{"id":351810,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:35","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/domestic-violence\/domestic-violence-orders-of-protection-and-restraining-orders.html"},"modified":"2023-05-16T10:57:26","modified_gmt":"2023-05-16T15:57:26","slug":"domestic-violence-orders-of-protection-and-restraining-orders","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/domestic-violence\/domestic-violence-orders-of-protection-and-restraining-orders.html","title":{"rendered":"Domestic Violence: Orders of Protection and Restraining Orders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Domestic Violence: Orders of Protection and Restraining Orders<\/h1>\n
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\n By John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Heather Biddle, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Protection orders and restraining orders are designed to safeguard those experiencing domestic violence and prevent contact with abusers. Terminology and provisions of these orders varies by state but the primary purpose remains the same\u2014to provide a legal barrier between a domestic violence victim and their perpetrator.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

This article will discuss in detail the types of protection orders pertaining to victims of domestic violence<\/a>. You will also learn how such protection or restraining orders are enforced in a court case and what happens when a person violates the order.
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Protection or Restraining Orders<\/h2>\r\n

Courts issue protection or restraining orders to ensure the safety of individuals from those who harm them. In this discussion, we shall use the terms protection order and restraining order interchangeably. However, in some states,<\/a> the term "restraining order" only applies to orders related to an already existing case, such as a divorce,<\/span> to restrain a party from disposing of assets while the case is pending. In some states, protection orders are called protection from abuse (PFA) orders.<\/p>\r\n

Protection or restraining orders are typically issued by a court for domestic abuse, sexual assault and harassment, stalking<\/a>, and other forms of domestic violence. Most states today provide for a victim to request a protection order in a pending criminal case or in a separate civil action whether a crime has been charged or not. A victim may request the issuance of a restraining order and the court may find and order the offending person to refrain from or perform any of the following acts:<\/p>\r\n