How to Get a Restraining Order in Indiana
In Indiana these are called Order for Protection (Protection Order). 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 Indiana
- Cost
- The court, clerk and sheriff may not charge the petitioner a fee for filing, service of process, witnesses or subpoenas. The court may collect costs from the respondent. Ind. Code § 34-26-5-16
- Emergency / temporary orders
- The judge can issue an ex parte order without a hearing (except for harassment-only petitions), for example ordering no violence or contact and staying away from your home, school or work. Ind. Code §§ 34-26-5-9, 34-26-5-10; IOCS manual
- How long an order lasts
- Orders last two years unless the judge sets a different date; extensions are also presumed to be two years. Ind. Code § 34-26-5-9(f),(g)
- Where to ask
- Any court of record can issue an order. File in the county where you currently or temporarily live, where the respondent lives, or where the violence or harassment happened; no minimum residency is required. Ind. Code § 34-26-5-4; Self-Service Legal Center
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 | Orders for protection under the Indiana Civil Protection Order Act for domestic or family violence, stalking, sex offenses (including child grooming) and harassment—issued ex parte or after a hearing. Indiana also has workplace violence restraining orders, criminal no-contact orders, and child protection orders. |
|---|---|
| Who can ask for an order | A victim of domestic or family violence by a family or household member, or of stalking, a sex offense, or repeated harassment by anyone. Family or household members include current or former spouses, people who are dating or have dated, people in a current or past sexual relationship, relatives by blood, adoption or marriage, guardians/wards/custodians/foster relationships, people with a child in common, and a person who adopted the other's child. |
| Where to ask | Any court of record can issue an order. File in the county where you currently or temporarily live, where the respondent lives, or where the violence or harassment happened; no minimum residency is required. Petitions can be filed online, including with help from an advocate who files electronically. If a court already has a related case, a harassment-only petition must be filed there. From the Indiana Protection Order Deskbook (Judicial Conference of Indiana / Indiana Office of Court Services), which quotes the Indiana Code; Indiana Code text was not read directly. |
| Cost | The court, clerk and sheriff may not charge the petitioner a fee for filing, service of process, witnesses or subpoenas. The court may collect costs from the respondent. From the Indiana Protection Order Deskbook (Judicial Conference of Indiana / Indiana Office of Court Services), which quotes the Indiana Code; Indiana Code text was not read directly. Source: Ind. Code § 34-26-5-16 |
Emergency orders and the hearing
| Emergency / temporary orders | The judge can issue an ex parte order without a hearing (except for harassment-only petitions), for example ordering no violence or contact and staying away from your home, school or work. Some ex parte relief (eviction from your home, possession of a car or pets) requires a hearing within 30 days. An ex parte order can last up to two years unless the judge sets another date. |
|---|---|
| Serving the order | The sheriff serves the order at no cost to the petitioner, and must provide expedited service. Orders are entered in the statewide Protection Order Registry and shared with law enforcement within minutes. From the Indiana Protection Order Deskbook (Judicial Conference of Indiana / Indiana Office of Court Services), which quotes the Indiana Code; Indiana Code text was not read directly. |
| The court hearing | The respondent can request a hearing to contest an ex parte order; it must be held within 30 days of the request unless continued for good cause. Harassment-only petitions require a hearing within 30 days of filing. Parenting time, money relief and firearm surrender orders require notice and a hearing. |
| How long an order lasts | Orders last two years unless the judge sets a different date; extensions are also presumed to be two years. If the respondent must register for life as a sex or violent offender because of a crime against the petitioner, the order can be indefinite. From the Indiana Protection Order Deskbook (Judicial Conference of Indiana / Indiana Office of Court Services), which quotes the Indiana Code; Indiana Code text was not read directly. Source: Ind. Code § 34-26-5-9(f),(g) |
What the order does
| What an order can require | Orders can prohibit violence, harassment and contact; require staying away from your home, school, work and other places; prohibit tracking devices; give you possession of a shared home, car, belongings and pets; evict the respondent regardless of ownership; and after a hearing set parenting time, order payment of rent/mortgage, child support, attorney fees and other expenses, GPS monitoring, and firearm surrender. Courts can also order transfer of your cell phone number. Protection-order courts cannot award custody. |
|---|---|
| Firearms | After a hearing, if domestic or family violence is shown, the court can order the respondent to surrender all firearms, ammunition and deadly weapons to law enforcement for the duration of the order. Orders include required firearm-disqualification warnings. From the Indiana Protection Order Deskbook (Judicial Conference of Indiana / Indiana Office of Court Services), which quotes the Indiana Code; Indiana Code text was not read directly. |
| If the order is violated | Knowingly or intentionally violating a protection order is the crime of Invasion of Privacy, a Class A misdemeanor; it can be a Level 6 felony with a prior unrelated conviction. From the Indiana Protection Order Deskbook (Judicial Conference of Indiana / Indiana Office of Court Services), which quotes the Indiana Code; Indiana Code text was not read directly. Source: Ind. Code § 35-46-1-15.1 |
Children and privacy
| Minors and children | A parent, guardian or other representative can file on behalf of a child who is a victim of domestic or family violence, stalking, a sex offense, grooming or harassment; the child is named as petitioner with the adult as 'next friend.' From the Indiana Protection Order Deskbook (Judicial Conference of Indiana / Indiana Office of Court Services), which quotes the Indiana Code; Indiana Code text was not read directly. Source: Ind. Code § 34-26-5-2(c) |
|---|---|
| Keeping your address private | Indiana's Attorney General runs an Address Confidentiality Program; court clerks may refer protection-order petitioners to it. |
Forms and help in Indiana
- Indiana courts: protective order help
- Official Indiana protective order forms
- Free legal aid in Indiana
Indiana protective order FAQ
What kinds of protective orders are available in Indiana?
