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This page provides resources and guidance to help you through each step of the protection order process confidently. Learn more about safety planning, the filing process, statement writing tips, and hearing preparation.
Safety Planning
Filing for a protection order can be an intimidating process, and your safety is of utmost importance. Whether or not you decide to file for a protection order, if you have experienced abuse or been threatened with harm, consider creating a safety plan to help lower your risk or exposure to any additional harm. A safety plan is a personalized, practical plan to improve your safety and well-being if you are experiencing abuse, preparing to leave an abusive situation, or after you leave.
In addition, working with a Domestic Violence Advocate who is trained in assisting with safety planning can help make the process more supportive, informed, and comfortable. You can find more information about finding an advocate on our Resources page.
Click the link below to see the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s interactive tool for creating a personal safety plan.
Firearm Safety
If the respondent (the person at risk of causing harm) owns a firearm/s that poses a threat to your safety, or if you have concerns they may try to purchase a firearm, you can request an Order to Surrender and Prohibit Weapons as part of your petition for a protection order, or you can file for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO). Please be aware, in some situations the court is required to order the surrender and prohibition of firearms, even if you do not request it. Be sure to talk with an advocate if you have safety concerns about firearm prohibitions.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline has tools for safety planning around guns and firearms.
Suicide and Mental Health
If you are filing for a protection order and have concerns about the mental health of the restrained person, including risk of self-harm, consider seeking support from mental health professionals or requesting that the court include a mental health evaluation.
Electronic Monitoring with Victim Notification Technology (EMVNT)
Designed to enhance the safety and security of victims of domestic violence. By tracking the location of restrained parties using advanced GPS technology, EMVNT ensures that victims are promptly notified of any potential threats, enabling them to take necessary precautions.
Washington Victim Information & Notification Everyday (WA VINE)
A free, secure, and confidential service providing updates on custody status and protection orders. Register for notifications to stay informed about changes. Explore more details about WA VINE online.
The Washington Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)
ACP offers survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or trafficking, a substitute mailing address to receive first class mail. The address is accepted by Washington state, county, and city government agencies in lieu of a residential address for creating records.
Technology Safety
If you think you might be experiencing abuse through your cellphone, computer, home security or smart home systems, it can be helpful to look for patterns. New Beginnings offers training and information to help you navigate and stop technology enabled abuse.
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
VAWA requires that every court in the United States give full faith and credit to protection orders issued by other jurisdictions. 18 U.S.C. § 2265. Full faith and credit means that all jurisdictions, whether a tribe, state or territory, must honor and enforce protection orders issued by another court. Visit the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center to learn more.
Filing Process
Filing Steps
1. Determine which protection order is right for you. Review our protection order decision tree for guidance.
2. Complete and file your forms. Visit the tool section below for form information and filing resources. Be sure to review our statement writing tips to help as you file.
While you can file forms in person with your local county and district courts, some counties are set up for online filing. Learn more about your county’s rules here.
3. Go to “Ex Parte” hearing for temporary orders. Once you have filed your forms, you will go to an Ex Parte Court. These are held either online or in person. After a temporary protection order (TPO) is either granted or denied, a two-week return hearing is scheduled. In some cases, the judicial officer may deny the petition without setting a two-week return hearing. If this happens, the court allows two weeks for an amended petition to be filed under the same case number. If you do not refile within the two week window, you will have to refile a new case.
4. Paperwork processing and protection order service. During this step, the court will process the paperwork. Additionally, the clerk will send out a service packet to the law enforcement agency identified on the TPO or notice of hearing. The respondent must be served the protection order packet.
5. Attend hearing(s) and provide testimony. It’s important to be prepared for testimony, both emotionally and physically. You may need to attend multiple hearings, and the respondent may be present in the courtroom. Remote hearings are available in many jurisdictions, and courts are required to grant a request for a remote appearance unless the court finds good cause to require in-person attendance or attendance through a specific means. RCW 7.105.205 section (2) Talk to a lawyer or advocate for more information. Additionally, the court may appoint an attorney to represent the petitioner if the respondent retains counsel. See below for hearing preparation tips.
6. Judicial officer ruling After considering all evidence and testimony, the full protection order will be granted or denied. Before issuing a ruling, the court must have proof that the respondent was served.
Filing Tools & Tips
Explore resources and tools designed to simplify the filing process for protection orders, offering guidance and support every step of the way.
King County Protection Order Portal:
A guided tool for civil protection orders that generates forms for WA courts. King County users can directly link to King County Superior Court’s E-Filing site from the portal. Note: This tool does not apply for ERPOs.
Law Help Interactive:
An interactive tool that prompts users with questions as they fill out the form. Note: This tool does not apply to ERPOs.
e-filing
See if your county e-files and get directed to WA county specific resources here.
Washington State Courts Protection Order Forms:
View all forms related to protection orders in Washington State. Note: Form POi 001 provides helpful filing instructions from the state.
Statement Writing Tips
Trauma can impact our sequential memory and it can be upsetting to recall details of the abuse. Seeking the support of an advocate or friend can help ease the burden of writing your statement. Here are some important tips to keep in mind as you are writing your statement and working on your testimony.
Be clear and concise. The emotional turmoil of the situation is important to convey, but be sure to focus on the facts and point to direct evidence of harm.
