Advocates play a critical role in supporting survivors across a wide range of needs including critical safety planning and technical support with DV related legal actions. Below you will find basic protection order information to help support your clients who may be in the process of seeking a protection order. Your help and support in the process is important.
A protection order* is a civil court order that can legally restrict someone from committing future acts of harm or threats against the person who is protected by the order. Protection orders are filed for by a petitioner, the person requesting protection from harm, against a respondent, the person restrained by the order.
There are six types of civil protection orders available in Washington state that vary depending on the type of harm experienced and the relationship between the petitioner and restrained person.
*In other states, a protection order may also be referred to as a protective order or a restraining order.
**Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) are sometimes referred to as “red flag laws.”
Are you a respondent in a protection order case? Learn more about the process.
Deciding whether or not to file a protection order is a big decision. Below are some important things the survivor may want to consider so they can make a more informed decision. Discussing these topics with an advocate can help survivors weigh the costs and benefits of filing based on their own experience.
Filing for a protection order knowing the other party will soon know about it may feel scary and overwhelming. Anytime a protection order is sought, it is best to engage in safety planning strategies. Survivors know their situations best and it can be helpful to engage in safety planning to help lower their risks of potential retaliatory violence or other harms. A safety plan is a personalized, practical plan to improve safety and well-being while experiencing abuse, preparing to leave an abusive situation, or after leaving.
Filing for a protection order has many steps and is best done by making an informed decision about whether a protection order is right for you. Your safety is of utmost importance. Before filing, consider creating a safety plan to help anticipate and address potential areas of risk or exposure to harm. A safety plan is a personalized, practical plan designed and informed by your experience and knowledge of the person causing harm. Safety planning is an ongoing process to help mitigate risk if you are experiencing abuse, preparing to leave an abusive situation, or stay safe after you leave.
When filing a protection order, specific forms need to be completed and submitted to the petitioner’s local court detailing the abuse, threats or harm they have experienced. A judicial officer will then review the request (petition) and may issue an immediate, temporary order, followed by a hearing to determine if a longer-term order if necessary (often 1 year). Make sure you have a clear understanding of the protection order filing process so you can alert them of the timelines of the process and the materials they will need to complete and file with the court.
Helping the petitioner write a strong statement is an important way to offer support. Attending a hearing in open court with the person who has caused harm can be intimidating, but preparation, and knowing what to expect can help make the experience more manageable. Having a strong written statement (narrative in petition) already filed with the court is a good foundation. Petitioners are allowed to bring notes to help them if they are nervous and can help reduce some of the stress of being in court hearing. There are often time limits for the hearings so having a complete statement and notes to help present the case at the hearing can be really helpful.
Hearings take place in court (either in person or remotely) and are open to the public. If possible, it can be helpful to have the victim observe a hearing virtually or in person so they know what to expect ahead of their own, recognizing that the facts of the observed case may be different.
People who have experienced trauma or who have symptoms of or been diagnosed with PTSD may have trouble with sequential memory. This may make it difficult to recall details of abuse, especially if there have been multiple incidents. When drafting the petition or preparing for the hearing, encourage survivors to recall the details of the incidents of abuse (threats or harm) by going slowly, giving plenty of time to process and respond. It is important to listen to their responses and ask questions if anything is confusing. Be supportive and patient. For some survivors, prompting them with questions about how they felt during the incident may help with recall and can also inform the court of the severity of the situation.
To help with timeline ask questions such as:
Focus on sensory memory with questions such as:
Ask general open response questions such as:
Washington state law allows courts to order the temporary removal of firearms, and establish firearm prohibitions for the restrained party, when entering a protection order. Petitioners can formally request the removal of firearms in their protection order petition or a judge can order the removal of firearms if they believe the restrained person’s access to or ownership of firearms poses an immediate threat to public safety, to an individual or if other conditions are met.
© 2025 Washington State Protection Orders. Copyright © 2025 Office of Firearm Safety & Violence Prevention - Community Safety Unit, Washington State Department of Commerce
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