Restraining Orders

In a personal safety order, the judge can order that the abuser (respondent):

• not commit stalking, a sexual offense, or repeated threats of credible threats of bodily injury against you;
• not threaten to commit stalking, a sexual offense, or repeated threats of credible threats of bodily injury against you;
• not contact, attempt to contact, or harass you, either directly or indirectly or through third parties (even if the third parties do not know about the order);
• not enter your home;
• stay away from your work, school, or home;
• not visit, assault, molest (bother) or otherwise interfere with you; (Note: If the petitioner is a child, the judge can also order the abuser to stay away from the child’s siblings and other minors who live in the same household as the petitioner); and
• not have a firearm if:
  • a weapon was used or threatened to be used when the respondent committed the act that caused you to request an order;
  • the respondent has violated a previous personal safety order; or
  • the respondent has been convicted of an offense involving the use of a firearm.¹

¹ W. Va. Code §§ 53-8-5(2); 53-8-7(d)