Walk It Through: The Order Of Protection
A petition the same day, a temporary order, a full hearing within fourteen days, and a violation.
After being hit by a partner, a person leaves the home and goes to the courthouse.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One petition by one adult. Orders protecting children, custody inside the order, firearms surrender and stalking orders outside a household are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Ex parteHeard without prior notice to the other side. An ex parte temporary protection order lasts no more than fourteen days, may be reissued, and is followed by a full hearing.
- Protection orderA civil order on a petition for a victim of domestic violence, which may exclude the respondent from the home, award temporary custody and last up to one year after a full hearing.
- VictimA person against whom a crime or juvenile offense was committed, with rights to fairness, notice, presence and to be heard, exercised by a written request filed with the court clerk.