
Protective orders are legal documents issued by a judge to protect someone in potential or continuing danger. They are often used in abusive relationships to prohibit contact between individuals. Protective orders are civil matters, so if you are served with one, it is not a criminal charge and you will not have a criminal record. Protective orders can be temporary, lasting until all the facts have been gathered and the case is heard in court, or they can be final, issued when the court is convinced that someone has committed an offence or endangered the person protected by the order.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of order | Restraining, emergency, two-year, preliminary, temporary, final |
| Issued by | A judge |
| Purpose | To maintain peace and provide protection until all the facts have been gathered and the case is heard in Court |
| Issued when | The judge believes the person is in potential or continuing danger |
| Issued to | The adverse party |
| Action | Refrain from certain actions or require compliance with certain provisions |
| Action if violated | Immediate arrest |
| Action if violated | Prosecution of the offender |
| Action if violated | Criminal or civil contempt of court |
| Action if violated | Instruct an alleged abuser to stay a certain distance away from someone, such as their home, workplace or school |
| Action if violated | Not to contact the protected person through calls, text, or e-mail |
| Action if violated | Not to stalk, threaten, attack, or harass the protected person |
| Action if violated | Not to destroy personal property or disturb the peace of the protected person |
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What You'll Learn

Temporary vs. final orders
A protective order is a legal document issued by a judge that enforces specific conditions of behaviour. Protective orders are often used in abusive relationships to prohibit contact between individuals.
Temporary orders of protection are issued to maintain peace and provide protection until all the facts have been gathered and the case is heard in court. Once the court is convinced that an offence has been committed or that the person protected by the order is in danger, a final order is issued.
Temporary orders are issued when there is a potential or continuing danger to the person seeking protection. These orders are designed to keep the peace until a final decision can be made. They are not criminal charges and will not result in a criminal record.
Final orders are issued when the court is convinced that an offence has been committed or that the person protected by the order is in danger. These orders are typically issued after a hearing in which all the facts have been presented. Final orders can result in arrest and prosecution if they are violated.
The specific conditions of a protective order will vary depending on the situation. In general, protective orders can require the restrained person to refrain from certain actions, such as contacting the protected person or destroying their personal property. They can also require the restrained person to stay a certain distance away from the protected person's home, workplace, or other frequently visited places.
It is important to note that protective orders cannot be changed or terminated by an agreement between the parties involved. Only the court has the authority to modify or terminate a protective order.
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Jurisdiction
Protective orders are legal documents issued by a judge that order someone to follow specific conditions of behaviour. They are issued when the judge believes the person is in potential or continuing danger. Protective orders are civil matters, so they are not criminal charges and do not result in a criminal record.
The jurisdiction of protective orders can vary depending on the location. In some places, protective orders are filed in existing family law cases and may deal with property issues, child support, and spousal support. In other places, protective orders are only issued when there is a serious problem and the person is in potential or continuing danger.
The court will order the adverse party to refrain from certain actions or require compliance with certain provisions. Failure to comply with a protective order is a violation that can result in arrest and prosecution. Violations in some jurisdictions may also constitute criminal or civil contempt of court.
All protective order statutes permit the court to instruct an alleged abuser to stay a certain distance away from the protected person, their home, workplace, or school. This is known as a “stay away” provision. The protected person cannot change or terminate the order by agreeing to have contact with the restrained person. Only the court can change or terminate the order.
Protective orders can be necessary and highly beneficial in abusive relationships. However, it is important to note that people may seek protective orders unnecessarily to gain leverage in domestic disputes.
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Who can file for an order
A protective order is a legal document issued by a judge that enforces specific conditions of behaviour. Protective orders are civil matters, and are therefore not criminal charges. They are often used in cases of domestic abuse to prohibit contact between individuals.
Anyone can file for a protective order, but they are most often used in cases of domestic abuse. Protective orders are civil matters, so they are not criminal charges and will not result in a criminal record.
In cases of domestic abuse, a protective order can be used to enforce 'stay away' provisions, which require the alleged abuser to stay a certain distance away from the victim. This can include staying away from their home, workplace, school, and other frequently visited places.
Protective orders can also be used to prohibit the restrained person from taking certain actions, such as contacting the protected person through calls, text, or email, or destroying their personal property.
It is important to note that a protective order is only effective if it is followed. The police can make immediate arrests if they have reason to believe that the conditions of the order have been violated.
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What protection or relief a person can get
A protective order is a legal document issued by a judge that enforces specific conditions of behaviour. It is a civil matter, not a criminal charge, and is designed to maintain peace and provide protection until all the facts have been gathered and the case is heard in court.
Protective orders can be used to prohibit contact between individuals, and to prevent certain actions or behaviours. For example, a protective order may require someone to stay a certain distance away from someone else's home, workplace, school or vehicle. It may also prevent them from contacting, stalking, threatening, attacking or harassing the protected person.
In the case of a restraining order, a broader type of court order, the restrained person may also be prevented from taking certain actions, such as demolishing personal items in a home, damaging automobiles, or disturbing the peace of the protected person. Restraining orders may also deal with property issues, child support, and spousal support.
The police can make immediate arrests if they have reason to believe the conditions of a protective order have been violated. Failure to comply with a protective order can result in arrest and prosecution, and may constitute criminal or civil contempt of court.
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How the order will be enforced
A protective order is a legal document issued by a judge that outlines specific conditions of behaviour that an individual must or must not do. Protective orders are often used in cases of domestic abuse to prohibit contact between individuals.
Protective orders are enforced by the police, who can make immediate arrests if they have reason to believe that the conditions of the order have been violated. The police will enforce the order as it is written, and it cannot be changed by an agreement between the individuals involved. For example, if an order includes a "stay away" provision, it won't make a difference to the police if the protected individual invited the restrained individual to their home or was willing to talk to them. All that matters is what the order says.
Violating a protective order can result in arrest and prosecution of the offender. In some jurisdictions, violations may also constitute criminal or civil contempt of court. The court can instruct the restrained individual to stay a certain distance away from the protected individual, including their home, workplace, school, and other frequently visited places. They may also be ordered not to contact the protected individual through calls, text, or email, and not to stalk, threaten, attack, or harass them.
Protective orders remain in effect until they are changed or terminated by the court. In New York, every order has a specific expiration date. Once the order has expired, the restrained individual is no longer legally required to comply with its conditions. However, if the protected individual still feels unsafe, they can request an extension of the order or seek other legal options to ensure their safety.
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Frequently asked questions
A protective order is a legal document issued by a judge that outlines specific conditions of behaviour that an individual must or must not do.
A protective order will outline certain actions that an individual must refrain from doing, or certain provisions that they must comply with.
This varies depending on the jurisdiction, but all protective order statutes permit the court to instruct an alleged abuser to stay a certain distance away from the person they are alleged to have abused.
If a protective order is violated, the police can make an immediate arrest. Violations in some jurisdictions may also constitute criminal or civil contempt of court.
There are emergency protective orders, two-year protective orders, and preliminary protective orders.














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