A Protective Order Outside the Family
R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-8.1-3 — district court orders against abuse by someone outside the family court's reach
A person suffering domestic abuse, as that chapter defines it, may file in district court for an order protecting them from it.
- No contacting, assaulting, molesting or otherwise interfering with the plaintiff, at home or elsewhere.
- Vacating the household, unless the defendant holds the sole legal interest in it.
- Keeping the plaintiff's address released only at the judge's discretion.
- Surrender of firearms within twenty-four hours of notice.
Relief is for a fixed period of no more than three years, which the court may extend on the plaintiff's motion.
Which court fits a particular relationship is a question for a licensed Rhode Island attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-8.1-3 — Protective orders; Penalty; Jurisdiction
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Rhode Island attorney.