Geauga County Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over cases where children are alleged to be abused, neglected or dependent. If a child is found to be abused, neglected, or dependent, then the Court has authority to issues orders on all persons involved with the child to address issues identified in the complaint. Typical orders may include counseling or substance abuse treatment, depending upon the nature of the case. If necessary to protect the safety of a child, the child may be placed in foster care or with another family member until the child can safely be returned home. In some cases, the parental rights may be permanently terminated. All parties to the case have a right to be represented by an attorney. For information on how to apply for a court-appointed attorney, contact the Court at 440-279-1830. Forms for applying for court-appointed counsel can be accessed on the "Juvenile Forms" page.
Geauga County Juvenile Court does not investigate allegations of abuse or neglect. Geauga County Job & Family Services is the agency with responsibility to investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, or dependency in Geauga County. If you wish to report concerns regarding the abuse or neglect of a child, contact Geauga County Job & Family Services at 1-888-285-5665 (toll free) or email socialserv@geaugajfs.org.