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Civil Protection Orders
Civil protection orders are available for situations involving domestic or family violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, extreme risk, or vulnerable adult situations.
Call 9-1-1 if anyone is in immediate danger.
How can we help you?
Steps to File a Protection Order
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Fill out the forms completely.
Fill out forms online 
Note: Filling out forms online via Washington Law Help does not automatically file your petition.
You must complete step 3 to file your protection order with the court. Forms can be filled out online for most protection order types, with the exception of Extreme Risk Protection Orders and filing orders related to an existing Canadian Protection Order.
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Reminders when submitting your documents to the clerk.
- The following documents are required and must be signed and dated for civil protection orders:
- Petition for a Protection Order
- Law Enforcement Information Sheet (LECIF)
- Case Information Coversheet (CICS)
- Any Proposed Temporary Orders.
- Need to file an extreme risk protection order? The required forms are different. You can find them here. Once filled out, proceed to step 3.
- Make sure your documents are legible and all fields are filled out, including the case caption and party information for both the protected person(s) and restrained person(s). (Case caption example: Last name of Petitioner vs. Last name of Respondent)
- Additional supporting documents must be formatted correctly for filing. Click here to learn more.
Note: Renewals cannot be submitted online at this time. You can file renewals in-person at the Clerk’s office.
- The following documents are required and must be signed and dated for civil protection orders:
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Submit your completed forms online or in-person.
File forms online -or-
File forms in-person 
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The Clerk will provide instructions on how to attend your hearing once your forms have been reviewed and filed. If filing in person, you will be given printed instructions. If filing online, you will receive an email notification.
Forms for Protection Orders
What type of protection order petition do you need to file?
Resources and Information for Civil Protection Orders
General Resources and Information for Civil Protection Orders
- Civil Protection Order Resources
- Which Type of Civil Protection Order is Right?
- Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV)
- Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs (wcsap.org)
- Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Advocacy Program (POAP)
- Domestic Violence Protection Order Changes - July 2022
- Protection Order Webinar Presentation Legal Resources for Civil Protection Orders (wa.gov)
Submitting a Protection Order Petition
- Instructions for electronic submission
- Understanding Washington State Protection Orders and How They Can Help You
- POi 001 Instructions Petition for Protection Order_2024_01.pdf (wa.gov)
- Protection Order Information: Protected Person
- Webinar: KC Script Portal - Protection Order Submissions
- POi 030 Temp PO Order Instructions_2023_01.pdf (wa.gov)
- How Do I Serve the Respondent/Other Party with my Petition for a Protection Order?
Responding to a Protection Order
Attending a Protection Order Hearing
After your Temporary Protection Order Hearing
- After your protection order hearing, what happens next?
- Temporary Protection Order Instructions (wa.gov)
- Civil Protection Order Filings and Exhibits: How to Present your Evidence
- Submitting Evidence in a Protection Order for the Full Hearing
- Renew a civil protection order
- File a contempt motion for a previously issued protection order (form)
Frequently Asked Questions - General Information
Anyone 15 years of age and older can petition on their own behalf. For any other questions, please refer to RCW 7.105.100.
If there is a concern that browsing history or temporary internet files may put you at risk, please use a private secure tab or use incognito mode while on our website. Most common browsers support private browsing.
A protection order is a civil action and an order can be issued by a judicial officer in the following categories: domestic violence, anti-harassment, sexual assault, vulnerable adult, and extreme risk.
No contact orders are issued in criminal actions.
Restraining orders are either financial or personal restraints and can be issued through the divorce or child custody process in Domestic or Family Law Cases.
No contact orders are issued in criminal actions.
Restraining orders are either financial or personal restraints and can be issued through the divorce or child custody process in Domestic or Family Law Cases.
Frequently Asked Questions - Filing a Protection Order
Washington Law Help has an online questionnaire that will walk you through filling out the forms. This online tool will create all necessary forms needed for filing a protection order. Please click HERE to navigate to Washington Law Help.
Advocates are also available at the courthouse that can assist with domestic violence petitions only. The website for the King County Advocates can be found here: http://protectionorder.org/
You may also seek help from an attorney.
If you have a disability and believe you may need an accommodation to fully, and equally participate in a court proceeding or activity, you may request an accommodation. Accommodation requests are granted to any qualified person with a disability for whom an accommodation is reasonable and necessary under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or under Washington State Court General Rule (GR) 33.
Advocates are also available at the courthouse that can assist with domestic violence petitions only. The website for the King County Advocates can be found here: http://protectionorder.org/
You may also seek help from an attorney.
If you have a disability and believe you may need an accommodation to fully, and equally participate in a court proceeding or activity, you may request an accommodation. Accommodation requests are granted to any qualified person with a disability for whom an accommodation is reasonable and necessary under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or under Washington State Court General Rule (GR) 33.
Yes, protection order documents may be submitted through our KC Script portal. Click HERE to be directed to the portal.
You may also receive in-person support at any of our locations. Please click here for our location addresses and hours.
You may also receive in-person support at any of our locations. Please click here for our location addresses and hours.
The law enforcement agency that serves a protection order should be the department that is in the jurisdiction where the restrained person lives. If you are uncertain which department serves in the jurisdiction where the restrained person resides, you could use to tool to help: King County Department of Assessments: eReal Property
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Search restricted person’s address.
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Select ‘Property Detail’ tab.
