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The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 3113 | Neglect, Abandonment, Or Domestic Violence

 
 
 
Section
Section 3113.04 | Sentence suspended upon posting bond.
 

(A) Sentence may be suspended if a person, after conviction under section 2919.21 of the Revised Code and before sentence under that section, appears before the court of common pleas in which the conviction took place and enters into bond to the state in a sum fixed by the court at not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars, with sureties approved by the court, conditioned that the person will furnish the child or other dependent with necessary or proper home, care, food, and clothing, or will pay promptly each week for such purpose to the office of child support in the department of job and family services, a sum to be fixed by the agency. The child support enforcement agency shall comply with Chapter 3119. of the Revised Code when it fixes the sum to be paid to the division.

(B) If any person required to pay child support under an order made under this section on or after April 15, 1985, or modified on or after December 1, 1986, is found in contempt of court for failure to make support payments under the order, the court that makes the finding, in addition to any other penalty or remedy imposed, shall assess all court costs arising out of the contempt proceeding against the person and require the person to pay any reasonable attorney's fees of any adverse party, as determined by the court, that arose in relation to the act of contempt.

Section 3113.06 | Failure to pay maintenance cost to agency.
 

No father, or mother when she is charged with the maintenance, of a child under eighteen years of age, or a child with a mental or physical disability under age twenty-one, who is legally a ward of a public children services agency or is the recipient of aid pursuant to Chapter 5107. of the Revised Code, shall neglect or refuse to pay such agency the reasonable cost of maintaining such child when such father or mother is able to do so by reason of property, labor, or earnings.

An offense under this section shall be held committed in the county in which the agency is located. The agency shall file charges against any parent who violates this section, unless the agency files charges under section 2919.21 of the Revised Code, or unless charges of nonsupport are filed by a relative or guardian of the child, or unless an action to enforce support is brought under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 11:25 AM

Section 3113.07 | Sentence suspended upon payment of costs.
 

As used in this section, "executive director" has the same meaning as in section 5153.01 of the Revised Code.

Sentence may be suspended, if a person, after conviction under section 3113.06 of the Revised Code and before sentence thereunder, appears before the court of common pleas in which such conviction took place and enters into bond to the state in a sum fixed by the court at not less than five hundred dollars, with sureties approved by such court, conditioned that such person will pay, so long as the child remains a ward of the public children services agency or a recipient of aid pursuant to Chapter 5107. of the Revised Code, to the executive director thereof or to a trustee to be named by the court, for the benefit of such agency or if the child is a recipient of aid pursuant to Chapter 5107. of the Revised Code, to the county department of job and family services, the reasonable cost of keeping such child. The amount of such costs and the time of payment shall be fixed by the court.

The court, in accordance with sections 3119.29 to 3119.56 of the Revised Code, shall include in each support order made under this section the requirement that one or both of the parents provide for the health care needs of the child to the satisfaction of the court.

Section 3113.08 | Failure to comply.
 

Upon failure of the father or mother of a child under eighteen years of age, or of a child with a mental or physical disability under twenty-one years of age, or the husband of a pregnant woman to comply with any order and undertaking provided for in sections 3113.01 to 3113.14 of the Revised Code, such person may be arrested by the sheriff or other officer, on a warrant issued on the praecipe of the prosecuting attorney, and brought before the court of common pleas for sentence. Thereupon the court may pass sentence, or for good cause shown, may modify the order as to the time and amount of payments, or take a new undertaking and further suspend sentence, whichever is for the best interests of such child or pregnant woman and of the public.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 11:26 AM

Section 3113.09 | Duties of trustee.
 

The trustee appointed by the court of common pleas under sections 3113.04 and 3113.07 of the Revised Code, shall make quarterly reports of the receipts and expenditures of all moneys coming into his hands as provided in sections 3113.01 to 3113.14 of the Revised Code, such reports to be made to the board of county commissioners of the county from which the person described in section 3113.01 of the Revised Code was sentenced, or to the department of job and family services. The court may require such trustee to enter into a good and sufficient bond for the faithful performance of the duties imposed on him.

Section 3113.11 | Amount credited convict paid to trustee.
 

When a person is convicted, sentenced, and confined in a workhouse, under sections 3113.01 to 3113.14, inclusive, of the Revised Code, the county from which he is so convicted, sentenced, and confined upon the warrant of the county auditor of such county, and out of the general revenue fund thereof, shall pay monthly fifty cents for each day he is so confined, to the trustee appointed by the court under such sections, to be expended by such trustee for the maintenance of the child under sixteen years of age.

Section 3113.13 | Naming trustee in mittimus.
 

When a person is imprisoned in a workhouse or state correctional institution under sections 3113.01 to 3113.14 of the Revised Code, the name and post-office address of the trustee appointed by the court of common pleas under sections 3113.04 and 3113.07 of the Revised Code shall appear in the mittimus.

Section 3113.14 | Continuing citizenship.
 

Citizenship once acquired in this state by a father or mother of a child living in this state, for the purpose of sections 3113.01 to 3113.14 of the Revised Code, shall continue until the child has arrived at the age of sixteen years, provided the child continues to live in this state.

