General information
The laws covering civil protection orders can be found in RCW Chapter 7.105.
- Understanding Washington State Protection Orders & How They Can Help You from the State Court (information about modifying and/or terminating a protection order is also included)
- Overview about Protection Orders from the Clark County Clerk's Office
- Protection Orders series of videos from King County Law Library (note that there may be some procedural differences between King and Clark counties)
- Resource List - Civil Protection Orders from the State Court
Clark County's Family Court Facilitator program provides assistance to individuals who choose to represent themselves in matters dealing with protection orders. The facilitator is available for in-person assistance for domestic violence protection orders on a walk-in basis at no cost.
Forms and instructions
There is one consolidated form set for protection orders involving vulnerable adults, domestic violence, harassment, stalking, and sexual assault. Washington State's official court forms for protection orders are on the State Court website.
Washington LawHelp has forms and instructions for protection orders for filing for:
- Petition for Protection Order - printable packet with forms that you can fill out by hand
- Petition for Protection Order - online interview that can help you fill out the forms
- Renewal of a protection order if your protection order is going to end soon and you want to extend it for another year or longer
- Revision in a protection order case if your case was heard by a court commissioner instead of a judge and you want to ask a judge to change an order or judgment entered by the commissioner
- Reconsideration in a protection order case if your case was heard by a judge and you want to ask a judge to change the decision
- Change or end your Protection Order for either party if the situation has changed and you want to ask to have the protection order updated or you no longer need it
Extreme risk protection orders use different forms. These orders require a person who is a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others in the near future to surrender weapons. Washington State's official court forms for extreme risk protection orders are on the State Court website.
For all protection orders, you must file your paperwork at the Superior Court Clerk's Office before 11:00 am in order to have a judge review your paperwork that day. If you file later than 11:00 am a judge will review it on the next business day. Petitions can be filed in person or electronically at ProtectionOrdFilings@clark.wa.gov according to the Superior Court Clerk's Office.
Self-help kit from the law library
The law library sells a Sealed Name Change self-help kit. The kit includes forms and instructions for certain individuals as allowed by law to request a sealed (confidential) name change for themselves, their child, or someone for whom they have been appointed guardian. Kits can be purchased at the library or online and mailed out.
Civil standby
Protection Orders and Temporary Protection Orders may require that law enforcement provide assistance for either party in obtaining possession of property or otherwise assist in executing an order of protection. See RCW 7.105.320 for more information. You must have a court order requiring this assistance in order to use this service.
For the protected person/petitioner, the court can require law enforcement assistance with possession of a residence, a specific vehicle, essential personal belongings, or other items that the court specifies.
For the restrained person/respondent, the court can require that law enforcement be present during the collection of personal clothing, personal items, or other specified items.
The time allowed for this standby period is short so people should plan to gather their things in about 15 minutes. Law enforcement does not assist with packing or carrying items.
Different law enforcement agencies may be involved depend on the location of the residence, and each agency may have somewhat different procedures.
- If the Clark County Sheriff's Office is the specified agency in the order, contact the Sheriff’s Civil Unit at 564.397.2225 or civilprocessinquiries@clark.wa.gov.
- If the Vancouver Police Department or other police departments within the county are the specified agency in the order, call 311.
Additional resources
Resources from Legal Voice include:
- Resources: Gender-Based Violence
- How to protect your privacy in court files
- Abusive Litigation: When Your Abuser Exploits the Legal System
- Hearing Guidelines for a DVPO
Resources from Washington LawHelp include:
- How to hide your address from a stalker or abuser
- Domestic violence: Can the criminal legal system help me?
The State Court has information about Civil Protection Order Filings and Exhibits: How to present your evidence. Superior Court Local Court Rule LCR 9 "Civil Protection Orders" has information about limits on the number of written submissions that can be filed with a civil protection order.
Washington VINE Protective Order (VPO) is an automated service that allows you to track the status of a protective order. You can register to be notified about service, expiration, or attempts to purchase firearms. For updates about the custody status of offenders, register with Washington VINE.
Joel's Law allows for a Petition for Initial Detention to be filed by a family member, guardian, conservator, or federally recognized Indian tribe. These petitions address situations where a person with a behavioral health disorder is a danger to themselves, others, property, or is gravely disabled. The Washington State Health Care Authority has a fact sheet with information about the process.