Orders for protection under the Indiana Civil Protection Order Act for domestic or family violence, stalking, sex offenses (including child grooming) and harassment—issued ex parte or after a hearing. Indiana also has workplace violence restraining orders, criminal no-contact orders, and child protection orders.
Who can get a restraining order in Indiana?
A victim of domestic or family violence by a family or household member, or of stalking, a sex offense, or repeated harassment by anyone. Family or household members include current or former spouses, people who are dating or have dated, people in a current or past sexual relationship, relatives by blood, adoption or marriage, guardians/wards/custodians/foster relationships, people with a child in common, and a person who adopted the other's child.
Where do I file for a restraining order in Indiana?
Any court of record can issue an order. File in the county where you currently or temporarily live, where the respondent lives, or where the violence or harassment happened; no minimum residency is required. Petitions can be filed online, including with help from an advocate who files electronically. If a court already has a related case, a harassment-only petition must be filed there.
Does it cost money to get a restraining order in Indiana?
The court, clerk and sheriff may not charge the petitioner a fee for filing, service of process, witnesses or subpoenas. The court may collect costs from the respondent.
How fast can I get an emergency protective order in Indiana?
The judge can issue an ex parte order without a hearing (except for harassment-only petitions), for example ordering no violence or contact and staying away from your home, school or work. Some ex parte relief (eviction from your home, possession of a car or pets) requires a hearing within 30 days. An ex parte order can last up to two years unless the judge sets another date.
What happens at the restraining order hearing in Indiana?
The respondent can request a hearing to contest an ex parte order; it must be held within 30 days of the request unless continued for good cause. Harassment-only petitions require a hearing within 30 days of filing. Parenting time, money relief and firearm surrender orders require notice and a hearing.
How long does a restraining order last in Indiana?
Orders last two years unless the judge sets a different date; extensions are also presumed to be two years. If the respondent must register for life as a sex or violent offender because of a crime against the petitioner, the order can be indefinite.
What can a protective order do in Indiana?
Orders can prohibit violence, harassment and contact; require staying away from your home, school, work and other places; prohibit tracking devices; give you possession of a shared home, car, belongings and pets; evict the respondent regardless of ownership; and after a hearing set parenting time, order payment of rent/mortgage, child support, attorney fees and other expenses, GPS monitoring, and firearm surrender. Courts can also order transfer of your cell phone number. Protection-order courts cannot award custody.
Does a protective order affect firearms in Indiana?
After a hearing, if domestic or family violence is shown, the court can order the respondent to surrender all firearms, ammunition and deadly weapons to law enforcement for the duration of the order. Orders include required firearm-disqualification warnings.
How is a restraining order served in Indiana?
The sheriff serves the order at no cost to the petitioner, and must provide expedited service. Orders are entered in the statewide Protection Order Registry and shared with law enforcement within minutes.
What happens if someone violates a protective order in Indiana?
Knowingly or intentionally violating a protection order is the crime of Invasion of Privacy, a Class A misdemeanor; it can be a Level 6 felony with a prior unrelated conviction.
Can a minor get a restraining order in Indiana?
A parent, guardian or other representative can file on behalf of a child who is a victim of domestic or family violence, stalking, a sex offense, grooming or harassment; the child is named as petitioner with the adult as 'next friend.'
Can I keep my address confidential in Indiana?
Indiana's Attorney General runs an Address Confidentiality Program; court clerks may refer protection-order petitioners to it.
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.