Section 3113.25 | Notifying state retirement system of death of obligor.
 

A child support enforcement agency that learns that an obligor under a support order administered by the agency who was a member of the public employees retirement system, school employees retirement system, or state teachers retirement system has died shall immediately notify the retirement system that the member was survived by one or more children who are the subject of a child support order.

Section 3113.31 | Domestic violence definitions; hearings.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Domestic violence" means any of the following:

(a) The occurrence of one or more of the following acts against a family or household member:

(i) Attempting to cause or recklessly causing bodily injury;

(ii) Placing another person by the threat of force in fear of imminent serious physical harm or committing a violation of section 2903.211 or 2911.211 of the Revised Code;

(iii) Committing any act with respect to a child that would result in the child being an abused child, as defined in section 2151.031 of the Revised Code;

(iv) Committing a sexually oriented offense.

(b) The occurrence of one or more of the acts identified in divisions (A)(1)(a)(i) to (iv) of this section against a person with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship.

(2) "Court" means the domestic relations division of the court of common pleas in counties that have a domestic relations division and the court of common pleas in counties that do not have a domestic relations division, or the juvenile division of the court of common pleas of the county in which the person to be protected by a protection order issued or a consent agreement approved under this section resides if the respondent is less than eighteen years of age.

(3) "Family or household member" means any of the following:

(a) Any of the following who is residing with or has resided with the respondent:

(i) A spouse, a person living as a spouse, or a former spouse of the respondent;

(ii) A parent, a foster parent, or a child of the respondent, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to the respondent;

(iii) A parent or a child of a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the respondent, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the respondent.

(b) The natural parent of any child of whom the respondent is the other natural parent or is the putative other natural parent.

(4) "Person living as a spouse" means a person who is living or has lived with the respondent in a common law marital relationship, who otherwise is cohabiting with the respondent, or who otherwise has cohabited with the respondent within five years prior to the date of the alleged occurrence of the act in question.

(5) "Victim advocate" means a person who provides support and assistance for a person who files a petition under this section.

(6) "Sexually oriented offense" has the same meaning as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.

(7) "Companion animal" has the same meaning as in section 959.131 of the Revised Code.

(8) "Dating relationship" means a relationship between individuals who have, or have had, a relationship of a romantic or intimate nature. "Dating relationship" does not include a casual acquaintanceship or ordinary fraternization in a business or social context.

(9) "Person with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship" means an individual who, at the time of the conduct in question, is in a dating relationship with the respondent who is an adult or who, within the twelve months preceding the conduct in question, has had a dating relationship with the respondent who is an adult.

(B) The court has jurisdiction over all proceedings under this section. The petitioner's right to relief under this section is not affected by the petitioner's leaving the residence or household to avoid further domestic violence.

(C) A person may seek relief under this section on the person's own behalf, or any parent or adult household member may seek relief under this section on behalf of any other family or household member, by filing a petition with the court. The petition shall contain or state:

(1) An allegation that the respondent engaged in domestic violence against a family or household member of the respondent or against a person with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship, including a description of the nature and extent of the domestic violence;

(2) The relationship of the respondent to the petitioner, and to the victim if other than the petitioner;

(3) If the petition is for protection of a person with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship, the facts upon which the court may conclude that a dating relationship existed between the person to be protected and the respondent;

(4) A request for relief under this section.

(D)(1) If a person who files a petition pursuant to this section requests an ex parte order, the court shall hold an ex parte hearing on the same day that the petition is filed. The court, for good cause shown at the ex parte hearing, may enter any temporary orders, with or without bond, including, but not limited to, an order described in division (E)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section, that the court finds necessary to protect the family or household member or the person with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship from domestic violence. Immediate and present danger of domestic violence to the family or household member or to the person with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship constitutes good cause for purposes of this section. Immediate and present danger includes, but is not limited to, situations in which the respondent has threatened the family or household member or person with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship with bodily harm, in which the respondent has threatened the family or household member or person with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship with a sexually oriented offense, or in which the respondent previously has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for an offense that constitutes domestic violence against the family or household member or person with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship.

(2)(a) If the court, after an ex parte hearing, issues an order described in division (E)(1)(b) or (c) of this section, the court shall schedule a full hearing for a date that is within seven court days after the ex parte hearing. If any other type of protection order that is authorized under division (E) of this section is issued by the court after an ex parte hearing, the court shall schedule a full hearing for a date that is within ten court days after the ex parte hearing. The court shall give the respondent notice of, and an opportunity to be heard at, the full hearing. The court shall hold the full hearing on the date scheduled under this division unless the court grants a continuance of the hearing in accordance with this division. Under any of the following circumstances or for any of the following reasons, the court may grant a continuance of the full hearing to a reasonable time determined by the court:

(i) Prior to the date scheduled for the full hearing under this division, the respondent has not been served with the petition filed pursuant to this section and notice of the full hearing.

(ii) The parties consent to the continuance.

(iii) The continuance is needed to allow a party to obtain counsel.

(iv) The continuance is needed for other good cause.

(b) An ex parte order issued under this section does not expire because of a failure to serve notice of the full hearing upon the respondent before the date set for the full hearing under division (D)(2)(a) of this section or because the court grants a continuance under that division.

