Know the Laws: Ohio

UPDATED December 9, 2008

A Protection Order is a civil order that provides protection from harm or the threat of harm by a family or household member.

• Basic Information
  • What are protection orders?
  • What is the legal definition of domestic violence in Ohio?
  • How can a protection order protect me?
  • In which county can I file for a protection order?
• Can I get a Protection Order?
• What are the steps for obtaining a Protection Order?
• After the Hearing

Basic Information

back to topWhat are protection orders?

A protection order is a paper which is signed by a judge and tells your abuser to stop the abuse or face serious legal consequences. It offers civil legal protection from domestic violence to both women and men victims.

back to topWhat is the legal definition of domestic violence in Ohio?

This section defines domestic violence for the purposes of getting a protection order.

In general, if a family or household member hurts you or tries to hurt you (with or without using a weapon) or gives you reason to believe that he is going to hurt you in the near future, that person has committed an act of domestic violence.  For the purposes of getting a protection order, you must have a specific relationship with the abuser (see Am I eligible for a protection order?)

This type of behavior is illegal, and there are laws to protect you.

"Domestic violence" for the purposes of getting a protection order includes:

• Physical abuse;
• Threats that put you in fear of immediate and seriousphysical harm; and
• Any act with respect to a child that would result in that child being abused.

To read the exact wording of the law, please see the definitions section on the OH Statutes page.

Note: If the acts of the abuser do not fit in this definition, you may be eligible for a stalking or sexually oriented offense protection order.  See Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Orders for more information.

back to topHow can a protection order protect me?

A protection order may:

• Order abuser to refrain from abusing, harassing, and annoying;
• Order abuser to have no contact with you or your children;
• Keep abuser from entering your home, school, business or place of employment, or those of your children;
• Evict the abuser and award you possession of the residence, even if the residence is owned by the abuser;
• Award you custody of your child;
• Require abuser to pay you monthly support;
• Require abuser to pay rent, mortgage, and/or utility payments;
• Require abuser to see a counselor;
• Grant you use of motor vehicle and other possessions;
• Forbid abuser from owning or buying firearms;
• Grant any other relief that the court considers equitable and fair.*

Whether a judge orders any or all of the above depends on the facts of your case.

* Ohio Rev. Code § 3113.31

back to topIn which county can I file for a protection order?

back to top