Civil Protection Orders

Washington State law allows a person (called the Petitioner) to file a civil case asking the court to grant an order to protect them from another person (called the Respondent) whose behavior is abusive, threatening, exploitative, or harassing. Washington State law on civil protection orders can be found here: RCW 7.105.

A single petition is used when filing for a protection order that includes the following types of requests:

• domestic violence protection order,
• anti-harassment protection order,
• sexual assault protection order,
• stalking,
• and vulnerable adult protection order.

A separate petition is used for extreme risk protection orders - which are primarily filed by law enforcement but can be filed by an intimate partner, family, or household member. An extreme risk protection order does not protect an individual but rather protects society. 

Petitioners choose which type of protection order is most appropriate for them to file. However, protection orders do not cover everyone's needs; there may be other legal remedies that are appropriate. 

• Safety Planning and help with forms
•  https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/434 Helpful Resources
• Read the state law: Revised Code of Washington
• Procedures for Submission of Evidence in Civil Protection Order Hearings
• Contact an attorney for legal advice: Snohomish County Bar Association

What Type of Protection Order Should I File?

Use this flowchart to help determine what kind of protection order you need.

Click to enlarge picture

• Domestic Violence: The petition for a domestic violence protection order must allege the existence of domestic violence committed against the petitioner or family or household members who are minors or vulnerable adults. The petition must specify whether the petitioner or the respondent are intimate partners, family, or household members. 
• Anti-Harassment: The petition for an anti-harassment protection order must allege the existence of unlawful harassment committed against the petitioner by the respondent. The petitioner may file on behalf of themselves, a minor child where the petitioner is the parent, legal guardian, or custodian, a vulnerable adult where the petitioner is an interested party, or any other adult for whom the petitioner demonstrates to the Court's satisfaction that the petitioner is interested in the adult's well-being, the Court's intervention is necessary, and the adult cannot file the petition because of age, disability, health, or inaccessibility. 
• Sexual Assault: The petition for a sexual assault protection order must allege the existence of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration that was committed against the petitioner by the respondent. The petition can be filed on behalf of themselves, a minor child where the petitioner is the parent, legal guardian, or custodian, a vulnerable adult where the petitioner is an interested party, or any other adult for whom the petitioner demonstrates to the Court's satisfaction that the petitioner is interested in the adult's well-being, the Court's intervention is necessary, and the adult cannot file the petition because of age, disability, health, or inaccessibility.  
• Vulnerable Adult: The petition for vulnerable adult protection order must allege that the petitioner, or person on whose behalf the peitition is brought, is a vulnerable adult who has been abandoned, abused, financially exploited, or neglected, or has been threatened with abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect by the respondent. 
• Stalking: The petition for a stalking protection order must allege the existence of stalking committed against the petitioner by the respondent. The petitioner may petition for a stalking protection order on behalf of themselves, a minor child where the petitioner is the parent, legal guardian, or custodian, a vulnerable adult where the petitioner is an interested party, or any other adult for whom the petitioner demonstrates to the Court's satisfaction that the petitioner is interested in the adult's well-being, the Court's intervention is necessary, and the adult cannot file the petition because of age, disability, health, or inaccessibility.  

Costs:

• There is no fee for forms, filing documents, or for certified copies when asking for a Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Vulnerable Adult, Stalking, or Extreme Risk Protection Order
• There is no fee required for service of documents on the respondent if service is performed by law enforcement
• A $53 filing fee may apply in Anti-Harassment cases unless harassment is:
  • Stalking (as defined in RCW 9A.46.110)
  • A hate crime (under RCW 9A.36.080(1)(c))
  • A single act of violence or threat of violence (under RCW 7.105.010(35)(b)) OR
  • From a person who has engaged in nonconsensual sex that constitutes a sex offense (as defined in RCW 9A.44.128)

Forms: 

All forms filed with the Clerk must have writing or printing on only one side of the page. Forms with writing or printing on both the front and back of the page will be rejected.

File a Civil Protection Order: 

• Complete and submit to us online through LegalAtoms
• Download & Print Petition for Civil Protection Order
• Download & Print Petition for Civil Protection Order - Under 18 (if you are filing against a minor respondent)
• Fee Waiver Packet

File an Extreme Risk Protection Order:

• Download and Print Petition for Extreme Risk Protection Order
• Download and Print Petition for Extreme Risk Protection Order - Under 18
  • After-hours petitions - If an order is authorized by a judicial officer after hours, Law Enforcement is responsible for filing all documents with the Clerk's Office the next court day. This can be done by email (protection.orders@snoco.org) or by fax (425-388-3127).

Response: (use to respond to a protection order filed against you or to file related documents such as police reports, medical records, text messages, witness statements, etc.,)

• Civil Protection Order Response Packet  /DocumentCenter/View/47777 
• Response Packet Under 18 

Renew a Protection Order:

• Motion for Renewal of Protection Order Packet 

Modify or Terminate a Protection Order

• Motion to Modify or Terminate Protection Order Packet 

Service Documents

• Proof of Service

Request for Remote Appearance

The Court's preference is for civil protection order hearings to proceed in person. However, pursuant to RCW 7.105.205(2), no later than three judicial days before the hearing, the parties may request to appear remotely by telephone, video, or other electronic means. The Court shall grant any request for a remote appearance unless the Court finds good cause to require in-person attendance or attendance through a specific means. To request a remote appearance, please use the following packet:

• Remote Appearance for Protection Order Packet