(3) If a person who files a petition pursuant to this section does not request an ex parte order, or if a person requests an ex parte order but the court does not issue an ex parte order after an ex parte hearing, the court shall proceed as in a normal civil action and grant a full hearing on the matter.

(E)(1) After an ex parte or full hearing, the court may grant any protection order, with or without bond, or approve any consent agreement to bring about a cessation of domestic violence against the family or household members or persons with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship. The order or agreement may:

(a) Direct the respondent to refrain from abusing or from committing sexually oriented offenses against the family or household members or persons with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship;

(b) With respect to a petition involving family or household members, grant possession of the residence or household to the petitioner or other family or household member, to the exclusion of the respondent, by evicting the respondent, when the residence or household is owned or leased solely by the petitioner or other family or household member, or by ordering the respondent to vacate the premises, when the residence or household is jointly owned or leased by the respondent, and the petitioner or other family or household member;

(c) With respect to a petition involving family or household members, when the respondent has a duty to support the petitioner or other family or household member living in the residence or household and the respondent is the sole owner or lessee of the residence or household, grant possession of the residence or household to the petitioner or other family or household member, to the exclusion of the respondent, by ordering the respondent to vacate the premises, or, in the case of a consent agreement, allow the respondent to provide suitable, alternative housing;

(d) With respect to a petition involving family or household members, temporarily allocate parental rights and responsibilities for the care of, or establish temporary parenting time rights with regard to, minor children, if no other court has determined, or is determining, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the minor children or parenting time rights;

(e) With respect to a petition involving family or household members, require the respondent to maintain support, if the respondent customarily provides for or contributes to the support of the family or household member, or if the respondent has a duty to support the petitioner or family or household member;

(f) Require the respondent, petitioner, victim of domestic violence, or any combination of those persons, to seek counseling;

(g) Require the respondent to refrain from entering the residence, school, business, or place of employment of the petitioner or, with respect to a petition involving family or household members, a family or household member;

(h) Grant other relief that the court considers equitable and fair, including, but not limited to, ordering the respondent to permit the use of a motor vehicle by the petitioner or, with respect to a petition involving family or household members, other family or household members and the apportionment of household and family personal property;

(i) Require that the respondent not remove, damage, hide, harm, or dispose of any companion animal owned or possessed by the petitioner;

(j) Authorize the petitioner to remove a companion animal owned by the petitioner from the possession of the respondent;

(k) Require a wireless service transfer in accordance with sections 3113.45 to 3113.459 of the Revised Code.

(2) If a protection order has been issued pursuant to this section in a prior action involving the respondent and the petitioner or, with respect to a petition involving family or household members, one or more of the family or household members or victims, the court may include in a protection order that it issues a prohibition against the respondent returning to the residence or household. If it includes a prohibition against the respondent returning to the residence or household in the order, it also shall include in the order provisions of the type described in division (E)(7) of this section. This division does not preclude the court from including in a protection order or consent agreement, in circumstances other than those described in this division, a requirement that the respondent be evicted from or vacate the residence or household or refrain from entering the residence, school, business, or place of employment of the petitioner or, with respect to a petition involving family or household members, a family or household member, and, if the court includes any requirement of that type in an order or agreement, the court also shall include in the order provisions of the type described in division (E)(7) of this section.

(3)(a) Any protection order issued or consent agreement approved under this section shall be valid until a date certain, but not later than five years from the date of its issuance or approval, or not later than the date a respondent who is less than eighteen years of age attains nineteen years of age, unless modified or terminated as provided in division (E)(8) of this section.

(b) With respect to an order involving family or household members, subject to the limitation on the duration of an order or agreement set forth in division (E)(3)(a) of this section, any order under division (E)(1)(d) of this section shall terminate on the date that a court in an action for divorce, dissolution of marriage, or legal separation brought by the petitioner or respondent issues an order allocating parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children or on the date that a juvenile court in an action brought by the petitioner or respondent issues an order awarding legal custody of minor children. Subject to the limitation on the duration of an order or agreement set forth in division (E)(3)(a) of this section, any order under division (E)(1)(e) of this section shall terminate on the date that a court in an action for divorce, dissolution of marriage, or legal separation brought by the petitioner or respondent issues a support order or on the date that a juvenile court in an action brought by the petitioner or respondent issues a support order.

(c) Any protection order issued or consent agreement approved pursuant to this section may be renewed in the same manner as the original order or agreement was issued or approved.

(4) A court may not issue a protection order that requires a petitioner to do or to refrain from doing an act that the court may require a respondent to do or to refrain from doing under division (E)(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), or (h) of this section unless all of the following apply:

(a) The respondent files a separate petition for a protection order in accordance with this section.

(b) The petitioner is served notice of the respondent's petition at least forty-eight hours before the court holds a hearing with respect to the respondent's petition, or the petitioner waives the right to receive this notice.

(c) If the petitioner has requested an ex parte order pursuant to division (D) of this section, the court does not delay any hearing required by that division beyond the time specified in that division in order to consolidate the hearing with a hearing on the petition filed by the respondent.

