WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.

Hotline

Restraining Orders

Laws current as of October 4, 2019

Can I apply for a protection order online?

In general, the majority of states allow a person to download court forms online and to even fill them out online. You can find court forms for your state on our Download Court Forms page. [EMBED LINK] Many states may even allow for online filing before setting a court date as soon as possible. Generally, this court date can often be as soon as the next day. However, many states still require a petitioner to apply in person, since papers have to be sworn to in front of a notary. Even if a person files the papers online, they generally may have to appear in front of the judge to answer questions. You may want to call the courthouse where you were thinking of filing to make sure whether or not online filing is allowed. You can find courthouse contact information [EMBED LINK] and download court forms [EMBED LINK] on our website.

You can also see the steps to apply for a protection order on our website. [EMBED LINK]

© 2008–2024 WomensLaw.org is a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Inc. All rights reserved. This website is funded in part through a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). NNEDV is a 501©(3) non-profit organization; EIN 52-1973408.