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1. What do I do if I or my child has received a traffic citation?

If you are a resident of Williams County and received your ticket in Williams County you will receive a Notice of Hearing with a date and time to appear. The juvenile must appear with at least one parent or legal guardian for the hearing. Juveniles are not permitted to post bond for traffic offenses. The hearing is on the second floor of the Courthouse in the Juvenile Court.

If you are a resident of Ohio but not a resident of Williams County the ticket will be transferred to your county of residence.

If you are an out-of-state resident you will receive a Notice of Hearing allowing you to either appear in person or pay the fine and court costs without appearing. This option is only available to out-of-state residents.

2. How do I get court appointed counsel for a delinquency charge?

The parent or legal guardian will be required to fill out an affidavit identifying sources of income and amounts to determine eligibility. The Judge will then determine eligibility and appoint counsel from a list of attorneys that have agreed to take court appointed clients. A filing fee of $25 is required to file the affidavit. 

3. I received a Notice of Hearing for juvenile court. Where do I go?

If your notice is for a diversion case, you report to the Juvenile Probation Office on the first floor of the Courthouse. If your notice is for a delinquency hearing or a hearing on an abuse/neglect/dependency case, you report to the Juvenile Court courtroom on the second floor. If your notice is for custody/support/visitation, you check in at the second floor Juvenile Court office.

4. Where do I go to pay fines, courts costs, and filing fees?

For costs relating to a delinquency case, you report to the Juvenile Probation Office on the first floor or the Juvenile Court office on the second floor in the Courthouse. For costs relating to a custody/support/visitation case you will make the payments at the Juvenile Court office on the second floor of the Courthouse.

5. Where do I go to get copies of journal entries for custody matters?

You will generally be able to get copies from the Juvenile Court office on the second floor of the Courthouse. There is a cost relating to copies and if the case is not currently open retrieving copies can take some time.

6. How do I get my record sealed and/or expunged?

Generally, the Juvenile Court seals and expunges your record after the statutory requirements are met. However, there are some charges that the court is not permitted to seal and/or expunge so those charges will remain on your record.

7. I or my child was notified for a diversion meeting. What does that mean?

Diversion is a way to get help without having a formal case filed. Even though Diversion is informal, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to diversion meetings. You will report to the Juvenile Probation Office on the first floor of the Courthouse and meet with either a diversion counselor or other probation staff. The goal is to resolve the situation without the need for further action.

8. Can anyone refer a child to diversion?

Yes. We accept diversion referrals from parents and schools as well as law enforcement.