Protective Order

If there are incident(s) of family abuse, the court can order a person to have no contact, or limited contact, with the victim or victim's children, or to leave the home and stay away for a certain period of time. This is called a Protective Order.  If a person does not follow the rules and violates the protective order, that person can be arrested.  

Who can file?

The law clearly states that Family Abuse is an act involving violence, force, or threat, including any forceful detention which results in physical injury or places one in reasonable fear of death, sexual assault or bodily injury, and is committed by a person against a family or household member. 

 

Purpose of a Protective Order

A Protective Order is a legal document signed by the courts and enforced by police to increase safety and add protections. A protective order can require the person harming you to do the following:  
  •  to have no contact with you (and any children);  
  • to not return to a shared home;  
  • stay a specified distance away at all times; and  
  •  any other relief needed for your safety and stability. 

Documents to help file for a Protective Order

For your convenience, you may fill out an Intake Sheet prior to visiting our offices. They can be submitted by email: jdrc-intake@arlingtonva.us or fax, 703-228-3782

ENGLISH-PROTECTIVE-ORDER-INTAKE-SHEET.pdf(PDF, 132KB)

SPANISH-PROTECTIVE-ORDER-INTAKE-SHEET.pdf(PDF, 98KB)

Back to top