Family protective orders can serve an important purpose during a difficult time. A Protective order is intended to prevent domestic abuse and are put in place to protect family members at risk of abuse.
What activity can be addressed in a protective order?
Family protective orders can address concerns and behaviors including:
- Abuse, harassment, stalking, threatening, and intimidation behaviors or placing the family member in reasonable fear of bodily injury.
- Prohibit contact with the victim.
- Require that the subject of a protective order move out of the shared family home.
- Prohibit entry into the workplace or school of the family member(s).
- Require the family member that is the subject of the family protective order to attend an intervention program.
- Temporary child custody, visitation, child support or spousal support.
- Prohibit the family member that is the subject of the family protective order from possessing a gun or ammunition.
- Require reimbursement of reasonable expenses resulting from abuse such as medical expenses or shelter.
- Award pet or animal custody to the victim and prohibit any further animal abuse.
Who can apply for a protective order?
Anyone impacted by family violence can apply for a protective order for themselves or another individual, including an adult family member, household member or on behalf of a minor child or mentally ill or incapacitated individual. Witnesses to domestic violence who have been abused or threatened for reporting abuse can also apply for a protection order.
Protective orders are valid for 90 to 180 days and can be extended for another 90 days if needed. Family protective orders are an important resource for family members facing domestic violence. Families struggling with family violence should be familiar with the legal resources available to protect them.
