Domestic Violence Information

According to the Ohio Law revised Code Section 3113.31 “Domestic Violence” means the occurrence of one or more of the following acts against a family or household member:

a) Attempting to cause or recklessly causing bodily injury;

b) Placing another person by threat of force in fear of imminent serious physical harm or committing a violation of section 2903.211 (menacing by stalking) or 2911.211 (aggravated trespass) of the Revised Code;

c) Committing any act with respect to a child that would result in the child being an abused child, as defined in section 2151.031 (standard for child abuse) of the revised Code;

d) Committing a sexually oriented offense.

“Family or household member” means any of the following:

a) Any of the following who is residing with or has resided with the respondent:

• A spouse, a person living as a spouse, or a former spouse of the respondent;
• A parent, a foster parent, or a child of the respondent, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to the respondent;
• A parent or child of a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the respondent, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the respondent.

b) The natural parent of any child of whom the respondent is the other natural parent or is the putative (presumed or alleged) other natural parent.

“Person living as a spouse” means a person who is living or has lived with the respondent in a common law marital relationship, who otherwise is cohabiting with the respondent, or who otherwise has cohabitated with the respondent within five (5) years prior to the date of the alleged occurrence of the act in question.

Other forms of abuse such as verbal, emotional, or financial control are important factors in any domestic violence situation and are not to be minimized. However, these factors alone may not meet the legal definition in Ohio Domestic Violence Law.

According to the Ohio Revised Code Section 3113.31 (A)(8) and (A)(9):

• "Dating relationship" means a relationship between individuals who have, or have had, a relationship of a romantic or intimate nature. "Dating relationship" does not include a casual acquaintanceship or ordinary fraternization in a business or social context.
• "Person with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship" means an adult who, at the time of the conduct in question, is in a dating relationship with the respondent who also is an adult or who, within the twelve months preceding the conduct in question, has had a dating relationship with the respondent who also is an adult.