Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated June 20, 2016
Note: If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic violence or otherwise in danger, contact the Ohio Domestic Violence Network at 1-800-934-9840.
A protective order, also referred to as a "restraining order," is a court order requiring a named individual to stay a specified amount of distance away from the person seeking the order. Typically, they are used to protect victims of domestic violence from their attackers. Under Ohio protective order laws, orders may last for up to five years but may be extended by the court.
Anyone who violates the terms of a protective order may be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail. Two more violation involving the same person (who is the subject of the order) is a fifth-degree felony, which carries a maximum 12-month prison sentence. In certain situations, the court may also require violators to wear electronic monitoring devices.
The Ohio Supreme Court's Domestic Violence Program, which works with local courts to provide support services for victims, provides downloads (PDF, Doc) to help you file a protective order:
Learn more about Ohio protective order laws in the following table. See Domestic Violence: Order of Protection and Restraining Orders for more information.
| Code Section | 3113.31 |
| Activity Addressed by Order | Enjoin contact; exclude from dwelling, school, employment; regarding minors: temporarily allocate parental rights, visitations, support, counseling |
| Duration of Order | Maximum 5 years, may be renewed; or upon court action for divorce |
| Penalty for a Violation of Order | 1st degree misdemeanor |
| Who May Apply for Order | Person, parent or adult household member on behalf of other family or household member |
| Can Fees Be Waived? | Yes |
| Order Transmission to Law Enforcement | Copy to all law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction |
| Civil Liability for Violation of Order | Yes, contempt of court |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact an Ohio domestic violence attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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