{"id":376045,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:30","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-protective-orders-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-06-06T13:29:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T18:29:08","slug":"pennsylvania-protective-orders-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-protective-orders-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Protective Orders Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Pennsylvania Protective Orders Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/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

Courts use protection orders to shield victims of domestic violence from further abuse. The Pennsylvania courts also use these orders to protect stalking victims.<\/p>\r\n

In Pennsylvania, as in most states, a protection order is similar to any other court order. Only a judge can issue a protection from abuse order (PFA), which is enforceable by the court. Most protection orders dictate that an abusive spouse may not come within a certain distance of the petitioner and their minor children.<\/p>\r\n

This article explains how protective order laws<\/a> work in Pennsylvania and the types of orders you can request. It examines who can file a PFA petition and how the court determines if a final PFA is warranted. It finishes up by describing the behaviors the courts prohibit in a standard PFA order.<\/p>\r\n

Types of Protective Orders Available in Pennsylvania<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

In Pennsylvania, the Court of Common Pleas grants protection from abuse orders. Typically, the court issues a temporary order before a final protection order. After the temporary PFA is issued, the court schedules a final hearing, at which the magisterial district judge determines whether to grant the petitioner\u2019s request.<\/p>\r\n

Under Pennsylvania\u2019s Protection From Abuse Act<\/a>, petitioners can apply for the following types of protection orders:<\/p>\r\n