Civil Protection Orders

Common Civil Protection Orders

(FOR A MORE DETAILED LIST AND DESCRIPTION PLEASE SEE THE LINK BELOW)

Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO)

To protect against domestic violence or the threat of violence by an “intimate partner” or a “family or household member.” Domestic violence may include controlling behavior (“coercive control”). Petitioners may seek protection for themselves and for family or household members who are minors or vulnerable adults.

Anti-harassment Protection Order (AHPO)

To protect against unwanted contact or behavior that causes substantial emotional distress and serves no legitimate or lawful purpose. The contact could be a pattern of behavior that occurs over time or a single act or threat of violence. A single threat of violence must include: (i) A malicious and intentional threat as described in RCW 9A.36.080(1)(c); or (ii) the presence of a firearm or other weapon. The contact must be directed specifically at the protected person and be seriously alarming, annoying, harassing, or detrimental.

Stalking Protection Order (SPO)

To protect against stalking behavior that serves no lawful purpose and has reasonably caused the protected person to feel intimidated, frightened, under duress, significantly disrupted, or threatened. The respondent either knows or should know that their behavior causes those feelings, even if that was not the respondent's intent.

Sexual Assault Protection Order (SAPO)

To protect a victim of non-consensual sexual conduct or penetration, even if the conduct or penetration only occurred once. A single incident of non-consensual sexual conduct or non-consensual sexual penetration is sufficient grounds for a petition for a sexual assault protection order.

Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) (Final Hearing must be in Superior Court)

To restrain a respondent who poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others by having in custody or control, purchasing, possessing, accessing, or receiving a firearm where there is reasonable fear of future dangerous acts by the respondent. A family or household member or a law enforcement officer or agency may ask the court to issue an order by filing a petition.

Vulnerable Adult Protection Order (VAPO) (SUPERIOR COURT FILING)

To protect a vulnerable adult who has been abandoned, abused, financially exploited, or neglected, or is threatened with abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect by the respondent. The vulnerable adult, guardian, or other interested person may file on behalf of the vulnerable adult.

Orders Associated With Criminal Cases

Harassment No-Contact Order-Criminal (HNCO)

To protect against unlawful, repeated invasions of a person’s privacy, including through stalking, by acts and threats which show a pattern of harassment designed to coerce, intimidate, or humiliate the victim. The crime must be reported, and the defendant has to be charged before a court can issue this order.

Domestic Violence No-Contact Order-Criminal (DVNCO)

To protect a victim against future violence or threats of abuse by the defendant. The abuse must be reported, and the defendant must be charged before a court can issue this order.

Requesting (Petitioning for) a Protective Order

It is helpful to have a lawyer. However, most people do not have a lawyer and the law does not require you to hire one. You can fill out the forms (provided at the bottom of this page) and file them with the court. The Court staff may be able to answer some of the questions you have, but they cannot give legal advice.

When you file the petition, you ask the judge for a protection order. The person requesting the protection order is considered the “petitioner.” The person for whom you seek protection from is known as the “respondent”.

Summary of the Steps for Requesting an Order

1. Decide which one of the following types of protection you want to ask for. More than one type might apply, but make sure you select at least one:

Anti-harassment Protection Order
Stalking Protection Order
Domestic Protection Order
Sexual Assault Protection Order
Extreme Risk Protection Order

2. Fill out a Petition for Protection Order form

Petition For Protection Order
You also can ask for a hard copy of this form at the Island District Court

3. Fill out a Law Enforcement and Confidential Information Form

Law Enforcement & Confidential Information Form (LECIF)
You can ask for a hard copy of this form at the Island County District Courthouse.

You must sign this form, or the Court will not accept it.

4. Give your (file in person) filled-out forms to the Court

Island County District Court

800 SE 8th Ave., Oak Harbor, WA 98277

Note from Judge Ron A.M. Costeck

Island County District Court is here to serve our community. The Court makes itself available when it comes to protection orders and the safety of a petitioner. If you feel that the regular scheduling of a request for a temporary order does not address your immediate concerns, please notify the court clerk.

In order to facilitate an expeditious determination in your case, please remember to be specific and detailed about what has or is occurring. Facts are important. In your petition, remember to distinguish between facts and your own conclusions. For example, stating that “I am being harassed” or “I was assaulted” is a conclusion. Courts draw conclusions from facts. So be sure to include the specifics of the situation that made you draw the conclusion of why you were “harassed” or “assaulted.” Before issuing a protection order, the court must decide on whether the burden of proof has been met based upon the facts presented in your petition.