(d) After a full hearing at which the respondent presents evidence in support of the request for a protection order and the petitioner is afforded an opportunity to defend against that evidence, the court determines that the petitioner has committed an act of domestic violence or has violated a temporary protection order issued pursuant to section 2919.26 of the Revised Code, that both the petitioner and the respondent acted primarily as aggressors, and that neither the petitioner nor the respondent acted primarily in self-defense.

(5) No protection order issued or consent agreement approved under this section shall in any manner affect title to any real property.

(6)(a) With respect to an order involving family or household members, if a petitioner, or the child of a petitioner, who obtains a protection order or consent agreement pursuant to division (E)(1) of this section or a temporary protection order pursuant to section 2919.26 of the Revised Code and is the subject of a parenting time order issued pursuant to section 3109.051 or 3109.12 of the Revised Code or a visitation or companionship order issued pursuant to section 3109.051, 3109.11, or 3109.12 of the Revised Code or division (E)(1)(d) of this section granting parenting time rights to the respondent, the court may require the public children services agency of the county in which the court is located to provide supervision of the respondent's exercise of parenting time or visitation or companionship rights with respect to the child for a period not to exceed nine months, if the court makes the following findings of fact:

(i) The child is in danger from the respondent;

(ii) No other person or agency is available to provide the supervision.

(b) A court that requires an agency to provide supervision pursuant to division (E)(6)(a) of this section shall order the respondent to reimburse the agency for the cost of providing the supervision, if it determines that the respondent has sufficient income or resources to pay that cost.

(7)(a) If a protection order issued or consent agreement approved under this section includes a requirement that the respondent be evicted from or vacate the residence or household or refrain from entering the residence, school, business, or place of employment of the petitioner or, with respect to a petition involving family or household members, a family or household member, the order or agreement shall state clearly that the order or agreement cannot be waived or nullified by an invitation to the respondent from the petitioner or other family or household member to enter the residence, school, business, or place of employment or by the respondent's entry into one of those places otherwise upon the consent of the petitioner or other family or household member.

(b) Division (E)(7)(a) of this section does not limit any discretion of a court to determine that a respondent charged with a violation of section 2919.27 of the Revised Code, with a violation of a municipal ordinance substantially equivalent to that section, or with contempt of court, which charge is based on an alleged violation of a protection order issued or consent agreement approved under this section, did not commit the violation or was not in contempt of court.

(8)(a) The court may modify or terminate as provided in division (E)(8) of this section a protection order or consent agreement that was issued after a full hearing under this section. The court that issued the protection order or approved the consent agreement shall hear a motion for modification or termination of the protection order or consent agreement pursuant to division (E)(8) of this section.

(b) Either the petitioner or the respondent of the original protection order or consent agreement may bring a motion for modification or termination of a protection order or consent agreement that was issued or approved after a full hearing. The court shall require notice of the motion to be made as provided by the Rules of Civil Procedure. If the petitioner for the original protection order or consent agreement has requested that the petitioner's address be kept confidential, the court shall not disclose the address to the respondent of the original protection order or consent agreement or any other person, except as otherwise required by law. The moving party has the burden of proof to show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that modification or termination of the protection order or consent agreement is appropriate because either the protection order or consent agreement is no longer needed or because the terms of the original protection order or consent agreement are no longer appropriate.

(c) In considering whether to modify or terminate a protection order or consent agreement issued or approved under this section, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) Whether the petitioner consents to modification or termination of the protection order or consent agreement;

(ii) Whether the petitioner fears the respondent;

(iii) The current nature of the relationship between the petitioner and the respondent;

(iv) The circumstances of the petitioner and respondent, including the relative proximity of the petitioner's and respondent's workplaces and residences and whether the petitioner and respondent have minor children together;

(v) Whether the respondent has complied with the terms and conditions of the original protection order or consent agreement;

(vi) Whether the respondent has a continuing involvement with illegal drugs or alcohol;

(vii) Whether the respondent has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for an offense of violence since the issuance of the protection order or approval of the consent agreement;

(viii) Whether any other protection orders, consent agreements, restraining orders, or no contact orders have been issued against the respondent pursuant to this section, section 2919.26 of the Revised Code, any other provision of state law, or the law of any other state;

(ix) Whether the respondent has participated in any domestic violence treatment, intervention program, or other counseling addressing domestic violence and whether the respondent has completed the treatment, program, or counseling;

(x) The time that has elapsed since the protection order was issued or since the consent agreement was approved;

(xi) The age and health of the respondent;

(xii) When the last incident of abuse, threat of harm, or commission of a sexually oriented offense occurred or other relevant information concerning the safety and protection of the petitioner or other protected parties.

(d) If a protection order or consent agreement is modified or terminated as provided in division (E)(8) of this section, the court shall issue copies of the modified or terminated order or agreement as provided in division (F) of this section. A petitioner may also provide notice of the modification or termination to the judicial and law enforcement officials in any county other than the county in which the order or agreement is modified or terminated as provided in division (N) of this section.

(e) If the respondent moves for modification or termination of a protection order or consent agreement pursuant to this section and the court denies the motion, the court may assess costs against the respondent for the filing of the motion.

