Protective orders
When home no longer feels safe
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A protective order is a court order that tells a person to stay away from you, your home, your work or your children, and to stop contacting you. Some orders can also address who keeps the home for now and who has the children while things settle.
If you are asking for one
Tell me what has happened in your own words, and in any order. I'll help you put it into the form the court uses, tell you what to expect at the first hearing and who may be in the room, and stand beside you there. You don't have to be certain, and you don't have to have proof of everything.
If an order has been filed against you
That is serious, and it can have consequences for your home and your time with your children. Don't contact the other person. Bring the papers you were given to a first meeting, and we will go through what they say and what the date means.
Safety comes first. The legal papers can follow at your pace.
What to expect
What happens between asking and the order
- 01
Step 1: A first meeting
You tell your story once. We decide together what to ask for and what to bring.
- 02
Step 2: Papers filed
The court receives your request. Some orders can be put in place quickly, before the other person has a chance to respond.
- 03
Step 3: A hearing
A judge listens to both sides and decides whether to continue the protection and for how long.
- 04
Step 4: After the hearing
You leave with a written order and a plan for what to do if it is broken.
Safety questions
What people ask about asking for protection
Will the other person know I met with a lawyer?
Not from me. I don't contact anyone without your say-so. Tell me the safest phone number and time to reach you.
What if I have no photos or messages?
That does not end the conversation. Your own account matters, and we can talk about what else might help, such as a neighbor or a doctor's record.
Does an order stop me from seeing my children?
An order can address children, but it depends on what the judge decides. We will talk about the schedule you want and how to ask for it.
How do I use this site safely?
Use the Quick exit button, close the tab, and clear your history if someone else shares your device. A library or a friend's phone is safer than a shared one.
You can call today
Tell Rosalie what is happening. She will tell you what the court can do.