Resources for the Bench

Bench Cards, Guides & Toolkits

The information contained in these bench cards is a compilation of statutes and court decisions in the State of Ohio and it is intended as a summary of the law to assist judges, lawyers, and the general public. The information does not represent binding statements of law by the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Probate Forms

Protection Order Forms

Name
Access to Justice Resources Appellate Courts, Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
A Guide for Court Managers (2022) Appellate Courts, Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Municipal and County Courts
A Judicial Guide to Conducting Remote Hearings (2022) Appellate Courts, Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Judicial Assignment Program Overview (2025) Appellate Courts, Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Municipal and County Courts
Non-Fatal Strangulation/Suffocation: Four Common Myths (2025) Appellate Courts, Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Non-Fatal Strangulation/Suffocation: What Every Judge Should Know (2025) Appellate Courts, Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Pro Hac Vice Admission (2024) Appellate Courts, Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Technology Plan Guidance for Local Courts (2022) Appellate Courts, Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Understanding Marsy's Law Judicial Guide to Protecting the Rights of Crime Victims (2025) Appellate Courts, Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Municipal and County Courts
Understanding Marsy's Law Quick Reference Guide for Judges (2024) Appellate Courts, Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Municipal and County Courts
Veterans Services Poster Appellate Courts, Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Adult Rights Restoration & Record Sealing (October 2023) Common Pleas, General Division
Appointment & Credentialing of Foreign Language Interpreters (2022) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Certificate of Qualification for Employment Common Pleas, General Division
Collection of Court Costs & Fines in Adult Trial Courts (2025) Common Pleas, General Division, Municipal and County Courts
Domestic Violence in Later Life Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Drug Offense Quick Reference Guide (Updated 2023) Common Pleas, General Division
Ensuring the Right to be Heard: Procedural Fairness for Self-Represented Litigants (2025) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Municipal and County Courts
Felony Sentencing Bench Card (November 2024) Common Pleas, General Division
Felony Sentencing Quick Reference Guide (Updated 2024) Common Pleas, General Division
Government Conflict Resolution Services Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Government Conflict Resolution Services Process Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Human Trafficking Bench Card (2018) Common Pleas, General Division, Municipal and County Courts
Indefinite Sentencing Reference Guide (March 2025) Common Pleas, General Division
Intervention in Lieu of Conviction Toolkit (2025) Common Pleas, General Division, Municipal and County Courts
Language Services in Case or Court Function and Ancillary Court Services (2022) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Limited Scope Representation (LSR) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Municipal and County Courts
NCIC Mental Health Notice (2014) Common Pleas, General Division, Municipal and County Courts
Neutral Evaluation Toolkit (2024) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate
Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity Flowchart (2025) Common Pleas, General Division, Municipal and County Courts
Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Reference Guide (March 2025) Common Pleas, General Division, Municipal and County Courts
Pathway Approach for Civil Cases (2020) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Municipal and County Courts
Presentence Investigation Report Guide (2025) Common Pleas, General Division
Principles for the Use of Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) in Community Control, Probation, and Supervision (2024) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Municipal and County Courts
Protection Orders Overview Card (2018) Common Pleas, General Division, Municipal and County Courts
Protection Orders: Statutes & Rules Reference Chart (2019) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Municipal and County Courts
Quick Reference Guide: Understanding BCI Reporting (2024) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Reporting to Law Enforcement & Compliance Plan Guidance (2025) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Municipal and County Courts
Retired Chief Justice's Guidance on Fines, Fees, and Bail (2018) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Municipal and County Courts
Senate Bill 231 - Violent Offender Database "Sierah's Law" (Updated 2024) Common Pleas, General Division
Specialized Dockets Drafting Guide (2025) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Municipal and County Courts
Strategies for Addressing a Backlog of Hearings: Tips for Ohio Courts (2025) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Understanding BCI Reporting (2024) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Understanding Domestic Violence Firearms Prohibitions (2025) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Uniform Sentencing Entry Common Pleas, General Division
Victims Rights Poster (2018) Common Pleas, General Division, Municipal and County Courts
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) in Ohio Courts (2022) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Working With Interpreters for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Persons in the Courts (2022) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Telephonic Interpretation (2025) Common Pleas, General Division, Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate, Mayor's Courts, Municipal and County Courts