(9) Any protection order issued or any consent agreement approved pursuant to this section shall include a provision that the court will automatically seal all of the records of the proceeding in which the order is issued or agreement approved on the date the respondent attains the age of nineteen years unless the petitioner provides the court with evidence that the respondent has not complied with all of the terms of the protection order or consent agreement. The protection order or consent agreement shall specify the date when the respondent attains the age of nineteen years.

(F)(1) A copy of any protection order, or consent agreement, that is issued, approved, modified, or terminated under this section shall be issued by the court to the petitioner, to the respondent, and to all law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction to enforce the order or agreement. The court shall direct that a copy of an order be delivered to the respondent on the same day that the order is entered.

(2) Upon the issuance of a protection order or the approval of a consent agreement under this section, the court shall provide the parties to the order or agreement with the following notice orally or by form:

"NOTICE

As a result of this order or consent agreement, it may be unlawful for you to possess or purchase a firearm, including a rifle, pistol, or revolver, or ammunition pursuant to federal law under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8) for the duration of this order or consent agreement. If you have any questions whether this law makes it illegal for you to possess or purchase a firearm or ammunition, you should consult an attorney."

(3) All law enforcement agencies shall establish and maintain an index for the protection orders and the approved consent agreements delivered to the agencies pursuant to division (F)(1) of this section. With respect to each order and consent agreement delivered, each agency shall note on the index the date and time that it received the order or consent agreement.

(4) Regardless of whether the petitioner has registered the order or agreement in the county in which the officer's agency has jurisdiction pursuant to division (N) of this section, any officer of a law enforcement agency shall enforce a protection order issued or consent agreement approved by any court in this state in accordance with the provisions of the order or agreement, including removing the respondent from the premises, if appropriate.

(G)(1) Any proceeding under this section shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure, except that an order under this section may be obtained with or without bond. An order issued under this section, other than an ex parte order, that grants a protection order or approves a consent agreement, that refuses to grant a protection order or approve a consent agreement that modifies or terminates a protection order or consent agreement, or that refuses to modify or terminate a protection order or consent agreement, is a final, appealable order. The remedies and procedures provided in this section are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other available civil or criminal remedies.

(2) If as provided in division (G)(1) of this section an order issued under this section, other than an ex parte order, refuses to grant a protection order, the court, on its own motion, shall order that the ex parte order issued under this section and all of the records pertaining to that ex parte order be sealed after either of the following occurs:

(a) No party has exercised the right to appeal pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

(b) All appellate rights have been exhausted.

(H) The filing of proceedings under this section does not excuse a person from filing any report or giving any notice required by section 2151.421 of the Revised Code or by any other law. When a petition under this section alleges domestic violence against minor children, the court shall report the fact, or cause reports to be made, to a county, township, or municipal peace officer under section 2151.421 of the Revised Code.

(I) Any law enforcement agency that investigates a domestic dispute shall provide information to the family or household members involved, or the persons in the dating relationship who are involved, whichever is applicable regarding the relief available under this section and, for family or household members, section 2919.26 of the Revised Code.

(J)(1) Subject to divisions (E)(8)(e) and (J)(2) of this section and regardless of whether a protection order is issued or a consent agreement is approved by a court of another county or a court of another state, no court or unit of state or local government shall charge the petitioner any fee, cost, deposit, or money in connection with the filing of a petition pursuant to this section or in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, withdrawal, or service of a protection order, consent agreement, or witness subpoena or for obtaining a certified copy of a protection order or consent agreement.

(2) Regardless of whether a protection order is issued or a consent agreement is approved pursuant to this section, the court may assess costs against the respondent in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, withdrawal, or service of a protection order, consent agreement, or witness subpoena or for obtaining a certified copy of a protection order or consent agreement.

(K)(1) The court shall comply with Chapters 3119., 3121., 3123., and 3125. of the Revised Code when it makes or modifies an order for child support under this section.

(2) If any person required to pay child support under an order made under this section on or after April 15, 1985, or modified under this section on or after December 31, 1986, is found in contempt of court for failure to make support payments under the order, the court that makes the finding, in addition to any other penalty or remedy imposed, shall assess all court costs arising out of the contempt proceeding against the person and require the person to pay any reasonable attorney's fees of any adverse party, as determined by the court, that arose in relation to the act of contempt.

(L)(1) A person who violates a protection order issued or a consent agreement approved under this section is subject to the following sanctions:

(a) Criminal prosecution or a delinquent child proceeding for a violation of section 2919.27 of the Revised Code, if the violation of the protection order or consent agreement constitutes a violation of that section;

(b) Punishment for contempt of court.

(2) The punishment of a person for contempt of court for violation of a protection order issued or a consent agreement approved under this section does not bar criminal prosecution of the person or a delinquent child proceeding concerning the person for a violation of section 2919.27 of the Revised Code. However, a person punished for contempt of court is entitled to credit for the punishment imposed upon conviction of or adjudication as a delinquent child for a violation of that section, and a person convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent child for a violation of that section shall not subsequently be punished for contempt of court arising out of the same activity.

(M) In all stages of a proceeding under this section, a petitioner may be accompanied by a victim advocate.

