Restraining Orders

The protections you qualify for may depend in part on which court you choose to file your petition in. To understand what type of protection order you can file for in each court, please see In what court can I file my protection order?

Both an emergency order and a temporary order can:

• order the abuser to stop abusing you, your children, and any person considered to be incompetent;
• order the abuser to stay away from:
  
  • you;
  • your household members; and
  • you and your household members’ homes and workplaces;
• grant you possession of the home;
• order the abuser to leave the home and give you the right to return if you have left;
• order the abuser not to contact you or other household members in person or by phone, email, or text; and
• prohibit any property you and the abuser own or lease together from being transferred, given away, or destroyed, unless doing so is in the ordinary course of business.¹

A final order can:

• do all of the things listed above; and
• do the following additional things:
  
  • allow the abuser to provide you with suitable, alternate housing instead of returning you to a shared home if:
    • the abuser is the sole owner or lessee of your shared home;
    • the abuser has a duty to support you or your children; and
    • you and the abuser agree to this arrangement;
  • award temporary custody or temporary visitation rights for your children;
  • order the abuser to pay temporary spousal support or child support if they are legally obligated to support you or your children;
  • order the abuser to pay you money for losses you suffered as a direct result of the abuse, including, but not limited to:
    • medical expenses resulting from the abuse;
    • loss of earnings or support;
    • out-of-pocket losses for injuries;
    • moving expenses; or
    • reasonable attorney’s fees; and
  • order counseling or professional medical treatment for the abuser, including counseling or treatment designed to help end their abusive behaviors.²

If you and the abuser have children, please see If I get temporary custody or child support in a final order, how long will they last? for more information.

Note: The protection order will have a warning to the abuser that possessing a firearm may be against federal law. You can learn more about this on our Federal Gun Laws page.

¹ Miss. Code §§ 93-21-13(1)(b); 93-21-15(1)(a)
² Miss. Code § 93-21-15(2)(a)