How to Get a Restraining Order in Oregon
In Oregon these are called Family Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA) Restraining Order; also EPPDAPA restraining order, Stalking Protective Order, Sexual Abuse Protective Order (SAPO), 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 Oregon
- Cost
- There is no filing fee, service fee or hearing fee for a case seeking only FAPA relief, and the clerk gives you the copies needed for service free of charge. ORS 107.718(8)(a), (c)
- Emergency / temporary orders
- The judge holds an ex parte hearing (in person or by phone) the same day the petition is filed or the next judicial day, without the respondent present. ORS 107.718(1), (3)
- How long an order lasts
- A FAPA restraining order lasts 2 years from the date it is issued unless changed or ended earlier. The court can renew it for another 2 years if a person in your situation would reasonably fear further abuse; ORS 107.716(6), 107.718(3), 107.725
- Where to ask
- File in the circuit court of the county where you live, where the respondent lives, or where the abuse happened. Leaving your home to avoid abuse does not affect your right to file. ORS 107.728(1), 107.710(1), (3), 107.718(7)
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 | Oregon courts offer five kinds of protective orders: the Family Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA) restraining order (abuse by a family member or romantic partner); the Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Abuse Prevention Act (EPPDAPA) restraining order; the Stalking Protective Order; the Sexual Abuse Protective Order (SAPO); and the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO), sometimes called a red flag order. |
|---|---|
| Who can ask for an order | For a FAPA order you must have been abused within the last 180 days by a family or household member and be in imminent danger of more abuse. Family or household members are spouses and former spouses, adult relatives by blood, marriage or adoption, people who live or have lived together, people in a sexually intimate relationship within the past 2 years, and unmarried parents of a child. Time the respondent spent in jail or living more than 100 miles away does not count toward the 180 days. Source: ORS 107.705(4), 107.710(1), (6) |
| Where to ask | File in the circuit court of the county where you live, where the respondent lives, or where the abuse happened. Leaving your home to avoid abuse does not affect your right to file. Forms are available from the court clerk and through the Oregon Judicial Department's online iForms or paper forms. After-hours options were not stated on the pages read. |
| Cost | There is no filing fee, service fee or hearing fee for a case seeking only FAPA relief, and the clerk gives you the copies needed for service free of charge. Source: ORS 107.718(8)(a), (c) |
Emergency orders and the hearing
| Emergency / temporary orders | The judge holds an ex parte hearing (in person or by phone) the same day the petition is filed or the next judicial day, without the respondent present. If the judge finds recent abuse, imminent danger, and a credible threat to your or your child's safety, the judge can issue the restraining order right away. That order lasts 2 years unless it is changed, withdrawn or replaced. Source: ORS 107.718(1), (3) |
|---|---|
| Serving the order | The clerk sends the order and petition to the county sheriff, who serves the respondent personally at no charge. You can instead choose to have a private person serve it, or an officer called to a domestic disturbance where the respondent is present. If the sheriff cannot serve within 10 days, the sheriff notifies you. Source: ORS 107.718(8)-(9) |
| The court hearing | Oregon's FAPA order is issued at the ex parte hearing. The respondent then has 30 days after being served to ask for a hearing; if asked, it is held within 21 days (within 5 days if the respondent contests temporary custody). If the respondent does not ask, the order is confirmed automatically. If the court finds exceptional custody issues, it sets a hearing within 14 days. |
| How long an order lasts | A FAPA restraining order lasts 2 years from the date it is issued unless changed or ended earlier. The court can renew it for another 2 years if a person in your situation would reasonably fear further abuse; a new act of abuse is not required, and renewal can be requested ex parte. |
What the order does
| What an order can require | The order can award temporary custody of children (with parenting time only under safe conditions such as supervised visits or protected exchanges), require the respondent to move out of the home, keep the respondent away from your home and other places, order no contact in person, by phone or mail, have a police officer go with you to collect personal items, order emergency money help, protect service, therapy or companion animals, and give other relief needed for your safety. |
|---|---|
| Firearms | When a respondent becomes subject to a qualifying order (one issued or confirmed after notice and a chance to be heard, with a finding of a credible threat to a family or household member), Oregon law bars possessing firearms and ammunition. The court must order the respondent to transfer all firearms and ammunition within 24 hours to a law enforcement agency, a gun dealer, or a third party who does not live with the respondent, and to file a declaration proving it. Source: ORS 166.255(1)(a), 166.256 |
| If the order is violated | Police must arrest without a warrant when they have probable cause to believe a served FAPA restraining order was violated. Violations are handled as contempt of court, either in the court that issued the order or in the county where the violation happened. Contempt penalty amounts were not set out on the pages read. Source: ORS 133.310(3); ORS 107.728(2) |
Children and privacy
| Minors and children | A person under 18 can file a FAPA petition on their own only if they are married to, formerly married to, or in a sexually intimate relationship with a respondent who is 18 or older. Children in the petitioner's custody can be protected in the order. A child protected in the order can ask to renew it after turning 18. |
|---|---|
| Keeping your address private | The Oregon Department of Justice runs the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP), which gives survivors a substitute address. You apply with a victim advocate designated as an Application Assistant. Phone 503-373-1323; toll-free in Oregon 1-888-559-9090. Source: ORS 192.820 to 192.868 |
Forms and help in Oregon
- Oregon courts: protective order help
- Official Oregon protective order forms
- Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (statewide coalition)
- Free legal aid in Oregon
Oregon protective order FAQ
What kinds of protective orders are available in Oregon?
