Restraining Orders

An emergency protective order (EPO) can do the following:

1. order the abuser to not commit acts of domestic violence and abuse against you;
2. order the abuser to not contact you or anyone else specified in the order, including contact that is made face-to-face, by telephone, in writing, electronic, through a third party, etc.;
3. order the abuser to stay up to 500 feet away from you or anyone else specified in the order;
4. order the abuser to not come within a certain distance of a specific home, school, or place of employment;
5. order the abuser to not sell or destroy any of your property or any property you share with him/her;
6. order the abuser to leave the home you share;
7. give you temporary custody of your children;
8. specifically state which communications are allowed and which communications are not allowed;
9. allow either party to get his/her personal belongings from the home and order law enforcement to assist, if requested; and
10. order any other protections necessary to eliminate future domestic violence.¹

A domestic violence order (DVO) can include:

• the protections listed above in numbers 1 - 8; and
• the judge can also do the following:
  • give you temporary child support; 
  • order that either or both of you receive counseling services available in the community;
  • give you possession of any shared domestic animal;
  • if you request it, allow limited contact or communication between you and the abuser; and
  • if you request it, allow you and the abuser to be in a common area together under limited circumstances with specific restrictions laid out by the judge.²

Note: After a final DVO is issued, it’s possible to file a motion to amend it to request that the abuser wear a GPS device. The judge can grant your request if the abuser has committed a serious violation of a prior domestic violence order and if the judge believes that the GPS device would increase your safety.³

¹ KRS § 403.730(2)(a); see also the petition on the Kentucky Courts website
² KRS § 403.740(1)
³ KRS § 403.761(1)