How to Get a Restraining Order in Louisiana
In Louisiana these are called Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and Protective Order (PO), issued on the Louisiana Uniform Abuse Prevention Order and entered in the Louisiana Protective Order Registry (LPOR). 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 Louisiana
- Cost
- You do not have to prepay, and cannot be charged, court costs or the cost of service or subpoenas to file the petition or get a TRO or protective order. The abuser can be ordered to pay costs. La. R.S. 46:2134(F)-(G); 46:2136.1
- Emergency / temporary orders
- A judge can issue a Temporary Restraining Order the same day, without the abuser present, on a showing of immediate and present danger of abuse (the abuse itself does not have to be recent). The TRO lasts until the hearing; La. R.S. 46:2135(A), (E)
- How long an order lasts
- Up to 18 months under the Domestic Abuse Assistance Act and dating violence law, and the court can extend it after a hearing. La. R.S. 46:2136(F); LPOR A instructions
- Where to ask
- Any court that hears family or juvenile matters (district, family, juvenile, and some city courts). You can file in the parish where the household or marital home is, where the abuser lives, where the abuse happened, or where you live. La. R.S. 46:2133(A)-(B), (D); 46:2135(F)
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 protective orders under the Domestic Abuse Assistance Act (family and household members), the Protection from Dating Violence Act, the Protection from Stalking Act, the Protection for Victims of Sexual Assault Act, the Children's Code domestic abuse articles, the Post-Separation Family Violence Relief Act, and injunctions against abuse filed with a divorce. Each starts with a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and can lead to a Protective Order (PO) after a hearing. The Supreme Court quick-reference chart is marked Rev. January 2020. |
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| Who can ask for an order | Family members (spouses and former spouses, parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren, foster parents and foster children, other ascendants and descendants, and the other parent of the abuser's child); household members (someone who lives or lived with the abuser in a sexual or intimate relationship, or a child living there); and dating partners. Victims of stalking or sexual assault by a stranger or acquaintance can file under the stalking and sexual assault laws. A parent, adult household member or district attorney may file for a minor child or a person alleged to be incompetent. |
| Where to ask | Any court that hears family or juvenile matters (district, family, juvenile, and some city courts). You can file in the parish where the household or marital home is, where the abuser lives, where the abuse happened, or where you live. Leaving home to avoid abuse does not affect your right to file. A judge may grant an emergency TRO outside regular court hours. If a divorce is already pending, the petition is filed in that case. |
| Cost | You do not have to prepay, and cannot be charged, court costs or the cost of service or subpoenas to file the petition or get a TRO or protective order. The abuser can be ordered to pay costs. If a court finds a petition frivolous, it may order the losing party to pay costs and attorney fees. |
Emergency orders and the hearing
| Emergency / temporary orders | A judge can issue a Temporary Restraining Order the same day, without the abuser present, on a showing of immediate and present danger of abuse (the abuse itself does not have to be recent). The TRO lasts until the hearing; if the hearing is continued, the court can extend it. Source: La. R.S. 46:2135(A), (E) |
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| Serving the order | The clerk gives the petition and order to the sheriff to serve the abuser; you do not prepay service costs. A final order can be served in open court at the end of the hearing. A police officer called to a scene where the abuser is present can also serve a copy of a TRO. |
| The court hearing | If a TRO is granted, the hearing (rule to show cause) is set within 21 days; if no TRO is granted, within 10 days of service of the petition. The abuser is notified and both sides can be heard; the petitioner must prove abuse by a preponderance of the evidence. Continuances generally cannot exceed 15 days without good cause. If you do not appear, the TRO expires and the petition may be dismissed. |
| How long an order lasts | Up to 18 months under the Domestic Abuse Assistance Act and dating violence law, and the court can extend it after a hearing. The parts ordering the abuser not to abuse, harass or interfere with the protected person can be made indefinite. Orders under the Children's Code last up to 6 months (or until age 18 for a sexually abused child). To extend, file a motion to modify before the order expires. |
What the order does
| What an order can require | Order the abuser not to abuse, harass or interfere with you and to stay away from your home and workplace; give you use of a car or other shared property; give you the home by removing the abuser in certain ownership/lease situations; bar disposing of shared property; award temporary custody, visitation terms and temporary support; return your personal property and documents; give you care of pets; let a party return once with a police escort to get belongings; and order evaluations or counseling for the abuser. |
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| Firearms | A person subject to a permanent injunction or protective order that finds they are a credible threat to the physical safety of a family member, household member or dating partner, and that tells them of the firearm ban, may not possess a firearm or carry a concealed weapon while the order lasts. Violating this is punished as a violation of a protective order. The LPOR forms include a firearms information form and declaration of non-possession (LPOR G). |
| If the order is violated | Willfully disobeying a served TRO or a protective order is the crime of violation of protective orders. A first conviction can bring a fine up to $500, up to 6 months in jail, or both; penalties increase for repeat convictions and for violations involving battery, a crime of violence, or going armed to the protected person's home, school or work. You can call the police, and you can also ask the court to hold the abuser in contempt. Source: La. R.S. 14:79 |
Children and privacy
| Minors and children | A parent, adult household member or district attorney may file on behalf of a minor child. Children's Code petitions (LPOR C) can also be filed by the local child protection unit. The forms have a place for a parent or guardian if the abuser is a minor. |
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Forms and help in Louisiana
- Louisiana courts: protective order help
- Official Louisiana protective order forms
- Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) — 1-888-411-1333 (statewide hotline, 24/7)
- Free legal aid in Louisiana
Louisiana protective order FAQ
What kinds of protective orders are available in Louisiana?