Oregon courts offer five kinds of protective orders: the Family Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA) restraining order (abuse by a family member or romantic partner); the Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Abuse Prevention Act (EPPDAPA) restraining order; the Stalking Protective Order; the Sexual Abuse Protective Order (SAPO); and the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO), sometimes called a red flag order.
Who can get a restraining order in Oregon?
For a FAPA order you must have been abused within the last 180 days by a family or household member and be in imminent danger of more abuse. Family or household members are spouses and former spouses, adult relatives by blood, marriage or adoption, people who live or have lived together, people in a sexually intimate relationship within the past 2 years, and unmarried parents of a child. Time the respondent spent in jail or living more than 100 miles away does not count toward the 180 days.
Where do I file for a restraining order in Oregon?
File in the circuit court of the county where you live, where the respondent lives, or where the abuse happened. Leaving your home to avoid abuse does not affect your right to file. Forms are available from the court clerk and through the Oregon Judicial Department's online iForms or paper forms.
Does it cost money to get a restraining order in Oregon?
There is no filing fee, service fee or hearing fee for a case seeking only FAPA relief, and the clerk gives you the copies needed for service free of charge.
How fast can I get an emergency protective order in Oregon?
The judge holds an ex parte hearing (in person or by phone) the same day the petition is filed or the next judicial day, without the respondent present. If the judge finds recent abuse, imminent danger, and a credible threat to your or your child's safety, the judge can issue the restraining order right away. That order lasts 2 years unless it is changed, withdrawn or replaced.
What happens at the restraining order hearing in Oregon?
Oregon's FAPA order is issued at the ex parte hearing. The respondent then has 30 days after being served to ask for a hearing; if asked, it is held within 21 days (within 5 days if the respondent contests temporary custody). If the respondent does not ask, the order is confirmed automatically. If the court finds exceptional custody issues, it sets a hearing within 14 days.
How long does a restraining order last in Oregon?
A FAPA restraining order lasts 2 years from the date it is issued unless changed or ended earlier. The court can renew it for another 2 years if a person in your situation would reasonably fear further abuse; a new act of abuse is not required, and renewal can be requested ex parte.
What can a protective order do in Oregon?
The order can award temporary custody of children (with parenting time only under safe conditions such as supervised visits or protected exchanges), require the respondent to move out of the home, keep the respondent away from your home and other places, order no contact in person, by phone or mail, have a police officer go with you to collect personal items, order emergency money help, protect service, therapy or companion animals, and give other relief needed for your safety.
Does a protective order affect firearms in Oregon?
When a respondent becomes subject to a qualifying order (one issued or confirmed after notice and a chance to be heard, with a finding of a credible threat to a family or household member), Oregon law bars possessing firearms and ammunition. The court must order the respondent to transfer all firearms and ammunition within 24 hours to a law enforcement agency, a gun dealer, or a third party who does not live with the respondent, and to file a declaration proving it.
How is a restraining order served in Oregon?
The clerk sends the order and petition to the county sheriff, who serves the respondent personally at no charge. You can instead choose to have a private person serve it, or an officer called to a domestic disturbance where the respondent is present. If the sheriff cannot serve within 10 days, the sheriff notifies you.
What happens if someone violates a protective order in Oregon?
Police must arrest without a warrant when they have probable cause to believe a served FAPA restraining order was violated. Violations are handled as contempt of court, either in the court that issued the order or in the county where the violation happened.
Can a minor get a restraining order in Oregon?
A person under 18 can file a FAPA petition on their own only if they are married to, formerly married to, or in a sexually intimate relationship with a respondent who is 18 or older. Children in the petitioner's custody can be protected in the order. A child protected in the order can ask to renew it after turning 18.
Can I keep my address confidential in Oregon?
The Oregon Department of Justice runs the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP), which gives survivors a substitute address. You apply with a victim advocate designated as an Application Assistant. Phone 503-373-1323; toll-free in Oregon 1-888-559-9090.
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.