How to Get a Restraining Order in District of Columbia
In District of Columbia these are called Civil Protection Order (CPO); Temporary Protection Order (TPO); Anti-Stalking Order (ASO); Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO). A protective order is a court order that tells someone to stop abusing, threatening, stalking or contacting you. Here is how to ask for one, what happens next, and where to get free help — each rule linked to the statute or official court page.
Quick answers for District of Columbia
- Emergency / temporary orders
- You can ask for a Temporary Protection Order without notice to the respondent. The court decides after a hearing the same day (or the next court day if filed too late). D.C. Code § 16-1004(b)–(e)
- How long an order lasts
- A CPO lasts up to 2 years at a time. Any party can ask to extend, modify or end it for good cause; a violation is not required to extend. D.C. Code § 16-1005(d),(d-1)
- Where to ask
- File with the Superior Court Domestic Violence Division online, by mail, by email (DVD@dcsc.gov) or in person at the Domestic Violence Intake Centers: Moultrie Courthouse, 500 Indiana Ave NW, Room 4510 (202-879-0152), or 2041 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Suite 400 (202-879-1500). DC Superior Court, Get a Protection Order
Last verified: 2026-10-25
Safety first
- If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
- You can talk to a trained advocate any time, for free and confidentially, through the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
- Advocates can help you make a safety plan and fill out the court forms. Many courts have advocates on site.
- Keep copies of the order with you. Give copies to people who need to know, such as your workplace or your child's school.
Getting an order
| Types of orders | Civil Protection Order (CPO), including a Temporary Protection Order (TPO); Anti-Stalking Order (ASO); and Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) for firearm removal. All are handled by the Superior Court's Domestic Violence Division. |
|---|---|
| Who can ask for an order | A person 16 or older can petition for a CPO against someone who committed or threatened an intrafamily offense against them (an intimate partner—current or former spouse or domestic partner, a co-parent, or a current, former or sought-after romantic, dating or sexual partner; a family member by blood, adoption, custody, marriage or domestic partnership; or a household member who shared a home with them in the past year with a close relationship), or who committed sexual assault or trafficking against them. Anti-stalking orders are available when stalking occurred with at least one incident in the past 90 days. Re-verified and corrected 2026-10-27. |
| Where to ask | File with the Superior Court Domestic Violence Division online, by mail, by email (DVD@dcsc.gov) or in person at the Domestic Violence Intake Centers: Moultrie Courthouse, 500 Indiana Ave NW, Room 4510 (202-879-0152), or 2041 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Suite 400 (202-879-1500). Hours are Monday–Friday 8:30 am–5:00 pm; for a same-day emergency hearing, filings must reach the Clerk's Office by 3 p.m. |
Emergency orders and the hearing
| Emergency / temporary orders | You can ask for a Temporary Protection Order without notice to the respondent. The court decides after a hearing the same day (or the next court day if filed too late). A TPO can be issued if your safety or welfare (or your animal's) is immediately endangered. It lasts up to 14 days and can be extended to complete service and the hearing. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 16-1004(b)–(e) |
|---|---|
| Serving the order | The respondent must be served with notice of the hearing, the petition and any temporary order under Superior Court rules. A TPO can be extended as needed to complete service. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
| The court hearing | When a petition is filed, the court schedules a hearing on whether to issue a CPO, and the respondent is served with notice. Parties who are served must appear at the hearing, and a respondent who fails to appear can be punished for criminal contempt. The judge issues a CPO after the hearing (or without one if both parties consent). If a served respondent does not appear and a CPO is entered, any temporary order stays in effect until the respondent is served with the CPO or it expires. Re-verified and corrected 2026-10-27. |
| How long an order lasts | A CPO lasts up to 2 years at a time. Any party can ask to extend, modify or end it for good cause; a violation is not required to extend. An extension longer than 2 years requires a finding such as a violation, a prior protection order against the same person, or other compelling safety circumstances. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 16-1005(d),(d-1) |
What the order does
| What an order can require | A CPO can order the respondent not to commit or threaten crimes against you; to stay away and have no contact; to stay out of or move out of your home in specified circumstances; to return personal property; to attend counseling or treatment; and can award temporary custody, safe visitation, costs and attorney fees, directions about your animals, police enforcement, and other appropriate relief. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 16-1005(c) |
|---|---|
| Firearms | Both temporary and final protection orders must require the respondent to give up firearms and ammunition and prohibit possessing, controlling, buying or receiving them while the order is in effect. Separately, an Extreme Risk Protection Order can remove firearms from someone who poses an extreme risk. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
| If the order is violated | Violating a temporary or civil protection order can be prosecuted as criminal contempt or as a misdemeanor, each punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 16-1005(f),(g) |
Children and privacy
| Minors and children | Minors 16 and older can file on their own. Minors 13 to 15 can file for intimate-partner abuse, sexual assault by someone without a significant relationship, or child sex trafficking. Children under 13 cannot file on their own. A parent, guardian or custodian can file for a minor, and at the request of a minor 13 or older, an adult relative or a sexual assault youth victim advocate can file. The court may appoint a lawyer for a minor. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 16-1003(a)–(e),(g) |
|---|---|
| Keeping your address private | DC's Address Confidentiality Program, run by the Mayor's Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG), gives eligible residents a substitute legal address and confidential mail forwarding. It is open to adults or children who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking, among others. Program site: https://ovsjg.dc. |
Forms and help in District of Columbia
- District of Columbia courts: protective order help
- DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCCADV) — (202) 299-1181 (office)
- Free legal aid in District of Columbia
District of Columbia protective order FAQ
What kinds of protective orders are available in District of Columbia?