Civil protective orders under the Domestic Abuse Assistance Act (family and household members), the Protection from Dating Violence Act, the Protection from Stalking Act, the Protection for Victims of Sexual Assault Act, the Children's Code domestic abuse articles, the Post-Separation Family Violence Relief Act, and injunctions against abuse filed with a divorce. Each starts with a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and can lead to a Protective Order (PO) after a hearing.
Who can get a restraining order in Louisiana?
Family members (spouses and former spouses, parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren, foster parents and foster children, other ascendants and descendants, and the other parent of the abuser's child); household members (someone who lives or lived with the abuser in a sexual or intimate relationship, or a child living there); and dating partners. Victims of stalking or sexual assault by a stranger or acquaintance can file under the stalking and sexual assault laws. A parent, adult household member or district attorney may file for a minor child or a person alleged to be incompetent.
Where do I file for a restraining order in Louisiana?
Any court that hears family or juvenile matters (district, family, juvenile, and some city courts). You can file in the parish where the household or marital home is, where the abuser lives, where the abuse happened, or where you live. Leaving home to avoid abuse does not affect your right to file. A judge may grant an emergency TRO outside regular court hours. If a divorce is already pending, the petition is filed in that case.
Does it cost money to get a restraining order in Louisiana?
You do not have to prepay, and cannot be charged, court costs or the cost of service or subpoenas to file the petition or get a TRO or protective order. The abuser can be ordered to pay costs. If a court finds a petition frivolous, it may order the losing party to pay costs and attorney fees.
How fast can I get an emergency protective order in Louisiana?
A judge can issue a Temporary Restraining Order the same day, without the abuser present, on a showing of immediate and present danger of abuse (the abuse itself does not have to be recent). The TRO lasts until the hearing; if the hearing is continued, the court can extend it.
What happens at the restraining order hearing in Louisiana?
If a TRO is granted, the hearing (rule to show cause) is set within 21 days; if no TRO is granted, within 10 days of service of the petition. The abuser is notified and both sides can be heard; the petitioner must prove abuse by a preponderance of the evidence. Continuances generally cannot exceed 15 days without good cause. If you do not appear, the TRO expires and the petition may be dismissed.
How long does a restraining order last in Louisiana?
Up to 18 months under the Domestic Abuse Assistance Act and dating violence law, and the court can extend it after a hearing. The parts ordering the abuser not to abuse, harass or interfere with the protected person can be made indefinite. Orders under the Children's Code last up to 6 months (or until age 18 for a sexually abused child). To extend, file a motion to modify before the order expires.
What can a protective order do in Louisiana?
Order the abuser not to abuse, harass or interfere with you and to stay away from your home and workplace; give you use of a car or other shared property; give you the home by removing the abuser in certain ownership/lease situations; bar disposing of shared property; award temporary custody, visitation terms and temporary support; return your personal property and documents; give you care of pets; let a party return once with a police escort to get belongings; and order evaluations or counseling for the abuser.
Does a protective order affect firearms in Louisiana?
A person subject to a permanent injunction or protective order that finds they are a credible threat to the physical safety of a family member, household member or dating partner, and that tells them of the firearm ban, may not possess a firearm or carry a concealed weapon while the order lasts. Violating this is punished as a violation of a protective order. The LPOR forms include a firearms information form and declaration of non-possession (LPOR G).
How is a restraining order served in Louisiana?
The clerk gives the petition and order to the sheriff to serve the abuser; you do not prepay service costs. A final order can be served in open court at the end of the hearing. A police officer called to a scene where the abuser is present can also serve a copy of a TRO.
What happens if someone violates a protective order in Louisiana?
Willfully disobeying a served TRO or a protective order is the crime of violation of protective orders. A first conviction can bring a fine up to $500, up to 6 months in jail, or both; penalties increase for repeat convictions and for violations involving battery, a crime of violence, or going armed to the protected person's home, school or work. You can call the police, and you can also ask the court to hold the abuser in contempt.
Can a minor get a restraining order in Louisiana?
A parent, adult household member or district attorney may file on behalf of a minor child. Children's Code petitions (LPOR C) can also be filed by the local child protection unit. The forms have a place for a parent or guardian if the abuser is a minor.
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.