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Start your protection order petition
What to expect
Although you will need to file with either the King County Superior Court or District Court for your protection order petition, we can help you gather the needed information.
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Is a protection order right for you?
Before applying for a protection order, check if it is the right next step for your situation.
- Learn more about what a protection order can do and how a safety plan can help.
- Find out which civil protection order type could work for you.
- Making the decision to file a protection order can be difficult. Work with an advocate to help you understand your options.
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Complete your forms
An advocate, community advocate, or attorney can help you with these forms.
Get your protection order forms by:
- Use our online Protection Order Portal to create your protection order paperwork
- Picking them up in-person at King County Superior Court or District Court clerk's offices
- Printing them out on the WA Courts website
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File your forms
You can file online with King County Superior Court or file in-person or online with District Court.
If you submit a protection order petition after 1:15 p.m. during office hours, your temporary protection order hearing may be held on the next business day. If submitted prior to 1:15 p.m. during office hours, your temporary protection order hearing may be held same day.
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Go to “Ex Parte” Hearing for Temporary Orders
Once you have filed your forms, you will go to an Ex Parte Court. These are held either online or in person. A judge will review your petition and approve or deny your order.
After a temporary order is either granted or denied, a 2-week return hearing is scheduled.
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Paperwork is processed
The respondent in the case must also be served orders. This is a packet of information that must be given to the person a certain number of days before the next hearing.
Learn more about serving, filing additional materials, and requesting a copy of a police report
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Attend hearing(s) and give testimony
There could be multiple hearings that you need to attend throughout this part of the process.
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Judge rules
Your protection order is either granted or denied.
Fill out your protection order forms online
Filing for a Civil Protection Order can be overwhelming. The King County Protection Order Portal (POP) is an easy-to-use way to file including built in tools, helpful videos, and resources.
Create an account
- Before you complete your forms online, you must create an account with our Login KC system.
- Select the Sign Up Now link (below the Sign In button and highlighted in green on the image)
- Create an account by filling in a:
- Username
- Select the Verification Code button and follow the directions sent to your email address before continuing. The subject line will be "King County B2C Prod account email verification code"
- Password
- Display Name
- First Name
- Last Name
- Username
- Select the Create button.
- After you create your account, select the POP application, labeled "PAO-VICTIM-PROD."
- You will need to verify your phone number for security before you start your protection order.
- Once your input the verification code sent to your phone, you will be taken to the King County Protect Order application and can start your protection order petition.
How it works
Determine if a protection order is right for you
A protection order is only 1 tool in a greater safety plan. A civil protection order may not be the safest next step for all victims. Connect with a protection order advocate, community advocate, attorney to discuss your options.
Start your application
Create a secure profile, using a safe email address, and then confirm your eligibility, and select the order that best suits your needs and situation.
Fill out your paperwork
Complete the online questionnaire to generate the required documents for your civil protection order. Take advantage of helpful resources and simple question and answer format to simplify your process.
File completed forms
Where you file your forms depends on what protection order you're seeking.
In either District or Superior Court, you can file for a:
- Anti-harassment protection order
- Domestic violence protection order
- Sexual assault protection order
- Extreme Risk protection order (temporary)
Only District Court has a stalking protection order.
Learn more about District Court's protection order instructions
Only Superior Court only has a vulnerable adult protection order.