Create Forms and File for a Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (SSOOPO) in Ohio

Gather evidence to support your case, though your personal testimony alone is also considered evidence.

The following are considered evidence of stalking or sexually oriented offenses:

Evidence Type 1: Pending Criminal Case
Judges are more likely to issue an order if there is an ongoing criminal case, so it is important to mention it when seeking a temporary protection order. When a judge sees that a criminal case is already in progress, it may indicate that law enforcement or the prosecutor believes the offense can be proven.

Evidence Type 2: Photos of violence, injuries, or property damage
These may include photos of injuries caused by the respondent or damage to personal property. It is helpful to attach photos close to the incident description to provide full context.

Evidence Type 3: Messages, emails, or voicemail transcripts
You can include screenshots of threatening or inappropriate messages, printed emails, or downloaded copies saved as images or PDFs. In most cases, digital evidence should be uploaded in a printed or readable format.

Evidence Type 4: 911 Calls
Instead of only stating that you called 911 or a hotline, include details such as the number dialed, date and time of the call, who made the call, what was reported, and any relevant details about the responder.

Evidence Type 5: Medical Records
You may include medical documents related to the respondent’s actions, such as injury records, trauma reports, or mental health treatment records, including hospital documents or patient portal printouts.

Evidence Type 6: Police Reports
Include any police reports filed related to stalking behavior or sexually oriented offenses.

Evidence Type 7: Testimony
Witness testimony can be provided by neighbors, co-workers, friends, or bystanders. It should describe what the witness saw or heard with as much detail as possible.

Determine if your situation is roughly suitable for applying for a Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order by taking a screening. You can begin by entering your ZIP code in the Start box at the top of this page.

After the screening, this website will guide you through the remaining steps to prepare your case documents.

For your information, to apply for a Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (SSOOPO), you must complete and submit a set of official Ohio court forms. These forms include questions about your situation and the people involved.

The main form is the petition, called the Petition for Civil Stalking Protection Order or Civil Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order.

This website also allows you to digitally sign and e-file your documents with the court.

There are also other options, such as completing court forms online, but those do not officially submit your case to the court.

To formally request protection, you must submit your documents to the clerk of court. This process is called filing, and it can be done in two ways, both of which have the same legal effect:

• Online (e-filing)
• In person

E-filing is convenient and available at any time. The filing date is recorded as the day you submit your documents, or the next business day if submitted after court hours.

Protection order documents for a Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (SSOOPO) are filed with the Clerk of Courts in your county, usually in the Court of Common Pleas, either the General Division or Domestic Relations Division depending on the location.

Once your filing is accepted, the court assigns a case number.

Depending on the facts and evidence presented, a judge may issue a protection order the same day, which is known as an ex parte order, until the hearing.

In lower-risk situations, a temporary order may be issued within a few days.

If there are no legal grounds, or if the application is incomplete or the court does not have jurisdiction, the request for an order may be denied. In some cases, a hearing may still be scheduled for both parties to present their case.

A temporary order is typically valid for about three weeks, which is the time period leading up to the hearing. If the hearing is delayed for any reason, you should check with the court to ensure the temporary order is extended or re-issued until the hearing.

This is done in one of the following ways, after which you are legally protected, meaning any violation may result in arrest or criminal charges for the respondent:

• Clerk would have the abuser served by law enforcement. You do not need to take any action in this case.
• Clerk would give you a packet of the temporary order and other documents, and you would arrange for formal service through another adult or a legal courier to the respondent.
• In some cases, such as when the respondent’s address is unknown, a complete set of the temporary order and supporting documents called the “911 packet” is given to you. This is useful if there is a confrontation and law enforcement is called, as officers can physically serve the 911 packet to the respondent.

Attend a hearing: The court holds a hearing within a couple of weeks where the evidence is reviewed. If the judge finds sufficient supporting evidence, a full protection order may be issued. At that point, it becomes a criminal offense for the respondent to violate the terms of the order.

If the respondent does not attend the hearing after being properly served (typically about one week before the hearing), the court may issue the order by default without further discussion or additional evidence.

After the hearing, the court may issue a final protection order. You should obtain a paper copy of the order for your records, as it may be important if you need to contact law enforcement in the future.

In Ohio, the duration of a Civil Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (SSOOPO) can vary, but it is commonly issued for up to 5 years unless otherwise specified by the court.