Recently updated on April 9th, 2024 at 12:24 am
Create and File Your Forms for Antiharassment Protection Order
LegalAtoms is a website that allows you to prepare all the documents required to file for an Antiharassment Protection Order (AHPO) free of charge.
LegalAtoms currently assists with the initial filing for various counties in Washington state.
You will be led through a questionnaire in plain non-legal language, with helpful explanations from lawyers and court officials. Once you have completed the questionnaire you can submit your documents via email or download your documents for filing with any other Washington court that has jurisdiction to sign the Antiharassment Protection Order (AHPO).
Process Overview
This website presents a list of questions, and then at the end generates the paperwork for SPO.
This website provides a guided experience to people who are working themselves on preparing the court forms for a Domestic Violence Restraining Order.
1. Eligibility
✔ Check to see if you meet the minimum criteria to petition for Antiharassment Protection Order.
✔ Answers a few questions which are in simple language. No difficult legal terms.
✔ View help content and videos prepared by lawyers in Washington.
2. Prepare court forms
✔ Answer detailed questions about you and the respondent.
✔ Request specific protections and attach supporting documents.
✔ Download documents as a PDF or Word.
3. Get Help
✔ If you have procedural questions, court staff are available to provide answers. However, they are unable to answer legal questions.
✔ You will be presented with contact information for the county’s advocacy programs.
4. Submit to Clerks Office
✔ LegalAtoms will notify the clerk that your documents are available for review.
✔ Clerk’s office staff will prep your documents for consideration by the court.
✔ Judicial Officer will review your petition and sign an order.
✔ The Clerk’s Protection Order office will provide you with a copy of your order once it is signed and processed.
The Protection Order such can require any number of the following items from your abuser:
- To not contact you and stay away from you (including move out)
- Not have access to a gun
- In case you share children, then follow child custody and visitation orders, pay child support,
- In case you were married or a formal domestic union, then pay spousal support
- Help in acquiring your common household items such as
- Passport or other IDs
- Cell phone
- Pets
A protection order cannot:
- End your marriage or domestic partnership. It is not a divorce.
- Establish parentage (paternity) of your children with the restrained person (if you are not married to, or in a domestic partnership with, him or her)
Under the Washington State law, its a crime of misdemeanor for a person to violate the terms or conditions of a court-issued restraining order, protective order, or stay-away order. This offense is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of up to one year in jail.
But a second-offense violation of a restraining order, or a violation that involves an act of violence, can be charged as a felony and punished by up to 3 years in jail or prison.
Antiharassment Protection Order can be free in some situations otherwise a filing fee of about $40 needs to be paid directly to the court. You can also apply for a fee waiver.
No, a lawyer is not required. However, having a lawyer in any legal situation can benefit you.
You can get a temporary protection order the same day as you file in case of an emergency. The specific cut off time varies from court to court. For example, the cut off time for Snohomish County Superior Court is 10:30 a.m. Many courts can close as early as 12:30 p.m. so you need to definitely file before then. Otherwise, the order would be issued the following day when courts open.
Courts are generally open Monday-Friday and closed on Saturday-Sunday.
The temporary order is valid until a formal hearing is held in which both parties need to be present. Typically a hearing is scheduled within 3 weeks of filing.
At the hearing a formal order may be issued.
A AHPO is typically issued for one year, though it can be requested for a different period.
Thousands of Washingtonians file for a AHPO every year
Washington Courts
Official website of the Washington Courts which provides court forms and instructions.
Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs
WCSAP unites agencies engaged in eliminating sexual violence and provides information and training to members
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
WSCADV is a resource for programs that assist domestic violence survivors and their families
Victim Information and Notification Everyday
The VINE system is a free service that allows petitioners to register for notification when a protective order of any type that has been served or is about to expire.
Do Protection Orders Help?
Here the outcome of a research on domestic violence from University of New Hampshire
1. Reduce Violence
Civil protective orders (such as a Domestic Violence Protection Order, an Anti-harassment Protection Order, a Sexual Assault Protection Order) are effective in reducing violence and harassment. For example, for half the women in the sample studied, a protective order stopped the violence. For the other half, the orders significantly reduced violence and abuse.
2. Cost Effective
They are a relatively low-cost solution, particularly when compared with the social and personal costs of partner violence.
3. Cities vs. Countryside
The impact of civil protective orders on reducing violence and abuse did not differ for rural (country side) and urban (cities) women. In rural areas, where resources and services for partner violence may be more limited, it is critical to reduce barriers to obtaining protective orders as research indicates they may be an effective resource. Community-level barriers to enforce civil protective orders exist for women in rural areas.
LegalAtoms guides you through all the topics required to complete your protection order documents and file your case.
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PO 001 Petition for Protection Order
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PO 003 Law Enforcement and Confidential Information Form
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PO 030 Temporary Protection Order and Hearing Notice
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PO 040 Proof of Service
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WS 001 Order to Surrender and Prohibit Weapons Without Notice
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PO 036 Order Transferring Case and Setting Hearing
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UH2.0110 Financial Statement Harassment
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PO 012 Motion and Declaration for Waiver of Filing Fees and Surcharges