Provide specific details. Include important information such as dates, times, locations and descriptions of incidents. If possible, include direct quotes of threats, abusive language, and descriptions of non assault behavior such as: breaking things, punching walls, showing weapons of any kind, and getting up in your face.
Chronological order. As best as possible, present incidents in chronological order, starting with the most recent incident of abuse and working backwards. Providing a clear and descriptive statement can make it easier for the court to follow along and understand.
If you’re having trouble remember specific dates and details, ask yourself some of the following questions:
- Were my kids there? How old were they? Was it around my daughter’s birthday?
- What season was it? Was I hot or cold?
- What job was I working at at the time?
- What was my living situation? What city was I living in? What house or shelter was I staying in?
Emphasize physical and emotional impact. Describe how the events made you feel. Were you left with bruises? Did the emotional stress make it difficult to focus at work or maintain relationships with family and friends? This helps the court understand the severity of the situation.
Use consistent language. When writing your statement it is important to make sure you are using terms correctly. Check out our glossary for key terms and how to use them.
Write from a first person perspective. Make sure the statement is written from the perspective of the person filing and uses “I” statements.
Witnesses. If there were any witnesses to the events, mention them along with specific details of what they witnessed.
Supporting documents. If there are any police reports that have been filed, prior protection orders, medical treatment received as a result of abuse, photos, text messages, social media messages, or emails, it can be helpful to provide that information as supporting evidence
Prior history of abuse. If there are prior incidents of abuse, it is helpful to mention even if they don’t feel relevant to the current situation. This can help demonstrate a dangerous pattern of behavior to the court.
Review and edit. Be sure to review your statement for clarity. If you have friends or family you can rely on, it would be helpful to have them review errors or omissions. If you have questions or need professional help, reach out to an advocate or lawyer.
Confidentiality and safety. Remember these details will be a part of a public record unless submitted to the court in a sealed document. The respondent must be served with all materials you submit to the court and may be present at the court hearings. Make sure to create a safety plan.
Prepare for Your Hearing
Hearings take place in court and are open to the public. If possible, it can be helpful to observe a hearing virtually or in person so you know what to expect ahead of your own. Here are some important things to keep in mind for your hearing.
In preparation for the hearing:
- There are many safety advantages to attending a hearing virtually. Remote hearings are available in many jurisdictions, be sure to check with your local courts. Remote hearings are available in many jurisdictions, and courts are required to grant a request for a remote appearance unless the court finds good cause to require in-person attendance or attendance through a specific means. Talk to a lawyer advocate for more information.
- There may be multiple hearings, and the respondent may be present in the courtroom. Make sure you are emotionally prepared for this. If possible, go with a family member, friend, advocate, or lawyer. While lawyers are not required for these civil cases, they are often helpful.
- Prepare emotional coping strategies. The respondent will likely lie and deny the abuse. Do not let this affect you or the testimony you will give. Sample strategies include:
- Visiting the courthouse ahead of time so it feels familiar
- Practicing positive self talk
- Staying with the person/advocate you came with
- Leaving children at home
- Arriving before the abuser
- Not speaking to the abuser
- Letting the abuser leave first
- Setting up an after care plan/knowing where you will go after the hearing and who will support you
- If you need an interpreter, contact the court to ask for one in advance.
- If you have a disability or require accommodations, request those in advance of your court date. Washington State Court Forms: General Rule 33 Request for Reasonable Accommodation
- Gather and bring copies of all relevant documents to court. All documents and multimedia exhibits will need to be filed ahead of time, but it can be helpful to bring copies of evidence and a notebook and pen to take notes during the respondent’s testimony to prepare for a verbal reply should you choose to make one.
- If you are attending your hearing virtually, make sure your internet is working and you leave extra time for signing in. Consider testing beforehand.
Understand and prepare for DARVO
DARVO is an acronym that stands for “Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender.” Nearly all abusers will not only attack the victim or deny wrongdoing, but may actively attempt to manipulate the court into believing the petitioner is the actual abuser.
Deny: The accused individual denies the allegations against them. This can involve outright rejection of the victim’s claims or minimizing the seriousness of the behavior.
Attack: The accused then shifts the focus by attacking the credibility, character, or motivations of the accuser. This can involve questioning the accuser’s honesty, sanity, or motives, thereby undermining their claims.
Reverse Victim and Offender: The accused portrays themselves as the victim and the actual victim as the offender. This reversal is designed to garner sympathy for the accused and cast doubt on the accuser’s integrity or intentions.
DARVO can confuse the narrative, making it difficult for observers to discern the truth. Preparing for the possibility of this tactic can help you to stay clear, focused, and reduce emotional stress.
During the hearing be sure to:
- Speak slowly and clearly.
- Direct all statements and answers to the judicial officer.
- Do not interrupt anyone in court.
- If you don’t understand something that was said, it is okay to ask for clarification.
- You may have to pass your abuser in the hallway, parking lot, and other public spaces if you attend the hearing in person. State law (RCW 7.105.200 (12)) directs courts to assist petitioners attending in person with some safety measures when possible, including:
- Having you wait in different areas
- Having you enter and exit the courtroom at different times
- Having security escort you to your car
- Reach out to your court to request those accommodations. Talk to a lawyer advocate for more information.
- Arrange for a safe place to go after the hearing. Review Safety Planning.
