Go to the district court in your area. You can find a court near you by going to our Courthouse Locations page. Find the civil court clerk and request a petition for a permanent protection order, and also tell the clerk that you want a temporary order. Usually you apply for these at the same time. You can find links to petitions online by going to Download Court Forms.
WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.
© 2008–2023 WomensLaw.org is a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Inc. All rights reserved. This website is funded in part through a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). NNEDV is a 501©(3) non-profit organization; EIN 52-1973408.
English
Español