(N)(1) A petitioner who obtains a protection order or consent agreement under this section or a temporary protection order under section 2919.26 of the Revised Code may provide notice of the issuance or approval of the order or agreement to the judicial and law enforcement officials in any county other than the county in which the order is issued or the agreement is approved by registering that order or agreement in the other county pursuant to division (N)(2) of this section and filing a copy of the registered order or registered agreement with a law enforcement agency in the other county in accordance with that division. A person who obtains a protection order issued by a court of another state may provide notice of the issuance of the order to the judicial and law enforcement officials in any county of this state by registering the order in that county pursuant to section 2919.272 of the Revised Code and filing a copy of the registered order with a law enforcement agency in that county.

(2) A petitioner may register a temporary protection order, protection order, or consent agreement in a county other than the county in which the court that issued the order or approved the agreement is located in the following manner:

(a) The petitioner shall obtain a certified copy of the order or agreement from the clerk of the court that issued the order or approved the agreement and present that certified copy to the clerk of the court of common pleas or the clerk of a municipal court or county court in the county in which the order or agreement is to be registered.

(b) Upon accepting the certified copy of the order or agreement for registration, the clerk of the court of common pleas, municipal court, or county court shall place an endorsement of registration on the order or agreement and give the petitioner a copy of the order or agreement that bears that proof of registration.

(3) The clerk of each court of common pleas, the clerk of each municipal court, and the clerk of each county court shall maintain a registry of certified copies of temporary protection orders, protection orders, or consent agreements that have been issued or approved by courts in other counties and that have been registered with the clerk.

(O) Nothing in this section prohibits the domestic relations division of a court of common pleas in counties that have a domestic relations division or a court of common pleas in counties that do not have a domestic relations division from designating a minor child as a protected party on a protection order or consent agreement.

Last updated February 8, 2023 at 12:58 PM

Section 3113.32 | Domestic dispute and violence problems records.
 

(A) The sheriff of a county, constable or chief of police of a township, and chief of police of a city or village shall keep a separate record of domestic dispute and domestic violence problems on a form prepared and distributed by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation. The forms shall contain spaces for the reporting of all information that the superintendent determines to be relevant to domestic dispute and domestic violence problems, including, but not limited to, the number of domestic dispute and domestic violence problems reported to the law enforcement agency for which the record is kept, the relationship of the complainant and the person allegedly the victim of the domestic violence, if different, to the alleged offender, and the relationship of all other persons involved in the domestic dispute or domestic violence problem, and the action taken by the law enforcement officers who handled the domestic dispute or domestic violence problem. A copy of the record shall be submitted to the bureau each month.

(B) The superintendent of the bureeau of criminal identification and investigation shall receive copies of monthly records of domestic dispute and domestic violence problems kept by local law enforcement agencies and submitted to him under division (A) of this section. The superintendent shall compile the data and annually produce a statistical public report on the incidence of domestic disputes and violence in this state and its political subdivisions. The report shall be prepared in such a manner that there is no identifying data, including the names and addresses of the persons involved in the domestic dispute and domestic violence problems, that would enable any person to determine the identity of any of the persons involved.

(C) The attorney general shall oversee the statistical reporting required pursuant to this section to ensure that it is complete and accurate.

Section 3113.33 | Shelters for domestic violence victims definitions.
 

As used in sections 3113.33 to 3113.40 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Domestic violence" means any of the following:

(1) Attempting to cause or causing bodily injury to a family or household member, or placing a family or household member by threat of force in fear of imminent physical harm;

(2) Attempting to cause or causing bodily injury to a person with whom the actor is or was in a dating relationship, or placing a person with whom the actor is or was in a dating relationship by threat of force in fear of imminent physical harm.

(B) "Family or household member" means any of the following:

(1) Any of the following who is residing or has resided with the person committing the domestic violence:

(a) A spouse, a person living as a spouse, or a former spouse of the person committing the domestic violence;

(b) A parent, foster parent, or child of the person committing the domestic violence, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to the person committing the domestic violence;

(c) A parent or a child of a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the person committing the domestic violence, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the person committing the domestic violence;

(d) The dependents of any person listed in division (B)(1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section.

(2) The natural parent of any child of whom the person committing the domestic violence is the other natural parent or is the putative other natural parent.

(C) "Shelter for victims of domestic violence" or "shelter" means a facility that provides temporary residential service or facilities to family or household members who are victims of domestic violence or to persons with whom the actor is or was in a dating relationship who are victims of domestic violence.

(D) "Person living as a spouse" means a person who is living or has lived with the person committing the domestic violence in a common law marital relationship, who otherwise is cohabiting with the person committing the domestic violence, or who otherwise has cohabited with the person committing the domestic violence within five years prior to the date of the alleged occurrence of the act in question.

(E) "Dating relationship" has the same meaning as in section 3113.31 of the Revised Code.

(F) "Person with whom the actor is or was in a dating relationship" means an individual who, at the time of the conduct in question, is in a dating relationship with the actor who is an adult or who, within the twelve months preceding the conduct in question, has had a dating relationship with the actor who is an adult.

