This section defines domestic violence for the purposes of getting a restraining order (also known as a relief from abuse order).

Domestic violence is when you are subjected to one of the following by a family or household member:

1. a continuous threat of present physical pain or physical injury;
2. stalking; or
3. a pattern of threatening.¹  "Threatening" includes, but is not limited to, when the abuser:

• uses a physical threat to intentionally place or attempt to place you in fear of immediate serious physical injury; or
• threatens to commit any crime of violence with the intention of terrorizing you or with disregard to the fact that the threat can cause you to be terrorized.²

¹ C.G.S. § 46b-15(a)
² C.G.S. § 53a-62(a)