What is a Protective Order?
A Protective Order is a civil order from a judge that tells the abuser he/she must:
1. Not abuse, harass, or disturb the peace of the victim, in any place, public or private.
2. Not contact the victim or any member of teh victim’s household, directly or indirectly.
3. Not enter the property of the victim.
Who can obtain a Protective Order?Anyone who has been physcially absued, or threatened with abuse by a relative or romantic partner, or has been sexually assaulted or stalked is eligible for a Protective Order. If a child is the only person in a household needing a Protective Order, a parent of legal guardian may file the petition on his/her behalf.
Where can I file a petition for a Protective Order?
You may file a petition for a Protective Order in any court unless you have a pending divorce or legal separation in another court. Then, you must file the petition in that court. Vanderburgh County residents may file the Protective Order at the Vanderburgh County Clerk’s Office;
Vanderburgh County Courts Building
825 Sycamore Street
Evansville, Indiana
Is there anything I need to bring with me to file a Protective Order?
You will need to give the respondent’s (abuser’s) name, sex race, height, and weight (approximations are OK), hair color, eye color and date of birth. You must also know an address where the respondent can be served with the order.
What happens when I file the Protective Order?
When you have completed the forms, you should take them back to the Clerk’s office. At that time, a clerk will assign your petition to a judge, and you will be sent to that Judge’s office. The judge will look over the petition and might ask you a few questions. If the judge grants the petition, he/she will sign the temporary order and probably set a hearing date. You will be sent back to the Clerk’s office with the signed order. A clerk will then supply you with a copy of the order to be kept with you at all times. The temporary Protective Order will be valid only until the next hearing date. A permanent Protective Order (usually lasting two Years) may be granted at that time. If you do not return to the Judge’s office at the scheduled time, the order will be dismissed.
For commonly asked questions on Protective Orders Click Here