This toolkit tells you what you need to know if you have a personal protection order (PPO) against someone and that person has violated your PPO. For general information about what to do if your PPO has been violated, read the Articles. Read the Common Questions if you have a specific question. If you want to tell the court about a violation of your PPO, use the Forms link to prepare your forms. The links under Courts and Agencies will tell you about the court that will handle your PPO case.
You'll find links to legal aid offices and lawyer referral services under Find A Lawyer. If there is a Self-Help Center in your area you can get more help there. If you need something other than legal help, look in Community Services. If you need a fee waiver, an interpreter, a court to accommodate your disability, or more information about going to court, visit Going to Court.
Common Questions
If the abuser violates your PPO, you can call 911 or your local police right away. When the police arrive, show them your PPO and Proof of Service (if you have one).
If you don't have a copy of your PPO, the police can look it up on the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN). If you haven't had the abuser served with the PPO, you can ask the police to:
- Give the abuser a copy of your PPO or
- Tell the abuser about the PPO
To learn more, read Personal Protection Order Violations and Enforcement.
It depends. If the abuser has been served with your PPO, and the police officer has reasonable cause to believe that the abuser violated it, the officer can make an immediate arrest. If the abuser has not been served with your PPO, ask the police to either give the abuser a copy of your PPO or tell the abuser about it. Once the police notify the abuser about your PPO, they must give the abuser a chance to obey it. If the abuser does not then obey the PPO, the police can make an immediate arrest.
Sometimes the abuser leaves before the police arrive, or the abuser violates the PPO from somewhere else (like making a phone call). If the police don't arrest the abuser, you can file a Motion to Show Cause for Violating Valid Personal/Foreign Protection Order. You must state what the abuser did or said. You can also include supporting witness statements, police reports, photographs, or other documents if you have them.
After you file your motion, the judge may:
- Schedule a hearing on your motion and
- Order the abuser to appear in court for the hearing
You must arrange to have the abuser served with a copy of the motion and order at least seven days before the hearing.