Civil Division
The Civil Division is where civil disputes involving dollar amounts up to fifteen thousand dollars, landlord tenant disputes, including evictions and rent escrows, collection of judgments via garnishments, debtor trusteeships, and appeals to the Bureau of Motor vehicles for 12-point driving suspensions are handled.
Small Claims are civil disputes involving monetary amounts of up to six thousand dollars. For additional information please go to https://www.ohiojudges.org/Resources/citizen-guide-brochures.
Disputes involving larger dollar amounts are handled in the Butler County Common Pleas Court.
Civil Costs
| Small Claims Petition | |
| Certified Mail, first defendant | $57.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $10.00 |
| Personal Service, first defendant | $67.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $20.00 |
| Ordinary Complaint | |
| Certified Mail, first defendant | $89.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $10.00 |
| Residential Service, first defendant | $94.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $15.00 |
| Personal Service, first defendant | $104.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $20.00 |
| Amended Complaint | |
| Certified Mail, first defendant | $15.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $10.00 |
| Residential Service, first defendant | $20.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $15.00 |
| Personal Service, first defendant | $25.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $20.00 |
| Counterclaim Complaint | |
| Certified Mail, first defendant | $30.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $10.00 |
| Residential Service, first defendant | $40.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $15.00 |
| Personal Service, first defendant | $50.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $20.00 |
| Cross-Claim | |
| Certified Mail, first defendant | $30.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $10.00 |
| Residential Service, first defendant | $40.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $15.00 |
| Personal Service, first defendant | $50.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $20.00 |
| Third Party Complaint | |
| Certified Mail, first defendant | $30.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $10.00 |
| Residential Service, first defendant | $40.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $15.00 |
| Personal Service, first defendant | $50.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $20.00 |
| Alias Summons | |
| Certified Mail, first defendant | $15.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $10.00 |
| Residential Service, first defendant | $20.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $15.00 |
| Personal Service, first defendant | $25.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $20.00 |
| Secretary of State Service | $20.00 |
| Cognovit Note | |
| Certified Mail, first defendant | $20.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $10.00 |
| Replevin | |
| Certified Mail, first defendant | $89.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $10.00 |
| Residential Service, first defendant | $94.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $15.00 |
| Personal Service, first defendant | $104.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $20.00 |
| Order for Examination | |
| Certified Mail, first defendant | $20.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $10.00 |
| Personal Service, first defendant | $35.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $20.00 |
| Writ of Restitution | $30.00 |
| F.E.D. Complaint | |
| Residential Service | $94.00 |
| Personal Service | $104.00 |
| Execution/Monies in Hands of Third Party | $20.00 |
| Petition and Attachment of Execution (Plus any additional costs) | $300.00 |
| Storage Deposit | $200.00 |
| Trusteeship Application | $40.00 |
| Each additional creditor | $10.00 |
| Certificate of Judgment | $10.00 |
| Transcript of Authenticated Judgment | $10.00 |
| Revivor of Judgment | |
| Certified mail | $15.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $10.00 |
| Personal service | $25.00 |
| Each additional defendant | $20.00 |
| Subpoena (Advance deposit required) | $18.00 |
| Jury Demand (Advance deposit required, $50.00 non-refundable) | $350.00 |
| Bench Warrant | $20.00 |
| Appeal from 12th District Court of Appeals | $250.00 |
| Licence Suspension Appeal | $85.00 |
| Non-Compliance Filing Fee | $85.00 |
| Petition for Driving Privilege with Reinstatement Pay Plan | $85.00 |
| 15 Day Notice - Garnishment | $10.00 |
| No Show Cause Contempt | $30.00 |
| Release of Lien | $10.00 |
| Transfers | |
| Transfer from another court (After Judgment) | $10.00 |
| Transfer from Small Claims to Regular Docket | $25.00 |
| Transfer to Another Court (After Judgment) | $25.00 |
| Transfer Case In from Another Court (Prior to Judgment) | $40.00 |
| Special Process Server | $15.00 |
| Certified Copy of Judgment Entry | $2.50 |
Garnishments
$75.00 fee for garnishment with total amount due as set forth in Section "A" of Order and Notice of Garnishments of up to $3000.00.
$100.00 fee for total amount due of $3000.01 to $6000.00
$125.00 fee for total amount due of $6000.01 to $9000.00
$150.00 fee for total amount due of $9000.01 to $12000.00
$175.00 fee for total amount due of $12000.01 and above
In the case of garnishments which are required to be re-filed, regardless of reason, the minimum rate of $75.00.
Bank Attachments
$20.00 fee to Court, $1.00 fee made payable to Bank, with the exception of US Bank. They require an additional $15.00 for certified mail service, therefore, $35.00 fee to Court, $1.00 fee made payable to US Bank.
*******There is an additional fee of $15.00 to send Garnishments and/or Bank Attachments by Certified Mail Service*******