Domestic Violence Resources: Protection Orders, Safety Planning, and Legal Help

Domestic violence affects people of all ages, genders, races, and economic backgrounds. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, it is essential to understand the legal protections available, how to create a safety plan, and where to find help.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or text START to 88788. Help is available 24/7 in over 200 languages.

Understanding Domestic Violence

Domestic violence, also called intimate partner violence, includes physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and digital abuse by a current or former partner, spouse, or household member. It is not limited to physical violence. Recognizing the many forms of abuse is the first step toward seeking help:

• Physical abuse — Hitting, slapping, choking, kicking, shoving, burning, or using weapons against you.
• Emotional and psychological abuse — Constant criticism, humiliation, threats, intimidation, isolation from friends and family, gaslighting, and controlling behavior.
• Sexual abuse — Forcing or coercing sexual acts, reproductive coercion, or refusing to practice safe sex.
• Financial abuse — Controlling access to money, preventing you from working, stealing your income, running up debt in your name, or destroying your property.
• Digital abuse — Monitoring your phone, social media, or location; cyberstalking; sending threatening messages; sharing intimate images without consent.
• Stalking — Repeatedly following, watching, harassing, or threatening you in a way that makes you fear for your safety.

Protection Orders (Restraining Orders)

A protection order (also called a restraining order or order of protection) is a court order that legally requires an abuser to stay away from you and stop the abusive behavior. Every state has laws authorizing protection orders for domestic violence victims. Here is how the process generally works:

Types of Protection Orders

• Emergency or Temporary Protection Order (TPO) — Issued quickly (often the same day) by a judge based on your sworn statement. Does not require the abuser to be present. Typically lasts 10-21 days until a full hearing.
• Final or Permanent Protection Order — Issued after a court hearing where both parties can present evidence. Can last one to five years or longer, depending on the state. Some states allow lifetime orders in serious cases.
• Criminal Protection Orders — Issued by criminal courts as a condition of bail, probation, or sentencing after the abuser has been arrested or charged.

How to Get a Protection Order

1. Go to your local courthouse. Visit the clerk of court or a domestic violence advocate at the courthouse. Many courts have self-help centers specifically for protection order applications. You do not need a lawyer to file.
2. Fill out the petition. You will need to describe the abuse, your relationship with the abuser, and what protections you are requesting. Be as specific and detailed as possible about dates, incidents, and any injuries.
3. See a judge. A judge will review your petition, usually the same day. For emergency orders, the judge may grant the order immediately based on your written statement.
4. Service on the abuser. The order must be officially served on (delivered to) the abuser, usually by law enforcement. The order is not enforceable until the abuser has been served.
5. Attend the hearing. For a final order, both parties will have a hearing. Bring evidence such as photographs of injuries, threatening messages, police reports, medical records, and witness testimony.

A protection order can include provisions such as: requiring the abuser to stay a certain distance from you, your home, workplace, and children's school; granting you temporary custody of children; ordering the abuser to move out of a shared residence; prohibiting contact by phone, email, or social media; requiring the abuser to surrender firearms; and ordering the abuser to attend counseling.

Violating a protection order is a criminal offense in every state. If the abuser violates the order, call 911 immediately. Even if you are in a different state, your protection order is valid nationwide under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

Safety Planning

A safety plan is a personalized strategy for staying as safe as possible, whether you are still living with the abuser, planning to leave, or have already left. Work with a domestic violence advocate to create a plan tailored to your situation:

If You Are Still in the Relationship

• Identify safe areas in the home where you can go during an argument (rooms with exits, away from kitchens and bathrooms where weapons may be accessible).
• Practice your escape route and establish a code word with a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor who can call for help.
• Keep a bag packed with essential items: identification, copies of important documents (protection orders, birth certificates, passports, insurance cards), cash, medications, keys, a change of clothes, and a prepaid phone.
• Store this bag somewhere outside the home, such as with a trusted friend or in a safe deposit box.
• Open a private bank account and begin setting aside money if you can do so safely.
• Document the abuse: take photos of injuries, save threatening messages, and keep a journal with dates and descriptions in a safe location.

If You Are Planning to Leave

• Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) to develop a safety plan with a trained advocate.
• Identify a safe place to go: a domestic violence shelter, a family member's home, or a friend's home the abuser does not know about.
• Apply for a protection order before or at the time of leaving.
• If you have children, consult a family law attorney about temporary custody arrangements.
• Change your passwords and check your devices for tracking software or spyware.
• Use a safe computer or phone the abuser does not have access to when researching resources or communicating with advocates.

After You Leave

• Change your locks, phone number, and email passwords immediately.
• Notify your children's school and your employer about the protection order and provide a photo of the abuser.
• Apply to the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) in your state, which provides a substitute address to keep your real location private.
• Consider applying to the Safe at Home program for mail forwarding and address confidentiality.
• Continue working with a domestic violence advocate for ongoing safety planning and legal support.

Legal Resources for Survivors

Numerous free and low-cost legal resources exist for domestic violence survivors:

• Legal Aid Organizations — Most legal aid offices prioritize domestic violence cases and provide free representation for protection orders, custody, and divorce proceedings.
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Protections — VAWA provides funding for domestic violence services, housing protections, and immigration relief for victims (including the U-visa for crime victims and VAWA self-petitions for immigrant spouses).
• Housing Protections — Under VAWA, tenants in federally subsidized housing cannot be evicted because of domestic violence. Many states have additional laws protecting DV survivors from eviction and allowing them to break leases without penalty.
• Employment Protections — Several states have laws requiring employers to provide leave time for domestic violence court proceedings and to make reasonable accommodations for safety.
• Firearms Restrictions — Federal law prohibits individuals subject to certain protection orders and those convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors from possessing firearms.

Key Hotlines and Resources

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or text START to 88788
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE)
• National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
• National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474
• StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-762-8483
• VictimConnect Resource Center: 1-855-484-2846
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Leaving an abusive relationship is the most dangerous time for a victim. You deserve to be safe, and help is available. Contact a domestic violence advocate before leaving if possible. You are not alone, and what is happening to you is not your fault.