Definitions of Domestic Violence - Ohio

Date: January 2021

Defined in Domestic Violence Civil Laws

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 3113.31

'Domestic violence' means any of the following:

  • The occurrence of one or more of the following acts against a family or household member:
    • Attempting to cause or recklessly causing bodily injury
    • Placing another person, by the threat of force, in fear of imminent serious physical harm or committing a violation of § 2903.211 (menacing by stalking) or 2911.211 (aggravated trespass)
    • Committing any act with respect to a child that would result in the child being an abused child, as defined in § 2151.031
    • Committing a sexually oriented offense
  • The occurrence of one or more of the acts identified above against a person with whom the respondent is or was in a dating relationship

Defined in Child Abuse Reporting and Child Protection Laws

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

Defined in Criminal Laws

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 2919.25

No person shall do the following:

  • Knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household member
  • Recklessly cause serious physical harm to a family or household member
  • Knowingly, by threat of force, cause a family or household member to believe that the offender will cause imminent physical harm to the family or household member

Whoever violates this section is guilty of domestic violence.

Persons Included in the Definition

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 3113.31; 2919.25

In civil and criminal law: 'Family or household member' means any of the following:

  • 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 a 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
  • The natural parent of any child of whom the respondent is the other natural parent or is the putative 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 cohabited with the respondent within 5 years prior to the date of the alleged occurrence of the act in question.

'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 12 months preceding the conduct in question, has had a dating relationship with the respondent who also is an adult.

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