Protection Orders

What is a Protection Order? A Protection Order is a type of "restraining order" that you, the petitioner, can file against another person, the respondent, if you believe you have been a victim of domestic violence by the other person. Because it is a civil order, you can file this type of order even if the police have never been called or there has never been a domestic violence conviction.

Common types of civil protection orders that students seek include:

• Domestic Violence Protection Order – May be filed by someone who is experiencing physical harm, bodily injury, assault, stalking, sexual assault OR who fears imminent physical harm or bodily injury by a family or household member. A household member includes adult persons residing together or who have resided together in the past.
• Stalking Protection Order – May be filed by someone who is experiencing stalking conduct by someone who is NOT a family or household member.
• Sexual Assault Protection Order – May be filed by someone who is experiencing nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration by someone who is NOT a family or household member. A single incident is sufficient to pursue a SAPO.

Other types of civil protection orders are Anti-harassment Protection Orders, Vulnerable Adult Protection Orders, Extreme Risk Protection Orders, Restraining Order, and Washington VINE Protective Order (WA VPO). The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office has comprehensive pages with information about filing for protection orders and other important information at protectionorder.org and kingcounty.gov/depts/prosecutor/protection-orders.aspx. Each site contains slightly different information.