(G) "Actor" means a person who attempts to cause or causes bodily injury to another, or places another by threat of force in fear of imminent physical harm.

Last updated February 8, 2023 at 12:59 PM

Section 3113.34 | Additional fee for marriage license used for financial assistance to shelters for victims of domestic violence.
 

In addition to any fee established under section 2101.16 of the Revised Code for the issuance of a marriage license, the probate court shall collect and deposit in the county treasury a fee of seventeen dollars for each marriage license issued. This fee, plus the thirty-two-dollar fee collected under division (D) of section 2303.201 of the Revised Code as additional costs in each new action or proceeding for annulment, divorce, or dissolution of marriage, shall be retained in a special fund and shall be expended only to provide financial assistance to shelters for victims of domestic violence and only as provided in sections 3113.35 to 3113.39 of the Revised Code.

Section 3113.35 | Application to county for release of fees collected for marriage licenses and as additional costs in certain actions.
 

(A) A shelter for victims of domestic violence may apply to the board of county commissioners of the county in which it is located or of an adjoining county, the population of which is or will be served by the shelter, for the release of funds to be collected as fees for the issuance of marriage licenses pursuant to section 3113.34 or fees as additional costs in annulment, divorce, or dissolution of marriage actions and proceedings pursuant to division (D) of section 2303.201 of the Revised Code and that are to be used for the funding of the shelter. All applications for funds shall be submitted by the first day of October of the year preceding the calendar year for which the funding is desired, and shall include all of the following:

(1) Evidence that the shelter is incorporated in this state as a nonprofit corporation;

(2) A list of the trustees of the corporation, and a list of the trustees of the shelter, if different;

(3) The proposed budget of the shelter for the following calendar year;

(4) A summary of the services proposed to be offered in the following calendar year;

(5) An estimate of the number of persons to be served during the following calendar year.

(B) Upon receipt of an application for funds from a shelter that meets the criteria set forth in section 3113.36 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners shall, on or before the fifteenth day of November of the year in which the application is filed, notify the shelter, in writing, whether it is eligible for funds, and if the shelter is eligible, estimate the amount available for that shelter from the fees to be collected under section 3113.34 or division (D) of section 2303.201 of the Revised Code.

(C) Funds collected as fees for the issuance of marriage licenses pursuant to section 3113.34 or fees as additional costs in annulment, divorce, or dissolution of marriage actions and proceedings pursuant to division (D) of section 2303.201 of the Revised Code that are allocated to shelters under this section shall be paid to the shelters twice annually. Funds collected from the first day of January through the thirtieth day of June of the calendar year following the year in which the application is filed shall be allocated to the shelters by the fifteenth day of July of the year following the year in which the application is filed. Funds collected from the first day of July through the thirty-first day of December of the calendar year following the year in which the application is filed shall be allocated to the shelters by the fifteenth day of January of the year following the end of the collection period.

Section 3113.36 | Shelter requirements for qualifying for funds.
 

(A) To qualify for funds under section 3113.35 of the Revised Code, a shelter for victims of domestic violence shall meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Be incorporated in this state as a nonprofit corporation;

(2) Have trustees who represent the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of the community to be served, including at least one person who is or has been a victim of domestic violence;

(3) Receive at least twenty-five per cent of its funds from sources other than funds distributed pursuant to section 3113.35 of the Revised Code. These other sources may be public or private, and may include funds distributed pursuant to section 3113.37 of the Revised Code, and contributions of goods or services, including materials, commodities, transportation, office space, or other types of facilities or personal services.

(4) Provide residential service or facilities for children when accompanied by a parent, guardian, or custodian who is a victim of domestic violence and who is receiving temporary residential service at the shelter;

(5) Require persons employed by or volunteering services to the shelter to maintain the confidentiality of any information that would identify individuals served by the shelter.

(B) A shelter for victims of domestic violence does not qualify for funds if it discriminates in its admissions or provision of services on the basis of race, religion, color, age, marital status, national origin, or ancestry. A shelter does not qualify for funds in the second half of any year if its application projects the provision of residential service and such service has not been provided in the first half of that year; such a shelter does not qualify for funds in the following year.

Section 3113.37 | Depositing unallocated funds in state treasury to credit of domestic violence shelters fund.
 

(A) If in any calendar year a board of county commissioners does not allocate all of the funds collected that year under section 3113.34 or division (D) of section 2303.201 of the Revised Code to a shelter for victims of domestic violence that applied for them, or if a board receives no application in that year from a shelter that is qualified to receive funds as determined under section 3113.36 of the Revised Code, the funds shall be deposited, on or before the thirty-first day of December of that year, in the state treasury to the credit of the domestic violence shelters fund, which is hereby created. The fund shall be administered by the attorney general for the purpose of providing financial assistance to shelters.

(B) A shelter located in this state may apply to the attorney general for funds. All applications for funds shall be submitted by the first day of February of the year for which the funds are requested and shall contain all of the information set forth in division (A) of section 3113.35 of the Revised Code.

(C) Upon receipt of an application for funds from a shelter that meets the criteria set forth in section 3113.36 of the Revised Code, the attorney general, on or before the fifteenth day of March of the year in which the application is received, shall notify the shelter, in writing, whether it is eligible for funds and, if the shelter is eligible, specify the amount available for that shelter.

