636.18 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

   (a)   No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household member.

   (b)   No person shall recklessly cause serious physical harm to a family or household member.

   (c)   No person, by threat of force, shall knowingly cause a family or household member to believe that the offender will cause imminent physical harm to the family or household member.

   (d)   As used in this section:

      (1)   "Family or household member" means any of the following:

         A.   Any of the following who is residing or has resided with the offender:

            1.   A spouse, a person living as a spouse or a former spouse of the offender;

            2.   A parent, a foster parent or a child of the offender, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to the offender;

            3.   A parent, or a child of a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the offender; or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to a spouse, person living as a spouse or former spouse of the offender.

         B.   The natural parent of any child of whom the offender is the other natural parent or is the putative other natural parent.

      (2)   "Person living as a spouse" means a person who is living or has lived with the offender in a common law marital relationship, who otherwise is cohabiting with the offender, or who otherwise has cohabited with the offender within five years prior to the date of the alleged commission of the act in question.

   (e)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of domestic violence.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a violation of subsection (c) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree and a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.  If the offender previously has pleaded guilty to or been convicted of domestic violence, of a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to domestic violence, of a violation of Ohio R.C. 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.14, 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, 2911.211 or 2919.22 involving a person who was a family or household member at the time of the violation, or of a violation of a municipal ordinance, a law of the United States or of any other state, or a municipal ordinance of a municipal corporation located in any other state that is substantially similar to one of those sections involving a person who was a family or household member at the time of the violation, a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law and a violation of subsection (c) hereof is a misdemeanor of the third degree.  (ORC 2919.25)

   (f)   Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no court or unit of local government shall charge any fee, cost, deposit, or money in connection with the filing of charges against a person alleging that the person violated this section or in connection with the prosecution of any charges so filed.

   (g)   The same relief available under the Ohio Revised Code for filing a complaint for violation of Ohio R.C. 2919.25 shall be available for filing a complaint for violation of this section.