Ohio Motion to Dismiss
In Ohio you move to dismiss under Civ.R. 12(B) within the 28-day answer window in the Court of Common Pleas.
Introduction
In Ohio you challenge a complaint before answering by filing a motion to dismiss under Ohio Civ.R. 12(B), which closely tracks Federal Rule 12(b). The rule lists seven defenses a defendant may raise by motion at the pleader's option: lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue, insufficiency of process, insufficiency of service of process, failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted under 12(B)(6), and failure to join a party under Rule 19 or Rule 19.1. The motion must be made before pleading if a further pleading is permitted, so it is filed within the same window otherwise allowed for the answer: 28 days after service of the summons and complaint under Civ.R. 12(A)(1). Filing the motion suspends that answer window. The Ohio twist sits in Civ.R. 12(A)(2): if the court denies the motion or postpones its disposition until trial, the responsive pleading is then due within 14 days after notice of the court's action, not a fresh 28 days. The civil rules set no statewide page limit or memorandum requirement, but many county Court of Common Pleas local rules require a supporting brief, so check the local rules of the county where the action is pending. Missing the answer window risks default judgment. DocDraft drafts an Ohio-formatted motion to dismiss from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.
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Key Things to Know
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Ohio's vehicle is a motion to dismiss under Ohio Civ.R. 12(B) (Defenses and Objections), which closely tracks Federal Rule 12(b).
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Civ.R. 12(B) lists seven enumerated grounds a defendant may raise by motion at the pleader's option: (1) lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, (2) lack of personal jurisdiction, (3) improper venue, (4) insufficiency of process, (5) insufficiency of service of process, (6) failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and (7) failure to join a party under Rule 19 or Rule 19.1.
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The motion is made before pleading if a further pleading is permitted, so it falls within the answer window: 28 days after service of the summons and complaint under Civ.R. 12(A)(1). Filing the motion suspends that window.
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Under Civ.R. 12(A)(2), if the court denies the motion or postpones disposition until trial, the responsive pleading delayed because of the motion is due within 14 days after notice of the court's action, not a fresh 28 days.
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The Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure set no statewide page limit or uniform memorandum requirement for a 12(B) motion. Many Court of Common Pleas local rules require a supporting brief or citations to authorities, so check the local rules of your county.
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The most common ground is 12(B)(6), failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, which tests the legal sufficiency of the complaint.
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File in the Court of Common Pleas, the general-jurisdiction trial court for civil actions over $15,000, with the clerk of the court where the action is pending. Civil claims up to $15,000 belong in Municipal Court.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Motion to Dismiss in Ohio, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Motion to Dismiss guide walks through them.
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Ohio Requirements for Motion to Dismiss
File within the 28-day answer window
A Civ.R. 12(B) motion must be made before pleading if a further pleading is permitted, so it is filed within the answer window: 28 days after service of the summons and complaint under Ohio Civ.R. 12(A)(1). Filing the motion suspends the answer window.
Calculate your 28 days from the service date
Confirm the date the summons and complaint were served on you. The 28-day window under Civ.R. 12(A)(1) runs from that service date. Miss it without filing the motion and you risk a default judgment.
Select your Civ.R. 12(B) grounds
Identify which of the seven enumerated Civ.R. 12(B) grounds apply: (1) lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, (2) lack of personal jurisdiction, (3) improper venue, (4) insufficiency of process, (5) insufficiency of service of process, (6) failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or (7) failure to join a party under Rule 19 or Rule 19.1.
Consider the 12(B)(6) failure-to-state-a-claim ground
The most common ground is Civ.R. 12(B)(6), failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. It tests the legal sufficiency of the complaint rather than the underlying facts.
Attach a supporting memorandum if your county requires one
The Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure set no statewide page limit or uniform memorandum requirement for a 12(B) motion. Many Court of Common Pleas local rules require a supporting brief or citations to applicable authorities with any motion. Check the local rules of the county where your case is pending and conform the memorandum accordingly.
Check local rules for a proposed entry or order
No statewide Ohio Civil Rule requires a proposed order with a 12(B) motion to dismiss. Some county Common Pleas local rules request a proposed entry; check the specific county's local rules before filing.
Track the 14-day restart if the motion is denied
Under Civ.R. 12(A)(2), if the court denies the motion or postpones its disposition until trial, the responsive pleading delayed because of the motion must be served within 14 days after notice of the court's action. This is a 14-day restart, not a fresh 28 days.
File in the Court of Common Pleas and serve the other party
File the motion with the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas where the action is pending; that court has general jurisdiction over civil actions over $15,000 (Municipal Court handles claims up to $15,000). Serve a copy on the plaintiff or plaintiff's counsel and include a certificate of service.