Civil Protection Orders

Details of CPOs in Columbus, Ohio

A civil protection order (CPO) is issued in the Columbus/Franklin County domestic courts when there is a domestic violence accusation where "immediate and present danger" is found. Civil protection orders are referred to as "CPOs". These orders are designed by the courts to protect individuals from future danger. Furthermore, CPOs are taken very seriously by the court system.

The document that an individual seeking a CPO must file is called a petition. In Franklin County, the Petition for a CPO can be found here. It is important to specify to the court exactly what has happened to bring a need for the CPO and who needs protection. CPOs can protect the person filing for the CPO, minor children, and/or other family/members or household members.

About Our Civil Protection Lawyers

Our attorneys have represented thousands of clients in Franklin County Domestic Courts for civil protection orders in Columbus, Ohio. We have decades of experience and will provide you with skilled and strong representation from the time of filing through the resolution of your civil protection order. We understand the unique complexities of civil protection orders and are committed to providing consistent results to our clients. Some of the main issues in civil protection orders involve the substantive allegations of threat and harm from one individual to another. We provide all of our clients with a comprehensive review and analysis of all the legal issues of your civil protection order case. Through our experience and counsel, we will provide you with all the information needed to resolve and/or litigate your interests in court. Mr. Hoffman has been practicing in the Franklin County domestic courts since 1984. Call Hoffman Law for lawyers that care about your situation and have decades of experience in the field.

Steps to Filing a Civil Protection (CPO) Order in Columbus, Ohio

File a CPO Petition

This is a sword statement to the court setting forth the details of grounds for a CPO.

Ex-Parte Hearing with Magistrate

The petitioner will have an ex-parte hearing with a magistrate for temporary protection

Full CPO Hearing

Within 7-10 days, a second hearing is held where the petitioner will present their case and the respondent will have the opportunity to present their case.

Resolution of CPO

Upon hearing both sides, the Court will issue an order either granting or denying the CPO.

Defending a Civil Protection Order (CPO)

Our attorneys have decades of experience representing clients in CPOs. Moreover, our attorneys have represented thousands of clients in family law and domestic-related matters. Once hired to represent a client in a pending CPO matter, we will immediately retrieve a copy of the petition from the clerk's office and conduct a comprehensive review of your case. We know what the court is looking to see and how to best defend your case. We will take the time to put together all relevant evidence and prepare to defend you in court upon the date of the final hearing.

In order to establish a CPO, the petitioner has the burden of showing that they are in immediate and present danger of domestic violence. The petitioner needs to prove one or all of the following:

No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household member.
No person shall recklessly cause serious physical harm to a family or household member.
No person, by threat of force, shall knowingly cause a family or household member to believe that the offender will cause imminent physical harm to the family or household member.

Contact one of our attorneys to defend you in your CPO case.