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Note Jurisdiction.
- If you see ‘King County’, this means the King County Sheriff’s Office will need to serve the protection order.
- If you see a city listed here, this means that city’s Police Department should serve the protection order.
Listing the proper law enforcement agency on your proposed temporary protection order will help avoid delays or unserved documents for a protection order case.
Yes, electronic signatures are allowed on all protection order documents.
To add your signature to your .pdf file, you can use Adobe Acrobat Reader’s Fill and Sign feature. There is also an Adobe Fill and Sign app to download. Many online applications also support signing with Draw by using your mouse or touch screen.
When using Washington Law Help to fill in your protection order forms, there is an option to add an e-signature to your forms.
When using Washington Law Help to fill in your protection order forms, there is an option to add an e-signature to your forms.
If you submit a protection order petition after 2:15 p.m. during office hours, your temporary protection order hearing may be held on the next business day. If submitted prior to 2:15pm during office hours, your temporary protection order hearing may be held same day.
Our office will review your submission on the next business day if you submitted protection order documents outside regular business hours. Please view our office hours and scheduled holidays here.
Yes. If your submission was rejected, please refer to the link in your email to view your submission status. The status will show the reason(s) why your submission was rejected.
Once corrections have been made to your documents, please start a new submission and re-upload all required documents and attachments or declarations, if any.
For additional questions, please reach out to Protection Order Customer Service staff.
Email: DJA.DVPO@kingcounty.gov
Live Chat: Click here
Telephone:
206-477-0845 (Seattle)
206-477-3041 (Kent)
Once corrections have been made to your documents, please start a new submission and re-upload all required documents and attachments or declarations, if any.
For additional questions, please reach out to Protection Order Customer Service staff.
Email: DJA.DVPO@kingcounty.gov
Live Chat: Click here
Telephone:
206-477-0845 (Seattle)
206-477-3041 (Kent)
Once your submissions are filed as a new court case, documents are viewable to the public (excluding the LECIF-Law Enforcement & Confidential Information Sheet) unless you have specifically asked for a qualifying document to be sealed. For more information, see the question 'What items should I ask to be sealed?'
Any document that lists bank account numbers, social security numbers, medical information from a doctor or hospital should be filed in the court case with a GR 22 coversheet. Please choose either the Sealed Financial Coversheet or the Sealed Personal Health Care Coversheet.
You will receive additional information via email and/or in your portal account, with instructions on your next step.
Frequently Asked Questions - Attending Protection Order Hearing
You may appear for your hearing either electronically or in person. You will receive further instructions via email and/or in your portal account after your case has been filed.
Hearings for temporary protection orders are heard Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., excluding holidays.
Please reach out to Clerk’s Office Protection Order Customer Service staff to let them know which translation you need assistance with during your hearing.
Telephone:
206-477-0845 (Seattle)
206-477-3041 (Kent)
Telephone:
206-477-0845 (Seattle)
206-477-3041 (Kent)
Please click HEREto be directed to instructions regarding how to submit evidence for a full protection order hearing.
ShareFile is only needed if you would like the court to consider an audio or video file during your hearing. Most evidence, in document form, is filed in the court case. Our office receives many requests for ShareFile accounts daily and it can take 24-48 hours for processing.
Additional information regarding submitting evidence for a full protection order hearing can be found HERE.
Additional information regarding submitting evidence for a full protection order hearing can be found HERE.
Frequently Asked Questions After Temporary Hearing
The Clerk’s Office sends documents, per statute, to law enforcement as ordered by the court. Each law enforcement agency has schedules to perform service for protection orders. Please contact the law enforcement agency identified in your order for questions regarding their civil service schedule.
You may submit a request for an electronic copy of your hearing through our KC Script Portal.
The fee for the audio recording is $25.00 per case number. (The fee is not exempt.)
Any granted protection order outlines law enforcement action related to any minor children. If your children are listed as protected parties in your protection order, please consult with law enforcement.
If you are the Petitioner, you will receive a copy of all documents filed in your case after your temporary hearing.
If you are the Respondent and you were served electronically, you will receive a copy of all documents in your service packet.
If additional copies are needed outside of the above circumstances, they may be requested through our KC Script portal. (Some fee exemptions may apply.) Please click HERE to be redirected to the portal.
If you are the Respondent and you were served electronically, you will receive a copy of all documents in your service packet.
If additional copies are needed outside of the above circumstances, they may be requested through our KC Script portal. (Some fee exemptions may apply.) Please click HERE to be redirected to the portal.
Please see RCW 7.105.500 for information. Forms may be found on the website for the Administrative Office of the courts here: Washington State Courts - Court Forms - Protection Orders
The instructions to file an amended petition can be found here.
DV Protection Order Advocacy Program
Learn important information about the protection order process. You are not alone, help is available!
Seattle (206) 477-1103
Kent (206) 477-3758
http://protectionorder.org/
KC Jail Inmate Custody Status Notification Service
VINE is a free automated service that lets victims and other individuals register to receive custody status notifications.
Toll Free: 1-877-425-8463
TTY: 1-866-847-1298
Self-Help Court Forms
This is a Washington Forms Online interview. Self-help court forms and instructions to file for a protection order. Completes forms for domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, anti-harassment, and vulnerable adult protection orders. (Available in English and Spanish.)
Protection Order Forms and Guidelines Online
