How Does the Protection Order Process Work?

A Guide for Working With Your Local Court

"I need a Restraining Order." This is what people often say to the Court Clerk when requesting an order to protect them from abuse or stalking. However, this term can be confusing, because a restraining order is only one kind of court order. The following is a brief description of two types of orders where the court may order another person to stay away from you, the family home, provided that certain conditions are met: Protection from abuse order or Protection from stalking order

Types of Protection Orders Available:

In the following sections you will read information about how to get a protection order. You may see terms that are unfamiliar to you. A glossary of these terms is included at the end of this section. Before seeking a protection order, you may wish to contact a lawyer or a trained advocate about your situation. The toll free number to reach a trained advocate is 1-(888)-363-2287. The toll free number for the lawyer referral service is 1 (800) 928-3111. People who have a limited income can call Kansas Legal Services at 1-800-723-6953.

Protection From Abuse Order

This is the most commonly requested order. It is a civil order from the court telling the family or household member who threatened or assaulted you not to harm you again. Protection from abuse orders can only be obtained two times in a twelve-month period. Before you can get a Protection from Abuse Order you (known as Plaintiff) and the person you want restrained (known as Defendant) must be intimate partners or household members. This means you and the person you want restrained must meet one of the following requirements:

•You are in a dating relationship (a social relationship of a romantic nature)•You have been in a dating relationship in the past;•You are living together; •You have lived together in the past; or •You have had a child together. A parent or an adult living with a child under 18 can file on behalf of the child.

AND

Abuse must have occurred. This means the person you want restrained has done one of the following:•The person physically hurt you or a minor child on purpose.•The person tried to physically hurt you or a minor child.•The person threatened to physically hurt you or a minor child.•The person engaged in sexual conduct (touching or sexual intercourse) with a minor child less than 16 years of age.

Protection from Stalking Order

This is a civil order from the court telling the person who is stalking you to stop. Protection from Stalking orders must be filed in the county in which the stalking occurred. You may seek a Protection from Stalking Order for yourself, for your minor child, or a minor child who lives with you. Before you can get a Protection from Stalking Order, stalking must have occurred.

Stalking is an intentional harassment of another person that places the other person in reasonable fear for that person’s safety. Harassment means a knowing and intentional course of conduct directed at a specific person that seriously alarms, annoys, torments, or terrorizes that person and that serves no legitimate purpose.

Course of conduct means conduct consisting of two or more separate acts over a period of time, however short, that show a continuity of purpose, which would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress.

How to Obtain a Protection Order

The following is a description of the typical procedure for obtaining a protection order. It may be different in your county. This may help you understand why you are required to fill out certain forms, and provide information to the judge. Before seeking a protection order, you may wish to contact a lawyer or a trained advocate about your situation.

•First decide which protection order best fits your situation.

•Request forms from the Clerk of the District Court.

•Fill out the forms as completely as you can. Return the forms to the court staff. The clerk may direct you to some who can help you with the forms. There is no filing fee.

•A Temporary Order may be issued after the judge reviews your case. This order is good until the hearing date.

•If the court agrees that you need a temporary protection order, when you leave the court you should have a copy of the Petition for Protective Order and Notice of Hearing and Temporary Orders of Protection. The date and time of your hearing will be included in the papers. You may wish to make additional copies of the order for schools, daycares, etc.

•You will return for the final hearing within twenty (20) days. Bring all of your paperwork and any witnesses with you! If you do not return, your case is dismissed and the temporary order is no longer in effect.

Please keep in mind that Protection from Abuse Orders can only be obtained twice in a twelve-month period. (K.S.A. 60-3111)

The judge will decide at the final hearing whether to grant the Protection Order. The court can proceed with this hearing if the Defendant is present or if there is proof that the Defendant was served with court papers prior to the final hearing. If the defendant has not been served, the court may make a temporary ruling and/or continue your case to another date. Regardless of service, you must continue to come to court, unless your attorney tells you otherwise.

At the final hearing, you must prove to the court you qualify for the protective order. You can prove you qualify by your own testimony. The judge may ask you to tell the facts about what happened. If you have kept notes about what happened you should review these before the hearing.

