Protection From Abuse
23 Pa.C.S. 6108 — what an order can do, for up to three years
In Pennsylvania, a protection from abuse order is available against abuse between family or household members, sexual or intimate partners, or people who share biological parenthood. Abuse includes causing or attempting bodily injury or a sexual offense, placing someone in reasonable fear of imminent serious bodily injury, false imprisonment, abusing minor children, and repeated acts such as following that put someone in reasonable fear of bodily injury.
- Ordering the defendant to stop abusing the plaintiff or minor children, and to have no contact with them.
- Giving the plaintiff possession of the residence and evicting the defendant, where the law allows.
- Temporary custody of or visitation with minor children.
- Temporary support, and payment for losses the abuse caused.
- Barring the defendant from acquiring or possessing firearms for the life of the order, and requiring the defendant to relinquish them.
An order lasts for a fixed period of up to three years. A protection order or approved consent agreement is for a fixed period of time not over three years, and the court may amend it on a later petition by either party.
Violating the order can be charged as indirect criminal contempt. The sentence may include a fine of not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 and imprisonment up to six months, or the same fine and supervised probation up to six months.
Sources for this section (3)
- 23 Pa.C.S. 6108 — Relief
- 23 Pa.C.S. 6102 — Definitions
- 23 Pa.C.S. 6114 — Contempt for violation of order or agreement
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.