Domestic Violence & Protection Order Lawyer in Dayton, Ohio
Domestic violence matters require careful, immediate handling — and they often intersect with custody, parenting time, and support. Anne Harvey has assisted Dayton and Southwest Ohio clients with civil protection orders and the family law issues that come with them for 30+ years.
Contacting Anne Harvey Law through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233.
Hire the Lawyer Who Actually Handles Your Case
These matters move fast, and the details matter. Here is what it actually means to hire Anne for a protection order or related matter:
You Work With Anne — Not a Rotating Team
Every call, every filing, every court date involves the same attorney: Anne herself. You will never have to re-explain your case to a new associate.
Straight Answers, Not Just What You Want to Hear
Anne tells clients the truth about where their case stands, including the parts that are hard to hear, so decisions get made with clear eyes.
30+ Years Focused on Ohio Family Law
Decades spent exclusively on divorce, custody, and support matters in Southwest Ohio courts, not a general practice that handles family law on the side.
Credentials You'd Expect From a Large Firm
OSBA Board Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law, and an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest peer-review rating.
“She will not steer you wrong and will be honest with you. She never fed me any lies. In Anne you have it all — she delivers what she says she will, as long as you do your part too.”— Former Client, Anne Harvey Law
Every family law matter is different. Past client experiences do not predict or guarantee the outcome of your case.
On Handling These Cases for Thirty-Plus Years
These are the cases where there's no time to ease into anything. Someone calls, often frightened, sometimes still shaking, and within days — sometimes hours — we're in front of a judge asking for protection. Thirty-plus years hasn't made that part of the job routine, and I don't want it to.
What experience has given me here is speed and precision. I know what a court needs to see in a petition to grant an emergency order, and I know how to get a client's situation in front of a judge without wasting the narrow window that matters most. I've also represented people responding to a petition filed against them, and I know how easily these matters can get tangled up with an ongoing custody or divorce case if nobody is watching that connection closely.
I don't treat every case the same, because they aren't the same. Some involve years of documented history. Some involve a single, serious incident. Some involve accusations that turn out to be more complicated than they first appear. My job is to take the facts in front of me seriously, whichever side of the courtroom I'm standing on, and to move quickly and carefully.
If there's one thing I want people to understand, it's that a protection order isn't the end of a legal process — it's usually the beginning of one that touches custody, parenting time, and sometimes the family home. Handling it in isolation, without thinking about what comes next, is how people end up back in court sorting out consequences nobody planned for.
— Anne Harvey
How Civil Protection Orders Work in Ohio
Ohio law allows a person who has experienced domestic violence, or who reasonably believes they are in danger of it, to petition a court for a civil protection order. In urgent situations, a court can issue an emergency, ex parte order — meaning it's granted before the other party has a chance to respond — followed by a full hearing where both sides can present their case.
A protection order can address more than just keeping the parties apart. It can include temporary provisions related to custody of children, temporary support, and exclusive possession of a shared residence, among other terms, while the underlying issues are resolved.
Because these cases often overlap with divorce or custody proceedings, decisions made in a protection order case can have real consequences for those other matters. Anne can help you understand how the pieces fit together, whether you are seeking protection or responding to a petition filed against you.
What These Cases May Involve
Domestic violence matters can arise on their own or alongside a divorce or custody case. Most involve some combination of the following.
Emergency Protection Orders
Petitioning for an urgent, ex parte order when there is an immediate need for protection.
Full Hearing Representation
Presenting your case at the full civil protection order hearing that follows an emergency order.
Custody & Parenting Time Overlap
Addressing how a protection order interacts with an existing or upcoming custody case.
Learn moreResponding to a Petition
Representing clients who have been served with a protection order petition and need to respond.
Common Protection Order Questions
General answers to help you get oriented. These do not substitute for advice about your specific situation.
What is a civil protection order in Ohio?
It's a court order intended to protect someone from domestic violence, which can include no-contact provisions and, in some cases, temporary custody, support, or housing arrangements while the matter is resolved.
How quickly can I get a protection order?
In urgent situations, a court can issue an emergency, ex parte order the same day a petition is filed, before the other party has had a chance to respond. A full hearing with both sides follows afterward.
Does a protection order affect custody automatically?
A protection order can include temporary custody or parenting time provisions, and it can also influence an ongoing or later custody case. The specific effect depends on the facts and the terms of the order.
What happens if the order is violated?
Violating a civil protection order can lead to serious legal consequences, including criminal charges. If an order in your case is being violated, it's important to document it and act quickly.
I've been served with a protection order petition — what should I do?
Respond promptly and take the hearing date seriously. You have the right to present your side of the case, and getting experienced representation quickly can make a meaningful difference.
Related Family Law Services
Serving Dayton and Southwest Ohio
Anne represents clients in these matters throughout Dayton, Ohio and the surrounding counties, including Montgomery County, Warren County, Greene County, Clark County, Miami County.
Reach Out Now if You Need Help
These matters are time-sensitive. Contact Anne directly to talk through your situation and understand your options quickly.
Please do not use the contact form to send highly sensitive or time-critical information. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.