Frequently Asked Questions
Filing for a Protection Order: Frequently Asked Questions
This page provides you with some general information regarding how to file for a protection order. Contact an attorney for legal advice and more complete information.
An order from a judge to protect people from abuse, sexual assault, or harassment.
There are no costs unless a judge decides that you lied or asked for the protection order for inappropriate reasons.
A Domestic Abuse Protection Order is for people who have been in close relationships (relatives, spouses or former spouses, people who have lived or are living together, etc.). It is granted because someone attempted, threatened, caused bodily injury, or intimidated the other person by credible threat, or engaged in sexual contact or sexual penetration without consent.
The second type of protection order is a Harassment Protection Order. It does not depend upon relationships, but requires a number of telephone or personal contacts that seriously terrify, threaten, or intimidate the victim and serve no legitimate purpose.
The third type of protection order is a Sexual Assault Protection Order. It does not depend upon relationships and is granted because someone subjected or attempted to subject the other person to sexual contact or sexual penetration without consent.
Note: None of these types of protection orders are for the purpose of protecting property.
If you qualify for a Domestic Abuse Protection Order, you may get an order for custody, which may last up to 90 days. Be sure to include information which will tell the judge how your children have been affected by the abuse. Temporary child custody cannot be granted in a Harassment or Sexual Assault Protection Order.
You need to talk to the district court clerk or go online here. You can also access a guide to filling out the forms here. For additional assistance please contact the local domestic violence or victim witness program in your area.
Complete the forms and give them to the district court clerk. The clerk cannot give you legal advice, if you need additional assistance please see “The Protection Order Form Guide”. Once the forms are completed the clerk gives the forms to the judge.
The order is not in effect until a sheriff or deputy gives a copy of it to the person from whom you are requesting protection. That person will be given a copy of all of the papers that you have filled out. However, you may request a confidential address if you are afraid to reveal it. The restrained person can ask the judge in writing for a hearing so that both sides can tell the judge their side of the story. You must appear for this hearing. If you do not appear, the judge will likely dismiss the protection order. If the judge sets a hearing, the clerk will let you know the time and date. It is important that the clerk know how to get in touch with you. Domestic abuse prevention agencies or Victim Witness agencies can help you plan to remain safe while making sure that the clerk can find you. Please contact your local program if you need assistance with this.
An “ex parte” protection order lasts until you go to court. At court, the judge decides if the protection order will be canceled or continued for one year. If the other party never asks for a hearing, then the protection order remains in effect for a year. A Sexual Assault or Domestic Abuse Protection Order may be renewed for 1 year, and yearly thereafter. The petitioner will need to file the Petition and Affidavit to Renew that states the reason(s) the renewal is being requested.
If you requested a domestic abuse protection order and the ex parte was granted, you, as the petitioner, can request a hearing. If you wish to have a hearing, please contact the clerk of the district court in the county where you filed your petition. If your order does not prevent the restrained person from owning or buying a firearm, and you would like for a federal law to prohibit this person from owning or buying a gun, a hearing is required. If this is not the case, you are NOT required to request a hearing.
No, it is not required, but you should bring any proof of abuse or harassment with you, such as
- Photographs of injuries (and if possible the person who took the photographs).
- Threatening notes, email, phone messages. NOTE: information from a cell phone or other device should be printed, as it may need to remain on file with the court.
- A witness who saw or overheard the abuse, even though in some courts only the parties are allowed to testify.
It may be helpful to have someone from a local domestic abuse or victim witness program come with you for support, although that person cannot act as your lawyer, unless licensed as such. Although not required, you may also benefit by hiring a lawyer.
If you are given a protection order, you should carry a copy of the order with you at all times. This protection order is good in every state, so take it with you if you travel or move to another state.
If the person violates the protection order, call the police. Per state law, this person will be arrested and jailed for the violation.
Contact law enforcement in your new place of residence and advise them that you have an order.
Depending on how threatened you feel, contact your local domestic violence program and/or victim witness program or dial 911 for an emergency.
- You can get a protection order even if you are not a U.S. citizen.
- You are free to change your mind and ask the court to dismiss the protection order. However, the judge decides whether it will be dismissed to make sure that you were not forced to change your mind. Until the judge dismisses the order, it is still valid.
- If you do not speak English, ask for a court interpreter before any hearing. You may wish to bring an adult who is bilingual to assist with interpretation outside of the hearing. The court can supply an interpreter only for hearings, not to help you fill out the forms.
- You are not required to have a lawyer but having one may be a good idea, especially if you have children and you expect the other party to seek custody. If the other party has a lawyer and you do not, you may be at a disadvantage.