Protection Orders

CONTACT JULIE WADE AT THE GH SELF-HELP OFFICE (360) 249-8174

What PO to File


Superior Court Clerk's Office available Protection Orders:


District Court available Protection Orders:



The following is for your information:

  ORDER OF PROTECTION RESTRAINING ORDER ANTI-HARASSMENT ORDER NO CONTACT ORDER
 

CIVIL ORDER
RCW 26.50

CIVIL ORDER
RCW 26.09, 26.26
CIVIL ORDER
RCW 10.14
CRIMINAL ORDER
RCW 10.99
WHO MAY OBTAIN? Any person who is a victim of domestic violence or fears violence by a "family or household member." (Persons who have been married, or have a child in common, adult persons who are related or who reside(d) together and persons 16 years and older who have been/are dating.) Married persons or persons with a child in common who are filing for divorce, legal separation, custody, or to determine parentage. To qualify a person does not need to have experienced assault or threats of violence. Persons who are seriously alarmed, annoyed, or harassed by conduct which serves no legitimate or lawful purpose. Person does not need to have a relationship with the person harassing them. A person who has reported an incident to the police. Criminal charges must be pending or filed. May be a condition of sentencing.
WHAT CAN AN ORDER DO? Prohibit contact of any kind.Remove abuser from shared residence and prohibit from entering.Order abuser into treatment/ counseling.Can be tailored to individual needs. Can do all that an Order for Protection does. May also order child support, order maintenance income, assign property to either party, and establish permanent child custody or use of family home. Persons who are seriously alarmed, annoyed, or harassed by conduct which serves no legitimate or lawful purpose. Person does not need to have a relationship with the person harassing them.
Prohibit harassment and contact of any kind.Restrain party from coming within a specific distance from petitioner's workplace, school, residence, etc.
Prohibit contact of any kind while criminal case is active and can be a condition of sentencing. Protects a victim while waiting for trial.
HOW IS AN ORDER OBTAINED? Can be obtained in superior court. The court will review the paperwork and grant or deny a temporary emergency order effective for up to 14 days. The other party is served with the petition, notice of hearing and temporary order by law enforcement. A hearing is scheduled within 2 weeks at which time the court may deny the petition or grant an order effective for up to one year or more.Forms and instructions are provided by the Clerk's Office. Can be obtained in superior court as part of a family law action such as a divorce, legal separation, custody action or paternity determination. A temporary restraining order can be filed at the time of a civil petition and signed by the judge effective until the preliminary hearing. The county prosecutor, when involved in paternity actions, may request a restraining order on behalf of the child. Can be obtained in district or superior court. Person files a petition which involves filling out paperwork. After reviewing your petition the court may grant or deny a temporary emergency order effective for up to 14 days. The other party is served with the petition, notice of hearing and temporary order. A hearing is held within 14 days at which time the court may deny the petition or grant an order effective for up to one year. A crime must first be reported to the police. If the abuser has been arrested or issued a citation, the victim may ask the prosecutor to request a no contact order. (In some jurisdictions, orders are issued via the police or jail.)
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE ORDER IS KNOWINGLY VIOLATED? Mandatory arrest if abuser violates "restraint" provisions or enters a residence where prohibited from entering. Possible criminal or contempt charges. Violator may be arrested. Possible criminal or contempt charges. Violator may be arrested. Possible criminal or contempt charges. Violator shall be arrested.