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If you fear someone may be tracking your online activity, learn more about staying safe online or call or text the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 24 hours a day, at 800-799-7233 or 800-787-3224 (TTY).
Is a protection order a safe next step?
Deciding if a protection order is a safe next step depends on your needs and situation.
While many find that the order may be a good tool for preventing future harm, it may not work well in every case.
Ask yourself these key questions:
- What are the short- and long-term benefits of getting a protection order?
- What are the negatives?
- Do the benefits outweigh the negatives?
- What may happen if you do not file the order?
- Will filing for a protection order put you in more danger than if you did not file the order?
- Does the person causing you harm have access to a firearm?
- If so, contact Domestic Violence Firearms Enforcement. You can email them at seakingfirearms@kingcounty.gov.
Watch this video to learn more about staying safe online
Whenever someone is considering filing for a civil protection order it is always important to understand how to protect themselves while pursuing protection.
- Tell the person causing harm (the respondent) to stop harassing and/or contacting the person seeking protection (petitioner).
- Order the restrained person to have no contact and to "stay away" from the petitioner. This also includes online contact or cyberstalking.
- Some orders may:
- Stop the restrained person from entering:
- Schools
- Daycares
- Businesses
- Places of employment
- A petitioner's home, even if shared.
- Order treatment or counseling
- Award temporary custody of children under 18 years old to a parent
- Create temporary visitations
- Stop a parent from interfering with custody
- Stop the restrained person from entering:
- Order child support
- Order maintenance income (alimony)
- Grant property ownership
- Establish permanent child custody or "ownership" of a home
- Guarantee your safety