Restraining Orders

A “dating relationship” is a romantic or intimate relationship, or a relationship which has romance or intimacy as a goal by one or both parties. A dating relationship does not have to involve sexual intimacy.¹

In deciding whether you and the abuser have a dating relationship, the judge will consider the whole situation and surrounding circumstances, including:

• whether you and the abuser formed an interpersonal bond beyond casual socializing;
• the length of your relationship;
• the nature and amount of interactions between you and the abuser, including communications showing the intent to start a dating relationship;
• ongoing expectations of you and the abuser about the relationship;
• whether you and the abuser presented yourselves as a couple to others either by actions or statements; and
• whether there are other reasons to support or disprove a finding that a dating relationship exists.²

¹ UT ST § 78B-7-102(11)(a)
² UT ST § 78B-7-102(11)(c)