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How do I File a Restraining Order?

M. Lupica
M. Lupica

If you are a victim of domestic violence, stalking or other harassment, you are entitled to file a restraining order. The process varies from place to place, but in general, you will have to file a request for an order and submit it to the court along with a sworn affidavit explaining the reason you are requesting the restraining order. If the court grants your request, it will grant the order only temporarily and will schedule a hearing for a later time, usually within two weeks. The person against whom you are filing the restraining order will be given a chance to give his or her side of the story at that point, and the judge will determine whether to grant a permanent restraining order.

The forms necessary to file a restraining order should be available at your local police station or courthouse. If the forms confuse you, then you can always seek out a police officer or someone at the court to help explain the forms to you. Completing the forms properly is sometimes just as important as the circumstances that have led you to file a restraining order.

A person may seek a restraining order if he or she is the victim of violence.
A person may seek a restraining order if he or she is the victim of violence.

It is necessary for you to show up to the subsequent court date. If you do not, then your order will not be granted, you will have to start all over and refile your forms. Furthermore, you should refuse any contact with the person against whom you file a restraining order prior to the permanent restraining order hearing. If it is shown at the hearing that you have been engaged in contact, it is much less likely for the judge to grant the order.

A restraining order may prohibit phone calls between two people.
A restraining order may prohibit phone calls between two people.

If you are granted a permanent order, there is a wide array of remedies that might be granted. The person against whom the order is to be enforced will not be allowed to contact you, your children or any other party whom the court deems relevant. If you have children or were living together, you might also be granted child support and possession of the home in which you lived together, even if the restrained person is the owner.

A judge will likely issue a hearing date for an accused to produce evidence for the need of a restraining order.
A judge will likely issue a hearing date for an accused to produce evidence for the need of a restraining order.

It is important to keep a copy of the order in your possession at all times and hand out copies to any place where the restrained person is not allowed. These places might might include your work, your child’s school or your child’s daycare facility. In the event that the restrained person does contact you or effectively break the rules of the court order in any way, then you should write down all the details of the contact and immediately contact the police.

Discussion Comments

Animandel

Anyone who has ever had a bad breakup knows you can do really stupid things when you are angry and want to get back at the other person. A legal document like a temporary restraining order might be exactly what the doctor ordered to bring you back to your senses and get on with your life.

In a situation like this, the restraining order might prevent a person from getting out of control and doing something beyond stupid, like actual physical violence.

Sporkasia

@Laotionne - A restraining order is only a piece of paper basically. There is no police protection that comes with the document, and the person the order is filed against is not going to be detained or put in jail. So if someone wants to really hurt you this can't physically stop them.

Even when you get a restraining order, you have to be cautious and make sure you do everything you can to protect yourself. If you took the time and made the effort to get the order in the first place then you obviously have some concern for your well being. Be careful and don't let down your guard.

Laotionne

Do restraining orders really help protect the people who take them out on people they are afraid might hurt them? The reason I ask is because so often I hear about domestic abuse cases where the woman had already taken out a restraining order and the man came to her house anyway and hurt her. Are they a waste of time or do they serve some purpose?

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    • A person may seek a restraining order if he or she is the victim of violence.
      By: Helder Almeida
      A person may seek a restraining order if he or she is the victim of violence.
    • A restraining order may prohibit phone calls between two people.
      By: maximino gomes
      A restraining order may prohibit phone calls between two people.
    • A judge will likely issue a hearing date for an accused to produce evidence for the need of a restraining order.
      By: apops
      A judge will likely issue a hearing date for an accused to produce evidence for the need of a restraining order.
    • Restraining orders are often filed as a deterrent against stalking.
      By: Kevin Daugherty
      Restraining orders are often filed as a deterrent against stalking.
    • A temporary restraining order might be filed against someone who has made threats at gunpoint.
      By: Nomad_Soul
      A temporary restraining order might be filed against someone who has made threats at gunpoint.
    • Domestic violence victims are entitled to file restraining orders against their abusers.
      By: Dusan Kostic
      Domestic violence victims are entitled to file restraining orders against their abusers.