CIVIL Protection Orders

Click here for: Emergency Temporary Procedures for all Civil Protection Orders

Click here to: Electronically Submit a Petition for a Civil Protection Order

Civil Protection Order petitions are filed with:

The Clerk of Superior Court, 930 Tacoma Ave. South, Room 110, Tacoma, WA 98402


Forms for these matters can be found on the Washington State Courts website.  

Additional Local Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) forms can be found on the Forms section of this website.

  1. Domestic Violence Protection Order
  2. Sexual Assault Protection Order
  3. Vulnerable Adult Protection Order
  4. Extreme Risk Protection Order
  5. Anti-harassment Protection Orders
  6. Stalking Protection Orders
  7. Once You Have Filed for a Civil Protection Order

Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) - Must Establish a Relationship

Filing Fee: None

RCW 7.105: Domestic violence means: (a) Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of physical harm, bodily injury, or assault; nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration; coercive control; unlawful harassment; or stalking of one intimate partner by another intimate partner; or (b) Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of physical harm, bodily injury, or assault; nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration; coercive control; unlawful harassment; or stalking of one family or household member by another family or household member.

Relationship: Intimate Partner

  • Spouses or domestic partners;
  • Former spouses or former domestic partners;
  • Persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time, unless the child is conceived through sexual assault; or
  • Persons who have or have had a dating relationship where both persons are at least 13 years of age or older.

Relationship: Family or Household Member

  • Persons related by blood, marriage, domestic partnership, or adoption;
  • Persons who currently or formerly resided together;
  • Persons who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship, including stepparents and stepchildren and grandparents and grandchildren, or a parent's intimate partner and children; and
  • A person who is acting or has acted as a legal guardian. 

Who may file:  A petition for a domestic violence protection order must allege the existence of domestic violence committed against the petitioner or petitioners by an intimate partner or a family or household member. The petitioner may petition for relief on behalf of himself or herself and on behalf of family or household members who are minors or vulnerable adults. A petition for a domestic violence protection order must specify whether the petitioner and the respondent are intimate partners or family or household members. A petitioner who has been sexually assaulted or stalked by an intimate partner or a family or household member should, but is not required to, seek a domestic violence protection order, rather than a sexual assault protection order or a stalking protection order.  

A person under 18 years of age who is 15 years of age or older may seek relief under this chapter as a petitioner and is not required to seek relief through a petition filed on his or her behalf. He or she may also petition on behalf of a family or household member who is a minor if chosen by the minor and capable of pursuing the minor's stated interest in the action.

A person under 15 years of age who is seeking relief under this chapter is required to seek relief by a person authorized as a petitioner under this section.

Domestic Violence Protection Order petitions can be filed with the Clerk of Superior Court (930 Tacoma Ave. South, Room 110, Tacoma, WA 98402) or at a Domestic Violence kiosk. You may call the Clerk's Office Domestic Violence department at 253-798-8827 for kiosk locations.