Eligibility

You can apply for an Order of Protection against your abuser, if you are their:

• Spouse or former spouse
• Parent or child
• Blood relative

You can also apply if you:

• Are living with them now or lived with them in the past
• Have or are expecting a child with them
• Have a significant romantic or sexual relationship with them

Benefits

Orders for Protection puts limits on your abuser's behavior. They may:

• Stop your abuser from having any direct or indirect contact with you
• Prevent future acts of domestic abuse
• Limit your abuser's access to your home, work, school or daycare
• Prohibit your abuser from contacting you in person or by phone, letters, social media, email or third parties
• Establish custody of minor children.

Police can arrest abusers who violate the Order for Protection.