How Civil Protection Orders Work in Ohio

In Ohio, a civil protection order is governed by Ohio Revised Code 3113.31. It is a court order issued by a domestic relations or common pleas court that prohibits one person from contacting, approaching, or harassing another. CPOs are most commonly filed in domestic violence situations, but Ohio law also provides protection orders for stalking and sexually oriented offenses under separate statutes.

The process moves in two stages. First, a petitioner can request an ex parte temporary protection order, which a judge can grant the same day without notifying the other party. That order goes into effect immediately. Within seven to ten business days, the court schedules a full hearing where both sides appear, present evidence, and argue their positions before a judge. That full hearing is where the outcome is actually decided, and it is where experienced legal representation makes the difference between a CPO that lasts up to five years and one that gets dismissed entirely.

We Represent Both Sides of a CPO Case

Most attorneys handle only one side of protection order cases. We represent both petitioners who need protection and respondents who are contesting unfair or false filings, because genuine experience on both sides of the courtroom produces better outcomes for every client.

•       Emergency CPO filings — When safety is the immediate concern, we move the same day. We prepare and file the petition, walk you through the ex parte process, and make sure the court has everything it needs to grant a temporary order without delay.
•       Full hearing preparation — The full hearing is where temporary orders become permanent. We build your evidentiary record, prepare witness testimony, gather supporting documentation, and present a case that holds up under cross-examination in Franklin County and Delaware County courts.
•       CPO defense — A CPO based on false, exaggerated, or retaliatory allegations can destroy a person’s reputation, custody rights, and career. We challenge the allegations directly, cross-examine the petitioner, and fight for dismissal at the full hearing.
•       CPO violations and enforcement — If a protection order is being violated, we file for enforcement immediately and seek the criminal contempt penalties Ohio law provides. If you have been falsely accused of a violation, we defend you aggressively.
•       Modification and dismissal — When circumstances change or the original basis for a CPO no longer exists, we petition the court for modification or early termination.

Serving Clients Across Columbus, Delaware, and Central Ohio

Clients throughout Columbus, Delaware, Westerville, Powell, Dublin, Gahanna, New Albany, Lewis Center, and communities across Franklin County and Delaware County trust Panico Law Group with protection order cases because we understand that the stakes are personal, the timeline is urgent, and the legal work has to be right the first time. We have handled straightforward filings and deeply contested CPO hearings involving complex custody disputes, high-conflict divorces, and allegations that required thorough factual investigation before a single document was filed.

Time is critical in a CPO case. Call Panico Law Group today to schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced civil protection order attorney in Columbus or Delaware, Ohio.