Restraining Orders

Before your protection from abuse (PFA) order expires, you can return to court and file for an extension. The judge can extend a final PFA if they believe that:

1. the abuser committed one or more acts of abuse while you had the final order; or
2. the abuser behaved in other ways that show a continued risk of harm to you, your children, or a pet (companion animal).¹

You can also request an extension if the abuser is in jail and will be released within the next 90 days, or if they were recently released from jail within the past 90 days. In that case, you do not need to prove either of the two things above to get the order extended.²

Your order can be extended more than once if you still need protection. There is no limit on the number of times the judge can extend it.³

If the abuser violates your PFA and a criminal contempt hearing is scheduled, your order will automatically be extended until the end of the criminal hearing and possibly longer.⁴

¹ 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108(e)(1)(i)
² 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108(e)(1)(iii)
³ 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108(e)(3)
⁴ 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108(e)(1)(ii)