Court Order of Protection

Violence Against Women Home > Ways to Prevent and End Violence > Court Order of Protection

Other names for court orders of protection:

stay away order
order of no contact
injunction for protection
protection from abuse order
harassment order
restraining order
stalking protection or protective order
orders not to abuse, harass, contact, etc. that are part of bail, probation, or parole conditions
emergency, temporary, or ex parte order
domestic violence protection or protective order
civil protection order

If you’re being abused, you can get a court order of protection to protect yourself and your children.

A court order of protection can:

order the abuser not to have any contact with you and your children
order the abuser to move out of your home and give you use of the car
order the abuser to pay child support, spousal support, or continue your insurance coverage

You can get an application for a court order of protection at courthouses, women’s shelters, legal offices, and some police stations.

If an order is issued and the abuser does anything listed on the order, call the police right away. The police can arrest the abuser and put him/her in jail for violating the order.

An order of protection is just one way of protecting yourself and your children. Contact a local domestic violence agency to talk about the different ways you can protect yourself and your children.

Additional Information on Court Orders of Protection:

Publications

Enforcement of Protective Orders - A brief overview of the types of protective orders is given in the legal series bulletin provided by the U.S. Department of Justice (Office for Victims of Crime). This publication also provides information on current legislation related to crime and changes made to existing laws.
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/bulletins/legalseries/bulletin4/
Consumers' Guide to Legal Help (Copyright © ABA) - The American Bar Association provides a map for you to find legal help according to the state you live in. Most legal issues are regulated by the law in the state where you live, or where the problem occurred. Information on various legal issues is provided, such as where to find legal help, court information, and more.
http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/home.cfm
Dating Violence: Can Teens Access Protection Orders? (Copyright © NCVC) - This publication contains information about protection orders and teen access. It lists statistics for each state about who can file, what the order is called, how long the orders last, and links to the statutes.
http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/AGP.Net/Components/documentViewer/Download.aspxnz?DocumentID=41372...
Domestic Violence and Abuse: Help, Treatment, Intervention, and Prevention - Restraining Order and Protection (Copyright © HelpGuide.org) - This fact sheet describes the different types of abuse, from their early symptoms to their effects on physical and mental health. The section on restraining orders and protection provides advice on initiating the first step of obtaining a restraining order while remembering that abuse or harm is still a real threat upon which to take further action.
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_help_treatment_prevention.htm#restraining...

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

If you're a victim of abuse or violence at the hands of someone you know or love or you are recovering from an assault by a stranger, you are not alone. Get immediate help and support.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-799-SAFE (7233) and 800-787-3224 (TTY). Spanish speakers are available. When you call, you will first hear a recording and may have to hold. Hotline staff offer crisis intervention and referrals. If requested, they connect women to shelters and can send out written information.

The National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-656-4673. When you call, you will hear a menu and can choose #1 to talk to a counselor. You will then be connected to a counselor in your area who can help you. You can also visit the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.

Content last updated September 1, 2007.

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