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Survivors of domestic violence have several civil and criminal protection or restraining order options to protect themselves from further abuse. These orders don’t stop an abuser from stalking or hurting a victim, but they do permit the victim to call the police and have the abuser arrested if they break the order.

Emergency Protection Order

In many states, when the police encounter a domestic violence situation one of the two parties involved in the dispute is required or requested to leave the home. Often, this person is the abuser, although the police can be mistaken about who the aggressor is. In about one-third of states, police officers are also authorized or required to remove guns when they arrive at the scene of a domestic violence incident.

In some states, the police can give the victim (or person believed to be the victim) an Emergency Protection Order (EPO). An EPO is a short-term protection order typically given to a victim by the police or magistrate when his or her abuser is arrested for domestic violence. The EPO s generally for limited period, such as three or seven days. This permits the victim time with an EPO in place to request a longer-term protection order.

Protection Order

All 50 states and the District of Columbia havestatutes for some form of protection order. However, states call this protection order different things. For example, Illinois, New York and Texas call them protection orders or orders of protection, whereas California calls the same thing a restraining order, and Florida calls it an injunction for protection against domestic violence.

A protection order is different from an EPO because it is longer term, typically for one to five years, and in extreme circumstances, for up to a lifetime. A victim can renew the protection order, if he or she still feels threatened by his or her abuser.

A protection order may include many different provisions, including:

Protection orders may include children, other family members, roommates, or current romantic partners of the victim. This means the same no contact and stay away rules apply to the other listed individuals, even if the direct harm was to the victim. Some states allow pets to be protected by the same order, as abusers may harm pets to torment their victims.

Some states include as part of the protection order visitation and custody for children of both the victim and abuser. These are generally temporary and can be modified by divorce or other future family court orders.

You can obtain a protection order by filing the required legal papers with your local court. You will have to follow your state law to present evidence at your hearing and to serve your abuser. The police can sometimes serve the papers for you. For help with requesting a protection or restraining order, contact a qualified domestic violence attorney.

Restraining Order

A restraining order is an order requiring parties to a lawsuit to do or not do certain things. It may be part of a family law case, such as a divorce, or other civil codes. This is not the same as a “domestic violence restraining order,” which is summarized above. However, domestic violence can be a factor in the underlying family law case.

Restraining orders may be requested “ex parte” meaning that one party asks the court to do something without telling the other party. If the restraining order is granted ex parte, than the other party is later permitted a hearing to present their side of the story. This is often the process for protection orders also. As restraining orders also vary by state, it’s important to consult with an attorney familiar with the law where you live.

Criminal Protection Order

If a current criminal case is pending, the district attorney may request or the judge may order a protection order for the victim of the crime from the defendant or perpetrator of the crime. For more information on criminal domestic violence, read FindLaw’s article on domestic violence criminal charges.

Violation of Protection Orders

Violation of a protection order can be treated in one of three ways: as a felony, misdemeanor, or contempt of court. Felony charges are typically reserved for either repeat or serious violations. Sometimes violations are considered both contempt of court and a new domestic violence charge, although California found this to subject the defendant to double jeopardy. In many states, police policy is to arrest violators of these orders automatically.

Enforcing Protection Orders in Different States

Domestic violence survivors may move as part of a plan to keep them safe from a former abuser.The Full Faith & Credit Clause of the Constitution and federal law requires that a valid protection order can be enforced where it is issued and in all other US states and territories as well. Therefore, if an abuse stalks a victim in his or her new state of residency, the police must uphold the protection order from another state.

Next Steps: Get a Free Domestic Violence Case Review

No one should have to endure domestic violence. If your situation is imminently dangerous for you or your children, contact law enforcement right away. You may also be considering a domestic violence restraining order. Let a family law attorney file the necessary paperwork on your behalf and advocate for you in court. You can begin the process now with a free case review by a family law attorney in your jurisdiction.

Courtesy of findlaw.com.