You should come to court prepared with any evidence you have. Evidence could include medical records, photos, taped messages, letters, phone records, police reports or adults who saw or heard what happened. The requirements are listed above in the section on “Protection from Abuse Order” and “Protection from Stalking Order.”

Because of your important role it is a good idea to wear neat and well groomed clothes for the court. Some courts have rules about what are proper clothes. You can ask the court clerk what is correct. You may have to spend some time at court and you might consider either not bringing your children or bringing someone to watch your children while you talk with the court staff. Trained advocates can provide you with information about preparing for a court hearing.

If the defendant was served with the order and did not come to the final hearing, the court can hold the hearing and issue a final order. The final order will be given to the defendant. A copy of the signed Protection Order is forwarded to the local sheriff’s department for entry in the national protection computer file. This is to ensure that the police or sheriff in any Kansas county or any other state can enforce your order.

Keep a copy of your order with you for as long as the order is in effect. This order is valid in any state and anywhere in Kansas.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What can I ask for under a Protection From Abuse Order?

When you receive a Protection from Abuse Order, if you ask, the Court may to order any or all of the following:

•Restrain the defendant from abusing, molesting or interfering with the privacy or rights of the plaintiff or of any minor children of the parties.

•Grant possession of the residence or household to the plaintiff, to the exclusion of the defendant.

•Require the defendant to provide suitable, alternate housing for the plaintiff and any minor children of the parties.

•Award custody and establishing a parenting plan with regard to minor children.

•Order a law enforcement officer to evict the defendant from the residence or household.

•Order support payments for minor child or spouse.

•Award costs and attorney fees to either you or the other defendant.

•Make provision for the possession of personal property (including legal documents) of the parties and ordering a law enforcement officer to assist in securing possession of that property, if necessary.

•Require the person against whom the order is issued to seek counseling to aid in the cessation of abuse.

•Restrain the defendant from canceling utility service to residence for 60 days.

•Order or restrain any other acts necessary to promote the safety of the plaintiff and the minor children.

What can happen under a Protection From Stalking Order?

When you are granted a Protection From Stalking order, the Court may order any or all of the following things:

•Restrain the defendant from following, harassing, telephoning, contacting or otherwise communicating with the victim

•Restrain the defendant from abusing, molesting, or interfering with the privacy rights of the victim.

•Require the defendant to provide suitable, alternate housing for the plaintiff and any minor children of the parties.

•Order or restrain any other acts deemed necessary by the court to protect the victim of stalking.

What you should do if the order is violated?

When you believe a violation of the protection order is occurring and you are afraid, you should call 911 or your local law enforcement agency to request any needed emergency assistance and to make a report of a violation. Other violations can be addressed by filing a contempt of court (see glossary).

What does it mean to be “served”with an order?

A copy of the order and notice of hearing will be given directly to the defendant by an authorized official.

Why do I need the defendant’s address?

The authorized official can find and serve the defendant with the appropriate papers. They can be served at work, home or wherever you think they can be found. Though not required, you may provide a picture to the authorized officials to help them serve the papers.

How long does the final order last?

The judge may issue a final protection order that is good for up to a year. If you want to have the order extended for another year, you must file a motion with the court asking for the extension. The clerk of the district court will have the form you will need to file this motion. To extend a stalking order you must show a continuing threat of stalking.

Can I get a protection order if I am undocumented or from another country?

Yes, you can petition for a protection order. If you are worried about how the order will affect you or your partner’s immigration status, talk to an immigration lawyer before filing.

Can a protection order be obtained against a minor (under eighteen)?

Yes. The Protection from Abuse and the Protection from Stalking Acts do not have a minimum age requirement. Tell the clerk if the defendant is under 18 years of age.

Can adults seeking protection ask that this protection extend to their minor children?

Yes. The Protection from Abuse Act states that “a parent or adult residing with a minor child may seek relief under the act.” The Protection from Stalking form allows you to enter the names of any children who are being stalked.

What if a minor child is being abused, but the parent is not?

