For help this week with a protection order, call us at (360) 367‑4206 and say "protection order." The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1‑800‑799‑7233.
If you are worried someone monitors your devices, consider calling from a phone the other person cannot access.
Protection orders
A protection order is a court order limiting someone's ability to contact or come near you. Washington has several types, and the right one depends on your relationship to the other person and what has happened.
What we do
We represent clients seeking or responding to protection orders, including Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs), Immediate Restraining Orders (IROs), and related emergency relief. The focus is on safety, on protecting due process, and on steady advocacy during an urgent and difficult moment.
How it usually moves
Step one
The petition
You file a petition describing what happened. A judge can grant a temporary order the same day, often without the other person present.
Step two
The hearing
A full hearing follows within roughly two weeks. Both sides can appear and present evidence, and the court decides whether to enter a longer order.
Step three
The order
A final order can restrict contact and proximity, and can address firearms, the residence, and temporary arrangements for children.
If an order has been filed against you
We represent respondents as well. A protection order can affect where you live, your contact with your children, your firearm rights, and in some cases your employment. If you have been served, the hearing date is short — get advice quickly, and do not contact the petitioner in the meantime, even to explain yourself. That contact can itself become a violation.
What it costs
Your first consultation is free and runs about 30 minutes, including a case evaluation. There is no filing fee for a domestic violence protection order in Washington. Every case is unique, and the reliable way to get a number for yours is to ask at a free consultation, where you can get a quote specific to your situation.
Common questions
Do I need a police report?
No. A police report can help, but you can petition without one. Your own sworn account of what happened is evidence.
Does it have to be physical?
No. Threats, stalking, and conduct causing reasonable fear of harm can all support an order.
Will the other person know where I live?
Address confidentiality is available in these cases. Raise it early so it can be handled from the first filing.
Is this the same as a divorce?
No, they are separate cases. They often run alongside each other, and the orders need to be consistent.
Talk to someone today
These cases move on short deadlines. A free 30‑minute consultation costs you nothing and is not a commitment.
This page is general information about Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney‑client relationship. Outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case. Pinnacle Family Law, PLLC · 2479 Griffin Ave., Suite 201, Enumclaw, WA 98022.