When you feel you are in danger from another person, you can take legal steps to protect yourself. In Washington State, a judge can issue a legal order requiring another person to stay away from you. This is known as a protection order. If the individual violates the order, they can be arrested and taken into police custody.
Types of Protection Orders in Washington
Washington State law provides for several types of protection orders, each designed for a specific situation. These include:
- Domestic Violence Orders: For cases involving intimate partners, family members, or those who have lived together.
- Sexual Assault Orders: For victims of sexual assault, regardless of their relationship to the perpetrator.
- Stalking Orders: Specifically addresses a pattern of behavior that causes fear or harassment.
- Anti-Harassment Orders: For situations where the parties are not in a domestic relationship, such as a dispute with a neighbor or a coworker.
- Vulnerable Adult Orders: To protect elderly or disabled adults from abuse or exploitation.
A protection order can provide a variety of safeguards, such as requiring the abuser to leave a shared home, granting temporary custody of children, and allowing a victim to use family necessities like a vehicle.
Restraining Orders, Anti-Harassment Orders, and No-Contact Orders: What’s the Difference?
The terms “restraining order,” “anti-harassment order,” and “no-contact order” are often used interchangeably, but they serve different legal purposes.
- Restraining Orders: These are typically part of a broader legal case, such as a divorce or a family law dispute. A restraining order can prevent a spouse from destroying property, remove them from the family home, or grant temporary child custody. It’s a tool used to maintain peace and order during a legal proceeding.
- Anti-Harassment Orders: An anti-harassment order is specifically for individuals who are not in a domestic relationship. This could be a dispute with a neighbor or a coworker where the person’s conduct has no legitimate purpose and causes serious emotional distress.
- No-Contact Orders: A no-contact order is usually issued by a judge in a criminal case, often as a condition of release from jail. It is not an order a victim typically petitions for directly. It prohibits the defendant from having any contact—whether by phone, email, or in person—with the victim.
Taking Action to Protect Yourself
If you are being abused, threatened, or intimidated, there are laws in place to protect you and your family. Navigating the legal system to get the right court order can be complex. An experienced domestic violence attorney can guide you through the process, helping you understand your options and securing the best possible outcome for your safety and well-being.