While a minor may not file a petition, a parent may file a petition on the minor's behalf.

Does the Protection From Abuse Order prohibit all forms of contact between the parties?

Different law enforcement officials may interpret court orders differently. You should always refer back to your final order to see what is not allowed. If you want no contact with the defendant, ask the judge to specifically include this in the order.

If I need to have contact with the defendant, what should I do?

If your order does not work for you because your situation has changed, it is important to go back to the court that issued your order and ask for a modification. Many parties need to have contact because of children, divorce proceedings, shared property, counseling sessions, etc. Law enforcement officers may arrest the defendant if they believe the order is being violated.

What if you change your mind and you want your protection order dismissed?

You should contact the clerk of the court, get the necessary papers and ask to dismiss the case. Remember that you can only use the procedure twice in one year.

Why must the court make the order to end the protection order early?

The Protection Order specifically states the date through which it is effective. When the Order was originally signed, law enforcement entered the order in the national protection order computer file. Without a court order terminating the protection order, it cannot be removed from this file before the expiration date. Without a court order ending the protection order, the defendant could be arrested for violating the protection order even if you don’t want this to happen.

What happens if the plaintiff (or the person asking for the order) does not appear for the final hearing?

If you do not appear in court on the day of the hearing, the protection order will expire and the case will be dismissed.

What happens if the defendant does not appear for the hearing?

If the defendant was made aware of the hearing, the court may issue a final order. If the defendant was not aware of the hearing, then a new court date will be set. The plaintiff must return for the hearing. For the temporary order to remain in effect, the court must order that to happen.

If the judge orders the defendant to move, is that temporary or permanent?

The order will say how long it is in effect. Temporary orders are only good for 20 days or until the final hearing. Final orders may being effect for up to 1 year, and can be renewed for 1 year. If you want the order changed, you must file a motion to modify the order in the court where you got the order.

What is a mutual order?

This is an order which keeps both parties from contacting each other. An order against a plaintiff and defendant (a mutual order) can only be issued when certain steps are followed. A mutual order may have some negative consequences and you may wish to contact an attorney or trained advocate.

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FORM:

Am I the plaintiff or the defendant?

The person seeking the protection order is the plaintiff. The defendant is the party that will be restrained by the court order.

Does every section have to be filled out completely?

Complete all the sections even if you say “I don’t know the answer.” What if I’ve never filed a petition? You can put a 0 in the blank.

Do I need to list my or other peoples’ social security number?

It may be helpful to list social security numbers but it is not required. I don’t remember the dates of prior petitions. Where can I find that information? The clerk of the district court in the county where you filed a petition will have a record of prior petitions. You may have copies of prior petitions at home. The petition will have information about the dates filed.

How do I know if I’m in a dating relationship?

The law defines a dating relationship as a “social relationship of a romantic nature.” The judge will decide if your situation fits this definition.

How do I know if I rent or own the home?

You should check the lease agreement and check the deed to the property or the loan papers If the parties to an action under the protection from abuse act are not married to each other and one party owns the home or household, the court does not have the authority to grant possession of the home to another. How do I know if a legal action has been filed between the defendant and me? Or involving minor children? The clerk of the district court in the county in which a legal action may have been filed will have a record of all actions. What if I don’t have the exact dates the abuse occurred? Give as much information as you have about the dates of the abuse. You can give approximate dates or a period of time.

What is meant by “briefly describe the facts about why you are seeking a Protection Order”?

In a few words tell the court how the defendant abused or stalked you or the children. Why would I want my contact information confidential? If you are residing at a shelter or have moved to a safe location that the defendant does not know about, you may not want the defendant to know. The period of immediately time after you have left your abuser may be the most dangerous for you. Keeping your address confidential may keep you safer. If you are requesting a PROTECTION FROM STALKING order, the court is required to keep your contact information confidential. If you are seeking a PROTECTION FROM ABUSE order, you must ask the court to keep it confidential.

What if the stalking has occurred in more than one county?

In which county should I file my petition? Petitions for a stalking protection order must be filed in the county where the stalking occurred. If the stalking occurred in two counties, the petition can be filed in either county.