Civil Protection Order (CPO), including a Temporary Protection Order (TPO); Anti-Stalking Order (ASO); and Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) for firearm removal. All are handled by the Superior Court's Domestic Violence Division.
Who can get a restraining order in District of Columbia?
A person 16 or older can petition for a CPO against someone who committed or threatened an intrafamily offense against them (an intimate partner—current or former spouse or domestic partner, a co-parent, or a current, former or sought-after romantic, dating or sexual partner; a family member by blood, adoption, custody, marriage or domestic partnership; or a household member who shared a home with them in the past year with a close relationship), or who committed sexual assault or trafficking against them. Anti-stalking orders are available when stalking occurred with at least one incident in the past 90 days.
Where do I file for a restraining order in District of Columbia?
File with the Superior Court Domestic Violence Division online, by mail, by email (DVD@dcsc.gov) or in person at the Domestic Violence Intake Centers: Moultrie Courthouse, 500 Indiana Ave NW, Room 4510 (202-879-0152), or 2041 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Suite 400 (202-879-1500). Hours are Monday–Friday 8:30 am–5:00 pm; for a same-day emergency hearing, filings must reach the Clerk's Office by 3 p.m.
How fast can I get an emergency protective order in District of Columbia?
You can ask for a Temporary Protection Order without notice to the respondent. The court decides after a hearing the same day (or the next court day if filed too late). A TPO can be issued if your safety or welfare (or your animal's) is immediately endangered. It lasts up to 14 days and can be extended to complete service and the hearing.
What happens at the restraining order hearing in District of Columbia?
When a petition is filed, the court schedules a hearing on whether to issue a CPO, and the respondent is served with notice. Parties who are served must appear at the hearing, and a respondent who fails to appear can be punished for criminal contempt. The judge issues a CPO after the hearing (or without one if both parties consent). If a served respondent does not appear and a CPO is entered, any temporary order stays in effect until the respondent is served with the CPO or it expires.
How long does a restraining order last in District of Columbia?
A CPO lasts up to 2 years at a time. Any party can ask to extend, modify or end it for good cause; a violation is not required to extend. An extension longer than 2 years requires a finding such as a violation, a prior protection order against the same person, or other compelling safety circumstances.
What can a protective order do in District of Columbia?
A CPO can order the respondent not to commit or threaten crimes against you; to stay away and have no contact; to stay out of or move out of your home in specified circumstances; to return personal property; to attend counseling or treatment; and can award temporary custody, safe visitation, costs and attorney fees, directions about your animals, police enforcement, and other appropriate relief.
Does a protective order affect firearms in District of Columbia?
Both temporary and final protection orders must require the respondent to give up firearms and ammunition and prohibit possessing, controlling, buying or receiving them while the order is in effect. Separately, an Extreme Risk Protection Order can remove firearms from someone who poses an extreme risk.
How is a restraining order served in District of Columbia?
The respondent must be served with notice of the hearing, the petition and any temporary order under Superior Court rules. A TPO can be extended as needed to complete service.
What happens if someone violates a protective order in District of Columbia?
Violating a temporary or civil protection order can be prosecuted as criminal contempt or as a misdemeanor, each punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine.
Can a minor get a restraining order in District of Columbia?
Minors 16 and older can file on their own. Minors 13 to 15 can file for intimate-partner abuse, sexual assault by someone without a significant relationship, or child sex trafficking. Children under 13 cannot file on their own. A parent, guardian or custodian can file for a minor, and at the request of a minor 13 or older, an adult relative or a sexual assault youth victim advocate can file. The court may appoint a lawyer for a minor.
Can I keep my address confidential in District of Columbia?
DC's Address Confidentiality Program, run by the Mayor's Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG), gives eligible residents a substitute legal address and confidential mail forwarding. It is open to adults or children who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking, among others.
Protective orders in other states
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.