To obtain a protective order, you will first meet with a specially trained domestic violence caseworker or social worker who will assist you with documenting a statement and preparing a file for review by a domestic violence prosecutor. Upon prosecutor approval, an application is filed in family court. You will then receive a letter regarding a court date. It is imperative to attend the court hearing in person or your case may be dismissed.

Here's a link to the building.

• Either you or the respondent (abuser) must live in Harris County OR the violence occurred in Harris County
• There is/was a dating, family, or household relationship with the respondent, including current spouses, former spouses, blood relatives, people related by marriage, parents of the same child, household members or people who dated.
• That the respondent was personally served. This is why we must have a physical address for respondent. The respondent can be served at home, at work, in jail or during a court date.
• That family violence, stalking or sexual assault occurred. Family violence means that you were assaulted (hitting, kicking, punching, hair pulling, slapping, punching, strangulation, shooting, stabbing, forcing to have sex, etc.) and/or that you were threatened with violence (the respondent said they would kill you, hit you, pointed a gun at you, etc.).

• Picture I.D.
• Names and contact information for any witnesses
• Address for the Respondent
• Evidence (pictures, recordings, medical records, or anything you may think is important to know)

It may take three to five weeks to obtain a protective order. A protective order is a lawsuit that is filed in family court and must be reviewed and issued by a judge. You must appear in court and provide testimony. Each survivor will receive safety information and options to increase safety.

If approved, a judge issues a temporary (ex-parte) protective order when a request for a final protective order is filed in court. It goes into effect when the respondent is served and expires after a certain amount of time. Police can arrest for violations after the respondent has been served with a temporary protective order.

A MOEP can be requested once a defendant has been charged with a family violence crime and has been arrested. They can be requested by the victim, law enforcement or the prosecutor and is only issued if a criminal case has been filed. MOEPs are generally active for 61-91 days depending on the type of case filed and are active even if a criminal case is dismissed.