What are the steps for getting an Order of Protection?
Go to the circuit court where you live, where the abuser lives, or where the abuse occurred. You can find a court near you by going to our Courthouse Locations page. Note that if you are requesting possession of the home you share, you should go to the court in the county where that home is located. Find the circuit court clerk and request a petition for an emergency order of protection. Or if you are not in immediate danger, you may want to petition for a plenary order. The clerk will give you the forms, and may recommend that you work with a domestic violence legal advocate. You may also be able to find the forms you need online through our Download Court Forms page.
