Home

Protection Order Advocacy Program offered by King County Prosecuting Attorney in Seattle

Provides advocacy services in King County Superior Court to current or former intimate partner victims of domestic violence. Services include: assistance in filing for temporary domestic violence protection orders, drafting proposed orders, information and referral to social service agencies, domestic violence information, advocacy, court preparation and accompaniment to full order hearings (advocates cannot speak in court). Maintains website with instructions and information on protection orders. A DV protection order is a two part process which includes the filing of a temporary order and then a full protection order entered approximately 14 days later, if granted by the court.   Temporary Domestic Violence Protection Order: A civil order that restrains the abuser (respondent) from committing further acts of assault or violence against the person who has been victimized (petitioner). The petitioner (person seeking protection) must fill out a packet of forms that include providing a description of the acts of domestic violence that have occurred and the protections they are seeking. They will be asked to describe the most recent incident of domestic violence or fear of imminent harm and a history of any other incidents of domestic violence. Upon filing, the Petitioner should be prepared to provide the respondent's home and/or work address and birth date to help ensure that Law Enforcement can enter and serve the order on the respondent. A judge or commissioner will review the paperwork, ask questions, and decide whether or not to grant the temporary order (for 14 days).    Full Domestic Violence Protection Order: An order that is granted after the court determines by a "preponderance of evidence" that domestic violence has occurred. At the full hearing, the Judge will give both parties (petitioner and respondent) the chance to talk about the allegations of domestic violence and whether the order should be granted or not. The full order can be in effect for one year or longer, in some cases. The process to obtain the full order may last for two to four hours, but the actual full hearing itself may only be about 15 to 30 minutes.   Any time prior to the expiration date, the petitioner may return to court and request that the order be modified (to be made more or less restrictive) or terminated. The petitioner may also request a renewal of the full order up to three months before its expiration date.

Physical Address

516 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104

Hours

Intake: M-F, 10:30am-noon, 1:30-4pm. .

Application process

Call or go on-line.

Fee

None.

Eligibility

Current or former intimate partner victims of stalking or domestic violence in King County Superior Court who have been, or fear being, assaulted by a family or household member.   Includes:   -  Spouses or former spouses -  People who have a child in common -  LGBTQI survivors of domestic violence -  Domestic partners -  People ages 16 and older who have dated each other -  People who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship

Languages

Interpreter services

Agency info

King County Prosecuting Attorney's Protection Order Advocacy Program

Provides advocacy services in Superior Court to current or former intimate partners who are victims of domestic violence, which includes assistance in filing for temporary orders for protection, information and referral to social service agencies, domestic violence information and preparation prior to court hearing, and advocacy during and after court hearings.

© 2024 Washington State Department of Health. All rights reserved.