Get a Protection Order

The Domestic Violence Division is located at 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Room 4510. During the COVID 19 remote operations, the DVD is accepting all flings remotely either by mail to the above address or by email to DVD [at] dcsc.gov. The Domestic Violence Division handles requests for:

• Civil Protection Orders (CPO)
• Anti-Stalking Orders (ASO)
• Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO)

In addition, the Domestic Violence Division handles the following criminal matters:

• Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Cases (DVM)
• Criminal Contempt Cases (CCC)

A Civil Protection Order (CPO) is a court order in which a judge can require a person to follow certain requirements, including but not limited to, staying away from, not contacting, or committing any offense against the person requesting the CPO. The person filing the CPO is called a “petitioner”, and the person who the CPO is filed against is called a “respondent”. The court can grant the CPO for a maximum of 2 years at a time. A CPO is issued after a respondent has had the opportunity, or has been provided the opportunity, to be present at a court hearing. After a CPO is issued, motions for contempt can be filed if the CPO is violated. When appropriate, judges in the Domestic Violence Division also adjudicate related divorce, custody, visitation, paternity and support cases involving the same parties, as well as certain related civil actions.

Click here to see the petition for a CPO
Click here to Frequently Asked Questions about CPOs
Click here for an informational video on the onsite CPO process

An Anti-Stalking Order (ASO) is a court order in which a judge can require a person to follow certain requirements, including but not limited to, staying away from, not contacting, or committing any offense against the person requesting the ASO. The person filing the ASO is called a "petitioner", and the person who the ASO is filed against is called a "respondent". The court may grant an ASO to ensure the petitioner’s safety after alleging that the respondent is stalking the petitioner with at least one incident occurring in the last 90 days. An ASO is issued after a respondent has had the opportunity, or has been provided the opportunity, to be present at a court hearing. After an ASO is issued, motions for contempt can be filed if the ASO is violated.

Click here to see the petition for an ASO
Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions about ASOs

An Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) is court order in which a judge can order that an individual's firearm, ammunition, a registration certificate, a license to carry a concealed pistol, or a dealer's license be removed from the possession of someone who poses an extreme risk to themselves or others. The request may be made by an individual who is related to the other party by blood, adoption, guardianship, marriage, domestic partnership, having a child in common, by cohabitating, or by maintaining a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship; OR member of the Metropolitan Police Department; OR a Mental Health Professional as defined by DC Code 7-1201.01(11).

Click here to see the petition for an ERPO
Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions about ERPOs