Restraining Orders

In some states, you will need a certified copy of your civil protection order. A certified copy proves that it is a true and correct copy; it is signed and initialed by the clerk of court that gave you the order, and usually has some kind of court stamp or seal on it.

If your copy is not a certified copy, call or go to the court that gave you the order and ask the clerk’s office for a certified copy. There is no cost for getting certified copies of civil protection orders in Washington, D.C.

Note: It is a good idea to keep a copy of the order with you at all times. You may also want to bring several copies of the order with you when you move to leave copies of the order at your work place, at your home, at the children’s school or daycare, in your car, with a sympathetic neighbor, and so on. You may want to give a copy to the security guard or person at the front desk where you live and/or work along with a photo of the abuser and give a copy of the order to anyone who is named in and protected by the order.