The law exists to protect people. That promise is hollow when those most in need of protection cannot find their way through it.

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The National Protection Orders Initiative is a nonprofit public-interest legal project dedicated to making the law governing domestic violence protection orders accessible, navigable, and genuinely usable for every person who needs them, regardless of whether they have a lawyer. ​

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Each state guide on this platform was developed in collaboration with a nationwide network of attorneys, legal scholars, policy specialists, and domestic violence advocates. It addresses the law of its jurisdiction directly and in plain terms, including who qualifies for a protection order, what relief may be sought, how the filing process works, what emergency measures are available, and what to expect at each stage. The goal is not to replace legal counsel, which remains invaluable wherever it can be obtained. Rather, it is to ensure that the absence of counsel does not also mean the absence of understanding.

 

Select your state below to begin.