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Protection Order | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Protection orders are the most common type of order obtained by a victim of domestic violence. They are civil orders that can be secured without starting another legal proceeding such as a divorce or reporting a crime to the sheriff or prosecutor. Specifically designed for victims of domestic violence, they generally last for a maximum of one year but may be renewed after that. No attorney is needed to file. Forms can be picked up at the courthouse or in one of the DVSAS locations on San Juan, Orcas, or Lopez. Forms are also available online at www.courts.wa.gov or www.nwjustice.org. Advocates can assist victims in selecting and filling out the forms and filing the petitions with the court. There is no filing fee for a protection order nor is there a charge for service of the forms on the respondent. Obtaining a protection order is a three-step process. First the victim petitions the court stating what violence took place. This step is critical. A protection order will only be issued if the description of the abuse in the protection order petition includes acts that fall under the legal definition of domestic violence. That is, physical harm, bodily injury, assault or fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, sexual assault or stalking. To qualify for an Order for Protection, two criteria must be met:
Orders for Protection may be filed at the nearest district or municipal court, superior court or your local DVSAS. Call us for more information. A good online resource for further information is http://protectionorder.org. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Call us, we can help. It's free and confidential. Teen Advocate County-Wide (360) 376-5979 24 Hour Crisis Line Orcas Island (360) 376-1234 San Juan Island (360) 378-2345 Lopez Island (360) 468-4567 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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