Legal

Protection Orders

Domestic Violence Protection Order: A Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) is a civil court order (an order you request), issued by a commissioner or judge, meant to protect you from another person (generally, a family member, or a current or former intimate partner). Washington State law defines domestic violence as almost any criminal act committed by a "family or household member" against another. Domestic violence includes five primary categories of abusive behaviors: physical violence, emotional abuse, sexual assault, economic control and neglect.