(D) Funds allocated under this section shall be paid once annually, on or before the thirtieth day of April of the year in which the application is received.

Section 3113.38 | Fund allocation priorities.
 

If a board of county commissioners or the attorney general receives applications from more than one qualified shelter for victims of domestic violence, and the requests for funds exceed the amount of funds available, funds shall be allocated on the basis of the following priorities:

(A) To shelters in existence on the effective date of this section;

(B) To shelters offering or proposing to offer the broadest range of services and referrals to the community served, including medical, psychological, financial, educational, vocational, child care services, and legal services;

(C) To other qualified shelters.

Section 3113.39 | Annual report by shelter.
 

(A) A shelter for victims of domestic violence that receives funds pursuant to section 3113.35 or 3113.37 of the Revised Code shall file an annual report with the board of county commissioners of the county in which it is located and of the county from which it is receiving funds, if different, and with the attorney general on or before the thirty-first day of March of the year following the year in which funds were received. The annual report shall include statistics on the number of persons served by the shelter, the relationship of the victim of domestic violence to the abuser, the number of referrals made for medical, psychological, financial, educational, vocational, child care services, or legal services, and shall include a compilation report of an independent accountant. No information contained in the report shall identify any person served by the shelter, or enable any person to determine the identity of any such person.

(B) The attorney general shall compile the reports filed pursuant to division (A) of this section annually.

Section 3113.40 | Obtaining last known residence information.
 

When a shelter for victims of domestic violence provides accommodations to a person, the shelter, on admitting the person, shall determine, if possible, the person's last known residential address and county of residence. The information concerning the address and county of residence is confidential and may be released only to a public children services agency pursuant to section 2151.422 of the Revised Code.

Section 3113.45 | Definitions for sections 3113.451 to 3113.459.
 

As used in sections 3113.451 to 3113.459 of the Revised Code, "wireless service," "wireless service provider," and "reseller" have the same meanings as in section 128.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 3113.451 | Wireless service account transfer.
 

After an ex parte or full hearing under section 3113.31 of the Revised Code, a court may issue an order directing a wireless service provider or reseller to transfer the rights to, and billing responsibility for, the wireless service number or numbers in use by the petitioner or any minor children in the care of the petitioner when the petitioner is not the account holder.

Section 3113.452 | Form of order.
 

An order issued in compliance with section 3113.451 of the Revised Code shall include the following:

(A) The name and billing telephone number of the account holder;

(B) The name and contact information of the petitioner to whom the wireless service number or numbers shall be transferred;

(C) Each wireless service number to be transferred to the petitioner.

Section 3113.453 | Confidentiality.
 

A court shall ensure that any contact information of a petitioner described in section 3113.452 of the Revised Code is kept confidential from the account holder.

Section 3113.454 | Service of process.
 

An order issued in compliance with section 3113.451 of the Revised Code shall be served on the wireless service provider's or reseller's agent for service of process listed with the secretary of state.

Section 3113.455 | Notice.
 

The wireless service provider or reseller shall notify the petitioner within seventy-two hours of receipt of the order and the order shall be automatically suspended upon making the notification if the wireless service provider or reseller cannot operationally or technically effectuate the order due to certain circumstances, including the following:

(A) The account holder has already terminated the account.

(B) Differences in network technology prevent the functionality of a device on the network.

(C) There are geographic or other limitations on network or service availability.

(D) Any other operational or technical issue that would prevent or impair the use of the wireless service number if the transfer occurs.

Section 3113.456 | Assumption of financial responsibility.
 

Upon transfer of the wireless service number to the petitioner, the petitioner shall assume all financial responsibility for any costs associated with the wireless service number and any costs for the device associated with the wireless service number.

Section 3113.457 | Requirements for account establishment.
 

Nothing in sections 3113.45 to 3113.459 of the Revised Code shall preclude a wireless service provider or reseller from applying to the petitioner any routine and customary requirements for account establishment as part of the transfer, including identification, financial information, and customer preferences.

Section 3113.458 | Apportionment of assets or debts.
 

Nothing in sections 3113.45 to 3113.459 of the Revised Code shall affect the ability of the court to apportion the assets or debts of the parties as provided for in the Revised Code, or the ability to determine temporary use, possession, and control of personal property pursuant to division (E)(1)(h) of section 3113.31 of the Revised Code.

Section 3113.459 | Liability.
 

No cause of action shall arise against the wireless service provider or reseller, its officers, employees, or agents, for any action taken in accordance with sections 3113.45 to 3113.459 of the Revised Code or with the terms of a court order issued in compliance with section 3113.451 of the Revised Code.

Section 3113.99 | Penalty.
 

Whoever violates section 3113.06 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 3113.06 of the Revised Code or if the court finds that the offender has failed to pay the cost of child maintenance under section 3113.06 of the Revised Code for a total accumulated period of twenty-six weeks out of one hundred four consecutive weeks, whether or not the twenty-six weeks were consecutive, a violation of section 3113.06 of the Revised Code is a felony of the fifth degree.