Restraining Orders

You can be eligible to file for a PFA order if you have been the victim of “domestic abuse,” as defined by Alabama law¹ and you have one of the following relationships to the abuser:

• you are related by marriage to the defendant, including a common law marriage;
• you had a former marriage or common law marriage with the defendant;
• you have a child in common;
• you are currently in a dating relationship with the abuser or your dating relationship ended within the last 12 months; 
• you are a current or former household member of the abuser, which means you lived together while having a romantic or sexual relationship;
• the abuser is a relative of your current or former household member as long as that person also lives/lived with you; 
• you are the parent, step-parent, child, or step-child of the abuser and you live/lived together; or
• you are the grandparent, step-grandparent, grandchild, or step-grandchild.²

Note: To file, you must be 18 or older or otherwise emancipated.  A parent, legal guardian, “next friend,” or the State Department of Human Resources may file on behalf of a minor or any person prevented by physical or mental incapacity from seeking a protection order.³ For more information on filing for a minor, please see Can a minor get a PFA order?

¹ Ala. Code § 30-5-5(a)(1)
² Ala. Code § 30-5-2(3), (7)
³ Ala. Code § 30-5-5(a)