Protection orders

General information

Protection orders are stand-alone civil orders you can request to protect yourself or others from another person who is harming you. The laws covering civil protection orders can be found in RCW Chapter 7.105.

Protection orders are different than restraining orders although people often informally use both terms for this:

If you were served with a protection order:

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:

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.

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 Section 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.

Request to be notified of firearms release (Sheena Henderson Act)

In the 2015 legislative session, the legislature adopted SB 5381, establishing the Sheena Henderson Act, which has been codified as RCW Section 9.41.340 and requires law enforcement agencies to develop a notification protocol when firearms are to be released.

If you have a protection order or are seeking a protection order, you have the right to be notified when firearms will be released to the person you are seeking protection from. The Sheena Henderson Act allows a family member, household member, or intimate partner to request to be notified when a law enforcement agency returns a privately owned firearm to the person from whom it was taken. This applies to protection orders as well as no-contact orders, restraining orders, and identified victims of a crime that resulted in the firearm surrender.

If you want to be notified when firearms are released, email CCSOevidencenotifications@clark.wa.gov. You must include these three things:

  1. Your relationship to the suspect/offender: Specify the nature of your relationship to the individual from whom the firearm was obtained.
  2. Your incident or case number: Provide the case number or incident number to help the Sheriff’s Office identify the correct person and process your request.
  3. What method of notification you prefer: Indicate whether you want to be contacted by email, text message, or phone call.

In adherence to the RCW, the firearm will only be released after several safety and validity checks have been performed.

Abusive litigation

“Abusive litigation” includes legal action taken in court or related to a court case that is intended to harass or intimidate you, or to continue to have contact with you. Washington law recognizes that abusers often misuse court proceedings in order to control, harass, intimidate, or coerce their partner or to force them to spend money on litigation. If you are facing abusive litigation, you may be able to ask the court to restrict the ability of the abuser to continue to file new cases or motions. The laws covering abusive litigation, including the legal definition of the term, can be found in RCW Chapter 26.51.

Washington State's official court forms for abusive litigation are on the State Court website.

Additional resources

See the name and gender page for forms and instructions to file for a sealed name change.

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's new Hope Card Program makes it easier for individuals with full civil protection orders or extreme risk protection orders to carry important details about their orders. These wallet-sized, durable cards include the information law enforcement needs to verify a protection order if a violation occurs.

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.