To file a restraining order in Cincinnati, Ohio, you go to one of two Hamilton County courthouses, submit a civil protection order petition at no cost, and appear the same day before a judge or magistrate who can issue a temporary order on the spot. A full hearing follows within seven to ten court days, and a final order can last up to five years.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3113.31 – Domestic Violence Definitions and Hearings Ohio calls these civil protection orders, or CPOs, rather than restraining orders, but the function is the same.
Pick the Right Petition Before You Go
Ohio has three types of civil protection orders, and which one you file depends entirely on your relationship to the person you need protection from (the “respondent”). Filing the wrong one delays your case, so sort this out first.
File a domestic violence CPO if the respondent is a family or household member: a current or former spouse, someone you live with or have lived with, a person you share a child with, or a blood or marriage relative who has lived with the respondent.2Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code Section 3113.31
File a dating violence CPO if the respondent is someone you dated but never lived with. Ohio defines a dating relationship as romantic or intimate in nature, existing within the twelve months before the conduct you’re reporting. Casual acquaintance or ordinary social contact does not qualify.2Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code Section 3113.31
File a stalking or sexually oriented offense CPO if the respondent is a stranger, acquaintance, coworker, or neighbor — anyone outside the categories above. Menacing by stalking under Ohio law involves two or more related incidents directed at you that knowingly cause you to believe the person will physically harm you or cause serious mental distress.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2903.214 – Petition for Protection Order
The grounds for a domestic violence or dating violence CPO are the same: bodily injury, an attempt to cause bodily injury, threats that placed you in fear of serious physical harm, stalking, or a sexually oriented offense.4Supreme Court of Ohio. Domestic Relations Resource Guide – Domestic Violence and Protection Orders You do not need to have filed criminal charges to seek any of these orders.
Where to File in Hamilton County
Domestic violence and dating violence CPOs are filed at the Hamilton County Domestic Relations Court, 800 Broadway Avenue in Cincinnati.5Hamilton County. Court of Domestic Relations Contact Information Stalking and sexually oriented offense CPOs are filed at the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, 1000 Main Street.6Hamilton County Clerk of Courts. Our Locations and Hours
There is no filing fee. Ohio law prohibits courts from charging the petitioner any fee, cost, or deposit in connection with filing, issuing, or serving a civil protection order, and that includes the cost of having law enforcement serve the respondent.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3113.31 – Domestic Violence Definitions and Hearings
What to Bring With You
The petition asks for a written, chronological account of what happened. Judges read a lot of these, and specific accounts work best: dates, locations, exact words, and whether anyone else witnessed it. “He called my phone six times on March 12 and said he would come to my workplace” lands harder than “he threatened me multiple times.”
Gather what you can before heading to the courthouse:
- Full legal name, date of birth, and address for both you and the respondent. A physical description of the respondent helps law enforcement serve the order.
- Names and dates of birth for any children you want included in the order.
- Police report numbers for any incidents you reported.
- Screenshots of threatening texts or emails, photographs of injuries or property damage, voicemail recordings, or social media posts.
- Names of anyone who saw or heard what happened.
You don’t need all of it to file. A petition supported only by your written statement can still lead to a temporary order if the judge finds the account credible. But the more documentation you bring, the stronger your position at the full hearing.
The Same-Day Ex Parte Hearing
Once the clerk accepts your petition, you’ll go before a judge or magistrate for an ex parte hearing. “Ex parte” means the respondent is not there. This is your chance to explain, in person, why you need immediate protection. The judge will review your petition and may ask follow-up questions.
The standard is imminent danger. If it’s met, the court issues a temporary protection order (TPO) that takes effect immediately and lasts until the full hearing, which is scheduled within seven to ten court days depending on whether the respondent is ordered to leave a shared residence.4Supreme Court of Ohio. Domestic Relations Resource Guide – Domestic Violence and Protection Orders
If the judge decides the evidence doesn’t show immediate danger, the TPO is denied but your petition is not dismissed. The full hearing still goes forward, and you can present your full case there.
Service and the Full Hearing
Law enforcement serves the respondent with a copy of your petition, the temporary order, and notice of the full hearing date. The case cannot move forward until service is completed.
Both sides present their cases at the full hearing. You can testify, submit evidence, and call witnesses. The respondent has the same rights. Bring the original device for any text, email, or social media evidence if you can; courts generally want to see that electronic evidence is authentic. If you’re relying on screenshots, they should clearly show the sender’s name or number, the date, and the full conversation thread rather than isolated messages.
After hearing both sides, the judge either grants a final civil protection order or denies the petition. If it’s denied, any temporary order dissolves immediately. A final order can last up to five years.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 3113.31 – Domestic Violence Definitions and Hearings
What a Final Order Can Do
Ohio judges have broad authority to tailor a final CPO to your situation. A domestic violence or dating violence CPO can include any combination of the following:
- A no-contact provision covering phone, text, email, social media, and contact through third parties.
- A stay-away requirement for your home, workplace, school, or other places you frequent.
- Exclusive possession of a shared home, even if the respondent is on the lease or deed.
- Temporary allocation of parental rights and a visitation schedule for shared children.
- Temporary financial support if the respondent has a duty to support you or your children.
- An order to attend a domestic violence intervention program or other counseling.
Stalking CPOs cover the no-contact and stay-away provisions but not custody or support, since those involve people outside the household.2Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code Section 3113.31
If the Respondent Violates the Order
A protection order carries the force of law. Any prohibited contact — a phone call, showing up at your workplace, a message through a friend — is a criminal offense, not a civil matter. There is no warning.
Call 911 if a violation happens. Tell responding officers you have a protection order and describe exactly what the respondent did. Officers can arrest the respondent on the spot. A first violation is a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail. The charge rises to a fifth-degree felony if the respondent has a prior conviction for violating a protection order or a related offense, and to a third-degree felony if the violation is committed during a felony.7Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code Section 2919.27 – Violating Protection Order
Every reported violation creates a record. Even a minor incident is worth documenting, because it establishes the pattern that triggers harsher penalties if the respondent keeps pushing.
Free Legal Help in Cincinnati
You are not required to have an attorney, and many people file on their own. Courthouse staff can help you with paperwork but cannot give legal advice — they can’t tell you which type of order to file or how to present your case.
Two Hamilton County organizations help survivors through the process. Legal Aid of Greater Cincinnati (lascinti.org) offers free legal services to people who meet income guidelines. Women Helping Women (womenhelpingwomen.org) provides advocacy, safety planning, and legal support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Both can help you prepare your petition, gather evidence, and know what to expect at hearings.