If you are filing for an Order of Protection, you are called the “Petitioner.” The person you are filing the Order of Protection against is called the “Respondent.”
An Order of Protection is a court order that prohibits the Respondent from abusing, molesting, stalking, threatening, communicating with, committing domestic violence or sexual assault against and/or otherwise disturbing the peace of the Petitioner. An Order of Protection may also include provisions such as: limited communication/contact only in regards to a shared child, financial orders and an order for the Respondent to relinquish firearms, get a substance abuse evaluation and/or attend an intervention program.
A Child Order of Protection can be filed by a parent or guardian if any of the above acts have been committed against a minor child or children.
To file for an Order of Protection in Jackson County, one (or more) of the following must be true:
- You reside in Jackson County;
- The Respondent can be served with the paperwork in Jackson County; and/or
- The abuse/stalking/sexual assault occurred in Jackson County.