1. AGE - You and the person you are filing against must both be:
1. 17 years or older, or
2. "emancipated"; (married, in the armed services, etc.)
2. RELATIONSHIP - You must now be, or, formerly have been: (any one of the following)
1. married;
2. adults related by blood or marriage;
3. adults living together;
4. adults who have a child in common regardless of whether you have been married or have resided together at any time;
5. adults who have been in a continuing social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature; or
6. the victim of stalking.
3. ABUSE - You must have been abused or stalked in order to receive an order of protection. The Adult Abuse Act states that you have been abused if another adult has: (any one of the following)
1. placed you in fear of physical harm;
2. caused you actual physical harm;
3. compelled you to engage in conduct from which you have a right to abstain or compelled you to abstain in conduct in which you have the right to engage;
4. engaged in a purposeful course of conduct involving more than one incident that alarms or causes you distress;
5. caused you to engage involuntarily in any sexual act by force or threat of harm

1. in the county where you live; or
2. in the county where the abuse or stalking occurred; or
3. in the county where the adult who has abused or stalked you can be found.

1. wear shoes
2. do not wear shorts
3. do not chew gum in the courtroom

1. custody of minor children;
2. child support;
3. visitation;
4. court ordered counseling;
5. return of specific property;
6. other miscellaneous requests

1. If the respondent is present at the hearing, the court clerk will serve the full order of protection on the respondent at that time.
2. If the respondent is not present at the hearing and he/she has been served with an ex parte order of protection, a copy of the full order is sent to the court deputy for service or is mailed by certified mail to the respondent at his last known address.
3. Note that an unserved full order of protection may be effective against the respondent. Even if there has been no service, call the police if there is a violation of the full order.

1. Participation by the respondent in a court approved counseling program;
2. Restraint of the respondent from abusing or stalking the petitioner;
3. Restraint of the respondent from entering the premises where petitioner resides unless the respondent was awarded possession of the dwelling unit pursuant to the divorce decree.

If you have questions regarding the termination of your order of protection, please contact the adult abuse clerk.

Child Abuse Information

1. The child on whose behalf you are filing must be under 18 years of age; and
2. the person against whom you are filing must be 18 years of age or older or an emancipated child.

1. a parent;
2. a legal guardian of the child/victim;
3. a court appointed special advocate; or
4. a juvenile officer.

1. in the county where the child resides;
2. in the county where the abuse happened; or
3. in the county where the respondent may be served.