Restraining Orders

You can ask a civil court for a protection order if the abuser has committed domestic violence or domestic abuse against you or your children, as long as they are one of the following:

• a current or former relative, either by blood or marriage;
• a current or former intimate partner; or
• someone you live with or used to live with.¹

The law also allows other people to request a domestic violence protection order on behalf of someone else:

• Your employer can ask for protection for their employees.² See our Civil Protection Orders Filed By Employers section for more information.
• A parent may file on behalf of their minor child, meaning anyone under 18 years of age.³

However, you cannot get a protection order against someone who is under ten years old.⁴

You may want to contact a domestic violence organization or a court clerk for more information on minors requesting protection orders. See our Colorado Advocates and Shelters and Colorado Courthouse Locations pages for contact information.

Note: If you don’t qualify for an order based on domestic violence or domestic abuse, you may instead be able to get a Protection Order for Stalking, Sexual Assault, Physical Harm/Threats, and Elder Abuse.

¹ Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-14-101(2), (2.1)
² Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-14-104.5(7)(b)
³ Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-14-101(2.2), Colo. R. of County Ct. Civ. P. Rule 317(c)
⁴ Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-14-104.5(1)(a)