English
EspañolWho is eligible for this protective order? In which court is it filed?
You may be eligible to file a petition for a protective order against anyone who committed an act of violence, force or threat against you. You do not have to have a family or household member relationship to get this protective order.1
If you are filing against someone who you do not have a family or household member relationship, you would file your petition in the General District Court.1 If you are filing against a family or household member, you would file in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.2
The steps for filing are similar to the steps for filing for a family abuse protective order, as described in VA Protective Orders for Family Abuse.
You can find the petition for a protective order online, and instructions for how to fill the petition out on Virginia’s Courts Website.
1 See “Protective Orders: What does the new legislation mean?”
2 See “What You Need to Know About Protective Orders.”
