Protection Orders

 

Information about Protection Orders

You can file for a Civil Protection Order (CPO) by filing for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order, Civil Stalking Protection Order, and Civil Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order.  When you file for a Protection Order, you are the Petitioner, and you file it against the Respondent.  There is no fee for filing.

Information on which Protection Order to file is below.  There is also a summary of each type available from the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Domestic Violence Civil Protection Orders

A Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order is issued by a domestic relations court to protect a victim of domestic violence.  It is intended to prevent further domestic violence.  You can apply for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order if you are related to the Respondent by blood or marriage AND you have lived with them at any time, OR if you are living with or have lived with the person during the past five years, OR you have a child with the Respondent, whether or not you ever married or lived together.  You may be able to get a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order if you have been dating the Respondent, if you share family or financial responsibilities with the Respondent, AND you have an intimate relationship with the Respondent.

A Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order orders the Respondent to stay away from you and can be in effect for up to 5 years.  You can ask the Court for other conditions.  Violating a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order is a crime.

To begin the process, you file a Petition for Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order with the Clerk of Courts.  If you are requesting temporary custody of a child, you file an Information for Parenting Proceeding Affidavit.

Once you file your petition, you will be heard by the Judge or Magistrate for an ex-parte hearing.  During this hearing, the Respondent is not present.  You take an oath to tell the truth, and the Court will hear your statement of what happened.  If the Court finds that the events you described meet the standards, the Court will issue an Ex-Parte CPO. 

There will be a full hearing within 7 business days.  This hearing can only take place if the Respondent is served, and the hearing will be postponed until this happens.  You must be present for the full hearing, and both you and the Respondent can testify.  You can bring witnesses and evidence to support your case.  If the Respondent does not come to the full hearing, you can still obtain a CPO.  The full hearing is the final hearing in the case.

More information about obtaining a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order can be found here. You can have an advocate present with you at all times in Court.  If you would like an advocate, you can contact the Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center at 419-244-3005 or the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office at 419-734-6845. You do not need an attorney present, but Court and Clerk staff cannot give you legal advice.  You can ask for a continuance if you need more time to obtain at attorney.  If you cannot afford an attorney, you can contact Legal Aid at 877-894-4599.

Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order Forms

Civil Stalking Protection Orders

A Civil Stalking Protection Order protects victims of “menacing by stalking.” Menacing by stalking is when a person knowingly engages in a “pattern of conduct” that makes you believe that the stalker will hurt you physically or that causes you “mental distress.” More information about these legal definitions is available here.  Examples of stalking conduct include, but are not limited to:

  • Following you or repeatedly driving by your home
  • Making harassing phone calls; sending threatening or harassing letters, texts, emails
  • Monitoring your phone use, social media or email
  • Tracking your location with GPS or your cell phone
  • Trespassing or breaking into your home, business or property
  • Threatening you or your family, friends or pets

A Civil Stalking Protection Order orders the Respondent to stay away from you and can be in effect for up to 5 years.  You can ask the Court for other conditions.  Violating a Civil Stalking Protection Order is a crime.

To begin the process, you file a Petition for Civil Stalking Protection Order with the Clerk of Courts.

Once you file your petition, you will be heard by the Judge or Magistrate for an ex-parte hearing.  During this hearing, the Respondent is not present.  You take an oath to tell the truth, and the Court will hear your statement of what happened.  If the Court finds that the events you described meet the standards, the Court will issue an Ex-Parte CPO. 

There will be a full hearing within 10 business days.  This hearing can only take place if the Respondent is served, and the hearing will be postponed until this happens.  You must be present for the full hearing, and both you and the Respondent can testify.  You can bring witnesses and evidence to support your case.  If the Respondent does not come to the full hearing, you can still obtain a CPO.  The full hearing is the final hearing in the case.

More information about a Civil Stalking Protection Order is available here.  You can have an advocate present with you at all times in Court.  If you would like an advocate, you can contact the Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center at 419-244-3005 or the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office at 419-734-6845. You do not need an attorney present, but Court and Clerk staff cannot give you legal advice.  You can ask for a continuance if you need more time to obtain at attorney.  If you cannot afford an attorney, you can contact Legal Aid at 877-894-4599.

Civil Stalking Protection Order Forms

Civil Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Orders

A Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order protects victims of “sexually oriented offenses.” Under Ohio law sexually oriented offenses include rape, sexual battery, statutory rape, gross sexual imposition, and other charges.  Ohio Revised Code Section 2950.01 has a complete list of these offenses.  There is no requirement that a criminal case be filed in order to seek a Civil Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order.

A Civil Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order orders the Respondent to stay away from you and can be in effect for up to 5 years.  You can ask the Court for other conditions.  Violating a Civil Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order is a crime.

To begin the process, you file a Petition for Civil Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order with the Clerk of Courts.

Once you file your petition, you will be heard by the Judge or Magistrate for an ex-parte hearing.  During this hearing, the Respondent is not present.  You take an oath to tell the truth, and the Court will hear your statement of what happened.  If the Court finds that the events you described meet the standards, the Court will issue an Ex-Parte CPO. 

There will be a full hearing within 10 business days.  This hearing can only take place if the Respondent is served, and the hearing will be postponed until this happens.  You must be present for the full hearing, and both you and the Respondent can testify.  You can bring witnesses and evidence to support your case.  If the Respondent does not come to the full hearing, you can still obtain a CPO.  The full hearing is the final hearing in the case.

You can have an advocate present with you at all times in Court.  If you would like an advocate, you can contact the Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center at 419-244-3005 or the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office at 419-734-6845. You do not need an attorney present, but Court and Clerk staff cannot give you legal advice.  You can ask for a continuance if you need more time to obtain at attorney.  If you cannot afford an attorney, you can contact Legal Aid at 877-894-4599.

More information about a Civil Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order is available here.

Civil Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order Forms

Additional Forms

Additional Domestic Relations and Protection Order forms are available here: