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Medina County Domestic Relations Court

Judge Julie A. Schafer

Chief Magistrate Meredith L. Watts

Trial Magistrate Samantha L. Bloom

Trial Magistrate Erin N. Dazey

Trial Magistrate Patricia L. Parker

Trial Magistrate Timothy D. Smanik

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF EXHIBITS
All exhibits submitted to this Court on cases closed prior to December 31, 2022, and not pending appeal, will be destroyed on or after March 12, 2025. See Administrative Order. A party who tendered records may retrieve the records submitted by that party by contracting the Court at records@medinadr.org no later than May 9, 2025

FILING HOURS FOR DV-CPOs
Filing hours for Petitions DV-CPOs are 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., M-F on days the Court is open. Petitions will not be accepted by the Clerk after 3:00 p.m. No filings are accepted the day before a court closure for a holiday. If you are in danger, contact 911. For additional resources, contact Hope & Healing at 330-374-1111

MEDINA COURT REPORTERS
MCR is the official Court Reporter for DR Court. To Request a transcript, email office@crmedina.com or call 330.723.2482

Current News

Administrative Judge Julie A. Schafer swore in Timothy D. Smanik as Medina County Domestic Relations Court Trial Magistrate on January 29, 2025. Magistrate Smanik comes to the Court with over 15 years of legal experience, including serving as an assistant county prosecutor, public defender, counsel for the Ohio Department of Youth Services, representing child welfare agencies, as well as working in private practice. We are pleased to welcome Magistrate Smanik!
Administrative Judge Julie A. Schafer announces the reorganization and amendment to the Medina County Domestic Relations Court Local Rules of Practice
Medina County Courts of Common Pleas Implement a Single Attorney Profile Across Case Management System. The Courts of Common Pleas (Domestic Relations Division, Civil and Criminal Division, and Probate and Juvenile Division) have entered General Order dated October 8, 2024, requiring all attorneys practicing in the Courts of Common Pleas to provide and maintain updated contact information using a designated Attorney Profile Update Form.
Judge Julie A. Schafer accepts the 2024 Community Partner of the Year award from Community Legal Aid. Judge Schafer led the Medina County Domestic Relations Court to collaborate with CLA to establish and support bi-monthly divorce clinics for Medina County residents who qualify for assistance financially.
Judge Julie A. Schafer swore in Patricia L. Parker on January 10, 2024, as Medina County Domestic Relations Court Trial Magistrate. Magistrate Parker comes to the Court with over twenty years of litigation experience, including subrogation, arbitration, and mediation; complex litigation; and, for the vast majority, family law. Magistrate Parker proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy from 1989 - 1997, including in Desert Shield and Desert Storm and continued to serve veterans as a veteran's fiduciary.
2024 CLA Divorce Clinic dates announced: In July, 2023, Judge Julie A. Schafer partnered with Community Legal Aid ("CLA") to provide Divorce Clinics to members of the community who qualify financially. The clinics are held every other month from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Courthouse. The 2024 dates have been announced: Feb 15, Apr 18, Jun 20, Aug 22, Oct 17
Contact CLA for more information at 800-998-9454.
Judge Julie A. Schafer swore in Samantha Bloom on January 2, 2024, as Medina County Domestic Relations Court Trial Magistrate. Magistrate Bloom comes to the Court with over ten years of experience from prosecuting child sexual assault and domestic violence cases to abuse, neglect, dependency, and delinquency prosecutions and felony child support cases. Magistrate Bloom has also worked in private practice and is a certified Guardian ad litem and ESL teacher.
Rule Change for Case Time Limits: The Supreme Court of Ohio has amended Sup.R. 39, to address the dismissal and refiling of cases. The new section, effective 12/14/2023, states "a judge shall not order, instruct, or otherwise direct, suggest, encourage, or request a party or attorney to dismiss and subsequently refile a case in order to avoid failure by the judge to comply with the time limits specified in this rule."
Deposit Increase Effective 1/1/2024: The deposit for costs collected by the Clerk of Courts for cases in the Domestic Relations Court will increase effective 1/1/2024.
MCDRC partnered with Medina County Job and Family Services to provide gifts for the children in foster care. Between January 2022 and June 2023, Medina County JFS saw a 75% increase of children in custody. For more information about foster care, please call or text 330-667-0167, or email info@fostermedina.com.
MCDRC hosted over 70 people at an Open House this past Wednesday, November 15, 2023, to celebrate the renovation to the 1841 Courthouse. The Open House was covered by the Medina Gazette at (medina-gazette.com)
The MCDRC renovation and other modernization efforts were featured in the November 9, 2023, County Commissioners' Newsletter linked here