A Protective Order is an order issued by the Court to help prevent family violence. An individual can apply for a protective order to prevent abuse from another family member or someone living in the same household (whether related or not). If an adult is applying for a protective order for themselves, the offender will be prevented from going to their home or workplace. If the protective order is for the protection of a child, the offender will be prevented from going to the school or daycare that the child attends. The Court may also place additional conditions in the protective order, such as mandating that the offender attend Anger Management Counseling or Substance Abuse Treatment. It is important to remember that a protective order only prevents an offender from coming near your home or workplace. It does not mandate that the offender remain 500 feet away from you and does not prevent the offender from being near you in public places such as in stores, at the movies, or in the park.
A protective order is good for up to two years. Once a protective order is granted you should keep a copy with you at all times and call the police immediately if you are being threatened or attacked by the offender listed in the order. If a person violates a protective order they can be held in contempt of Court and placed in jail or fined up to $500.00.
There is no charge to apply for a Protective Order and you do not need an attorney to process the application. Step-by-step instructions are provided in the Protective Order Kit to make filing the application a fast and easy process.
If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911 for help immediately. If you would like assistance in creating your Domestic Violence Safety Plan so you can escape a violent relationship, please visit or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
