Restraining Orders

You can file the petition yourself if you are a vulnerable adult. An “interested person” can also file on behalf of a vulnerable adult.¹ If an interested person is filing a petition, they must include a statement explaining why they qualify as an interested person. See What is the legal definition of an interested person? for more information.²

The Department of Social and Health Services may also file for an order on behalf of a vulnerable adult.³

Note: The judge cannot deny a petition for a protection order because any of the following are true:

• you are under 18 years of age, unless the law limits what kind of remedy is available based on your age;
• the petitioner did not report the harassment to law enforcement;
• there is a no-contact or restraining order limiting the respondent’s contact with the vulnerable adult issued in a criminal or domestic relations case;
• the same remedies are available in a different type of case, including another type of protection order;
• a criminal case is pending against the respondent;
• time has passed since the last incident causing the petitioner to file the petition; or
• the respondent no longer lives near the vulnerable adult.⁴

These things should not matter to the judge when deciding whether or not to grant a vulnerable adult protection order.

¹ R.C.W. § 74.34.110(1)
² R.C.W. § 7.105.100(4)
³ R.C.W. § 7.105.110(1)
⁴ R.C.W. § 7.105.225(2)