days.
4. Serve and prepare. Ensure the other party is properly served and organize your evidence of each violation by date.
5. Attend the hearing. Ask the court to order compliance and, where appropriate, costs and attorney fees; purge conditions may let the other party avoid penalties by complying.

Wyandot County Practice Notes

• Local Rule 24.2 sets strict motion requirements. The contempt motion must specifically state its basis, include a notice of hearing, and carry the statutory warning language — that violating the order can lead to arrest, fines, attorney fees, possible jail, and appointed counsel if the responding party is indigent. A motion missing these elements can be rejected.
• Heard within about 30 days. Show-cause motions are generally heard within about 30 days of filing or as the docket permits. Bring proof of the violation — pay records, a parenting-time log, or messages.
• Confirm contempt fee-award practice. A contempt finding may include costs and attorney fees. A reported $250 attorney-fee cap could not be verified against the filed local rules, so confirm the court's current fee-award practice before relying on a specific figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

My ex isn't following our order — what does a contempt motion cost and how long does it take?

A motion for contempt in an existing open case takes a $50 deposit and is generally heard within about 30 days (Local Rule 24.2). The motion must specifically state its basis, include a notice of hearing, and carry the statutory warning language about possible jail, fines, attorney fees, and appointed counsel if you are indigent.

How much does it cost to modify a custody, parenting-time, or support order in Wyandot County?

A motion to modify an order in an existing open case takes a $50 deposit (Costs & Deposits schedule eff. 01/05/2026). Re-opening a closed case is $300, and no case with unpaid past costs may be re-opened until those costs are paid. Child-support deviations require statutory best-interest findings, and the court may set a deviation-review hearing one year out and require receipts (Local Rule 26).

Where do unmarried parents file for custody, paternity, or support in Wyandot County?

At the Wyandot County Juvenile Court — 109 S. Sandusky Ave., 3rd Floor, Room 33, Upper Sandusky, (419) 294-2545. The deposit is $300 for a new civil case, and the same standard parenting-time schedule and Children in Between Online class used in divorce cases apply. One judge hears all divisions in Wyandot, but the Juvenile Court keeps its own clerk and fee schedule — and by statute (R.C. 4705.01) its clerks cannot help you prepare your paperwork.

Can I e-file my own case in Wyandot County?

No. E-filing exists through the Henschen portal, but self-represented (pro se) litigants are not permitted to e-file under Local Rule 5.01, and an original divorce complaint cannot be faxed either (Local Rule 5.02). File on paper at the Clerk of Courts counter, with the Case Designation Sheet on top.

Free Local Resources in Wyandot County

• Wyandot County Clerk of Courts. Clerk of Courts Eileen Walton, Legal Division, 109 S. Sandusky Ave., Room 31, Upper Sandusky, OH 43351. Provides current filing fees, local forms (Case Designation Sheet, Personal Identifiers form), and filing instructions for custody, divorce, and dissolution cases. Call (419) 294-1432 or visit https://wyandotcountyclerk.org/ before filing to confirm deposits and packet requirements.
• Wyandot County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Wyandot County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. File a IV-D Application when establishing or modifying support.

Other Family-Law Topics in Wyandot County

• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Wyandot County custody attorney for help with your case.

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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• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
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