Asking for an order, or answering one
A protective order is a judge’s written instruction that someone stay away from you or stop contacting you. It can also be asked for against you.
If you are in danger now, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is open day and night at 1-800-799-7233. Use the quick exit at the top of this page if someone may be watching your screen.
What we ask you to bring
- Any court papers, including a temporary order
- Dated messages, photos or records, in whatever form you have them
- A safe phone number and a safe time to reach you
If an order names you
We also help people who have been served with a request for an order. You have a right to answer it, and the hearing date on the paper matters.
What we do not take
We do not take cases where the other side already has an order against you in another state. We will tell you on the screening call and suggest who to ask next.
What the clinic does
Three things we do with you
- 01
Plan for safety first
Before any paperwork, we talk through where you will be, who knows and how we reach you.
- 02
File and prepare
We help you fill in the request and get ready to tell a judge what happened, in order.
- 03
Come to the hearing
We can speak for you in the courtroom, and plan how you arrive and leave.
Questions on this page
Is it safe to call you?
Tell us the number and the time that are safe. If it is not safe to leave a message, say so in the form and we will not.
Will the other person see what I send you?
No. What you tell us is kept private. Do not send details through the website form; we cover them when we talk.
What does an order do?
It tells the other person what they can and cannot do. Breaking it can have legal consequences for them.
Book a safety screening
A short call, arranged around what is safe for you.