Custody Evaluations Toolkit for Judicial Use (2023) Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Allocation of Parental Rights & Responsibilities Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Child Support Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Contempt Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Dissolution Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Divorce Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Equitable Division of Property Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Legal Separation Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Motions to Set Aside Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Paternity Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Prenuptial Agreements Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Temporary Orders Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction & Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Domestic Relations Resource Guide Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Domestic Violence & Allocation of Parental Rights and Responsibilities Court Guide (2016) Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Judicial Guide to Guardian ad Litem Programs (2023) Common Pleas, Domestic Relations, Common Pleas, Juvenile
Planning for Parenting Time: Ohio's Guide for Parents Living Apart (2025) Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Protection Orders Overview Card (2018) Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Assessing Allegations of Domestic Violence in Child Abuse Cases (2016) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Bridges Program Toolkit Sample Judgment Entry, With Jurisdiction Sample Motion Sample Summons Sample Initial Hearing/Best Interest Determination Sample Reasonable Efforts/Annual Review Sample Waiver of Appearance Procedure Sample Waiver of Appearance Form Sample Court Information Form Sample Venue Transfer Form Common Pleas, Juvenile
Sample Judgment Entry, With Jurisdiction Common Pleas, Juvenile
Sample Motion Common Pleas, Juvenile
Sample Summons Common Pleas, Juvenile
Sample Initial Hearing/Best Interest Determination Common Pleas, Juvenile
Sample Reasonable Efforts/Annual Review Common Pleas, Juvenile
Sample Waiver of Appearance Procedure Common Pleas, Juvenile
Sample Waiver of Appearance Form Common Pleas, Juvenile
Sample Court Information Form Common Pleas, Juvenile
Sample Venue Transfer Form Common Pleas, Juvenile
Caregiver Notice and Right to be Heard Toolkit Notice to Caregiver, Sample Child Placement Form, Sample Caregiver Information Form, Sample Common Pleas, Juvenile
Notice to Caregiver, Sample Common Pleas, Juvenile
Child Placement Form, Sample Common Pleas, Juvenile
Caregiver Information Form, Sample Common Pleas, Juvenile
Child Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency Quality Hearing Self-Assessment Guide Common Pleas, Juvenile
Child Protection Mediation Toolkit (2021) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Child Welfare Attorneys: A Toolkit for Quality Legal Representation (2023) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Custody Evaluators Toolkit for Judicial Use (2023) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Dependency Docket Bench Cards (2015) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Desktop Guide for Juvenile Court Clerks (2018) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Developing an Effective School Attendance Program (2023) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Court Trauma-Informed Practices Bench Card (2017) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Disposition Benchcard (2025) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Diversion Toolkit for Judicial Use (2021) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Human Trafficking, Ohio Laws & Safe Harbor Response Bench Card (2017) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Justice Bench Cards (full set) (Reviewed October 2024) Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Introduction Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Collection of Fines and Fees in Juvenile Courts Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Detained Youth Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Diversion Bench Card Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Juvenile Delinquency Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Truancy Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Unruly Child Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Youth in Adult Court Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Introduction Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Collection of Fines and Fees in Juvenile Courts Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Detained Youth Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Diversion Bench Card Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Juvenile Delinquency Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Truancy Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Unruly Child Common Pleas, Juvenile
Juvenile Justice Bench Cards: Youth in Adult Court Common Pleas, Juvenile
NCIC Mental Health Notice (2014) Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate
Planning for Parenting Time: Ohio's Guide for Parents Living Apart (2025) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Protection Orders Overview Card (2018) Common Pleas, Juvenile, Common Pleas, Probate
Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) Level of Care Assessments Toolkit for Judicial Use (2021) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Quality Hearing Toolkit for Judicial Use (2021) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Victims Rights Poster (2018) Common Pleas, Juvenile
Youth Engagement in Court Proceedings Toolkit Tips for Youth in Court, brochure Common Pleas, Juvenile
Tips for Youth in Court, brochure Common Pleas, Juvenile
Adult Protective Services Toolkit (complete document) Sample Protective Services Order Policy Sample Information Gathering Outline for Protective Services Court Order Sample Court-Ordered Emergency Protective Services Order Common Pleas, Probate
Sample Protective Services Order Policy Common Pleas, Probate
Sample Information Gathering Outline for Protective Services Court Order Common Pleas, Probate
Sample Court-Ordered Emergency Protective Services Order Common Pleas, Probate
Desktop Guide for Probate Court Clerks (2022) Common Pleas, Probate
Establishing a Court Visitor Program to Monitor Guardianships Toolkit for Judicial Use (2021) Common Pleas, Probate
Guardianship of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Toolkit Common Pleas, Probate
Probate Bench Cards (2018) Common Pleas, Probate
Protection Orders: Statutes & Rules Reference Chart (2019) Common Pleas, Probate
Mayor's Court Bench Book (2021) Mayor's Courts
Adult Rights Restoration & Record Sealing (2023) Municipal and County Courts
Judicial Guide to Eviction Diversion Toolkit (2021) Municipal and County Courts
Adult Competency Flowchart (December 2025) Common Pleas, General Division
Adult Competency Reference Guide (March 2026) Common Pleas, General Division
Building an Effective Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Program (2026) Common Pleas, Probate

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