Step 1: Go to court and file a petition.
Go to the district court to file your petition.1 You can find a court near you by going to our NE Courthouse Locations page. You can also find links to the forms online by going to our NE Download Court Forms page. The forms will ask you to include all relevant information, including, but not limited to:
- a description of the most recent incident;
- a description of the most severe incident; and
- the dates or approximate dates of such incidents.2
Carefully fill out the forms. Write about the incidents of violence or abuse, using descriptive language that fits your situation, such as slapping, hitting, grabbing, choking, threatening, etc. Be specific. Include details and dates, if possible. If your petition is based on threats rather than a physical incident, write about how the threats affected you, why they made you fearful, and how the fear has affected your life.
A domestic violence organization may be able to help you fill out the forms. See our NE Advocates and Shelters page for the location of an organization near you.
Note: Do not sign the petition until you have shown it to a clerk since it needs to be notarized or signed in the presence of court personnel.3
1 NE R.S. § 42-924(2)
2 NE R.S. § 42-924.02(2)
3 See Petition and Affidavit to Obtain Domestic Violence Protection Order