Other Protection from Abuse Sections: Introduction to Restraining Orders Child Abuse Domestic Violence Civil Harassment Restraining Orders Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Violence at Work: How to Get a Restraining Order
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Introduction to Restraining Orders

What is a restraining order?

How much does it cost?

What kind of orders can I get?

What is a restraining order?
A restraining order is court order (opens in new window) that can protect you from being physically abused, threatened, stalked, or harassed.

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How much does it cost?
In many cases, there are no court fees to get a restraining order. Click here for more information on court fees and fee waivers.

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What kind of orders can I get from the court?
Here are 4 kinds of orders you can ask for:

• Domestic Violence Restraining Order,
• Civil Harassment Restraining Order,
• Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order, and
• Workplace Violence Restraining Order.

Domestic Violence Restraining Order
You can ask for a Domestic Violence Restraining Order if:

• A person has abused you, and
• You have a close relationship with that person (married or registered domestic partners, divorced, separated, dating or used to date, live together or used to live together*), or you are related (parent, child, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, mother-in-law, son-in-law) or you have a child with the person.

*You have to be more involved than just roommates.

Click here to get more help.

Civil Harassment Restraining Order
You can ask for a Civil Harassment Restraining Order if you suffer harassment by someone who is not close to you.

Harassment is violence, a threat of violence, or actions that really scare, annoy or harass you, done on purpose and for no good reason.

Civil harassment order can be used to protect you from roommates, neighbors, and co-workers.

Click here to get more information.

Elder or Dependent Adult Protective Order:
You can ask for an Elder or Dependent Adult Restraining Order if:

• You are 65 or older, or you are between 18 and 64 and have certain disabilities, and
• You are a victim of:
  • Physical or financial abuse,
  • Neglect, abandonment or
  • Treatment that has physically or mentally hurt you.

Click here for more information.

Workplace Violence Restraining Order
You can ask for a Workplace Violence Restraining Order if:

• You are an employer, and
• You seek a restraining order to protect an employee* who has suffered violence or a real threat of violence at the workplace.

* An employee CAN'T ask for a Workplace Violence Restraining Order.

Click here for more information.

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