{"id":372008,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:37","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-protective-orders-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-05-16T12:59:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T17:59:08","slug":"colorado-protective-orders-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-protective-orders-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Protective Orders Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Colorado Protective Orders Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\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

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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

In Colorado, protective orders, more commonly known as restraining orders<\/a>, are legally enforceable documents designed to protect people from abuse, harassment, or harm. These court orders require a person named in the document (respondent or restrained person) to keep a certain distance from the person seeking protection (petitioner or protected person).<\/p>\r\n

This article offers a detailed overview of Colorado’s protective order laws. It explains the various types of protective orders, their purposes, and more.<\/p>\r\n

Understanding Protective Orders in Colorado<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

A protective order, or a restraining order<\/a>, is a court-issued mandate to secure a person or property from harm or harassment<\/a>. It often includes provisions that prevent a respondent from engaging in certain behaviors.<\/p>\r\n

For instance, it may include a no-contact order<\/a> that bans the restrained person from communicating with the protected party and other people named in the order. This includes in-person contact, text messages, phone calls, emails, or interactions through social media.<\/p>\r\n

The court order can also ask the respondent to keep a certain distance from the petitioner’s frequented locations<\/a>, such as the petitioner’s residence, school, or workplace. A protection order may include provisions asking the respondent to move out of shared residences.<\/p>\r\n

For parties that share children, the order can also include provisions about temporary custody of minor children<\/a> or animals owned by the parties involved. In some cases, it may also include arrangements for child care.<\/p>\r\n

Purposes of Protective Orders<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Colorado Revised Statute \u00a713-14-100.2<\/a> states that the purposes of protective orders are to:<\/p>\r\n

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  1. Promote safety<\/li>\r\n
  2. Reduce violence, abuse, and serious harm or death<\/li>\r\n
  3. Address various types of domestic abuse, including physical threats and harm, mental and emotional abuse, and financial, document, or property control.<\/li>\r\n
  4. Help victims meet their immediate needs, such as shelter, food, transportation, medical care, and childcare.<\/li>\r\n
  5. Protect victims of sexual assault from future interactions with the offender.<\/li>\r\n
  6. Protect victims of stalking<\/a> from ongoing fear, danger, and isolation, recognizing the fact that stalking can escalate to a more severe crime.<\/li>\r\n
  7. Acknowledge that victims of domestic abuse need protection in different circumstances.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    Types of Protection Orders in Colorado<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

    Colorado courts recognize various types of protection orders, such as the following:<\/p>\r\n

    Temporary Protection Orders (TRO)<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

    The court issues this order ex parte, meaning the judge can issue the protection order without the respondent’s presence. They can issue a TRO<\/a> based solely on the petitioner’s statement. The TRO can last up to 14 days until a final court hearing.<\/p>\r\n

    Permanent Protection Order (PRO)<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

    The court issues this protection order after a full hearing, often 14 days after the TRO. A permanent protection order can last indefinitely and has no expiration date. Compared with a TRO, the court requires both parties to be present when issuing a permanent protection order. The petitioner should also prove the imminent danger of abuse or threat by a preponderance of the evidence<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

    Civil Protection Order (CPO)<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

    A court can issue a CPO for non-criminal cases. For instance, if a petitioner is seeking protection for an intrafamily offense, the court can issue this type of protection order for offenses committed by family members, household members, domestic partners<\/a>, or intimate partners.<\/p>\r\n

    Criminal Protection Order<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

    Colorado courts can also issue a criminal protection order during a criminal proceeding. This order protects victims, witnesses, and other people from intimidation, harassment<\/a>, retaliation, or other harm that the defendant can cause during the case.<\/p>\r\n

    Emergency Protection Order (EPO)<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

    This is a short-term legal mandate that gives immediate protection to those in imminent danger of assault, domestic violence<\/a>, stalking, or other types of harm.<\/p>\r\n

    Acts that Violate Protection Orders<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

    Under Colorado Revised Statute Section 18-6-803.5<\/a>, the following are violations of protection orders:<\/p>\r\n