Alaska sexual assault protective order vs domestic violence protective order

Recently updated on October 8th, 2025 at 10:19 pm

Overview

Alaska law provides different protective orders depending on the relationship between the parties and the type of conduct. A Sexual Assault Protective Order (SAPO), issued under AS 18.65.850, applies when a person has been sexually assaulted or stalked, regardless of relationship to the offender. A Domestic Violence Protective Order (DVPO), under AS 18.66.100, applies when abuse occurs between “household members.” Knowing which order applies is critical because procedures, relief available, and enforcement vary.

Who benefits / Who can apply

Victims of sexual assault or stalking by strangers, acquaintances, coworkers, or other non-household members benefit from SAPOs. Victims of violence or threats by spouses, dating partners, relatives, or cohabitants benefit from DVPOs. Parents or guardians can apply on behalf of minor victims in either case.

Benefits of a Sexual Assault Protective Order

A SAPO allows victims to seek legal protection without needing to prove a household relationship. It can prohibit the respondent from contacting the victim, require them to stay away from certain locations, and grant other necessary relief for safety. It fills a critical gap for people assaulted by non-family members.

Process Steps

Step 1: Determine eligibility

Determining eligibility is the single most important gate you pass through, because it dictates everything that follows—what forms you use, the timeline you’re on, and the scope of relief that the court can order. In Alaska, the law separates two common paths. The Sexual Assault Protective Order (SAPO), authorized by AS 18.65.850 et seq., is intended for victims of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or sexual-stalking conduct where the respondent is not required to be a household member. The Domestic Violence Protective Order (DVPO), authorized by AS 18.66.100, is intended for abuse between household members, a term the statute defines broadly to include current or former spouses, dating or sexual partners, cohabitants, certain relatives, and people who share a child. Begin by placing your situation against those legal frames. Write down the respondent’s relationship to you; then list recent incidents with dates, locations, and what happened. If the conduct is sexual assault or sexually motivated stalking by a non-household member, you are likely in SAPO territory. If the conduct is abuse (which can include assault, threats, harassment, and other acts) by a household member, the DVPO path is likely correct.

Why is this distinction so critical? First, filing the wrong petition can create delays when time is most sensitive. Clerks and self-help staff can redirect you, but selecting the correct track avoids duplication, extra trips, and rescheduling. Second, the relief toolkit differs. SAPOs focus on safety measures aligned to sexual assault or stalking dynamics: no-contact terms, stay-away zones, and communication bans calibrated to protect you in public and semi-public spaces where you may encounter the respondent. DVPOs can include similar terms, but because they address household-member conflicts, they may also interact with family-related logistics, such as temporary possession of a residence or other narrowly tailored conditions that make sense when people share a home or children. Third, enforcement nuance matters. Law enforcement needs a clearly applicable order that precisely identifies what conduct is prohibited and where. A well-matched order helps officers respond decisively when you call about a violation.

As you assess eligibility, use a factual test, not conclusions. Judges and clerks respond best to clear, specific descriptions: who did what, where, and when. For example, instead of writing “harassment,” write “on August 1 at 7:40 p.m., outside the 5th Avenue entrance, he grabbed my arm and whispered sexual comments after I told him to stop; two passersby looked over; I left quickly and reported it to security.” That sentence anchors an event to time, place, conduct, and witnesses. Repeat this for each significant incident in the last several months, prioritizing the most recent and severe. If police or medical professionals were involved, list agency names, report numbers, and clinic dates. If the conduct is digital (messages, DMs, emails), capture screenshots with visible dates, handles, and phone numbers. A concise pack of time-stamped facts makes eligibility easier to see at a glance.

Edge cases are common. Maybe you briefly dated the respondent years ago; maybe you never lived together; maybe there was a one-time sexual encounter but the current threat is stalking unrelated to a household relationship. Do not disqualify yourself prematurely. The household-member definition is specific; a past brief interaction does not automatically create DVPO status, and lack of a household relationship does not block you from a SAPO if sexual assault or sexual-stalking occurred. In mixed scenarios—say, a former partner who is now stalking you and, separately, a coworker who assaulted you—you may pursue separate petitions, each tied to the correct legal framework and respondent. Filing separate cases helps with service, hearing scheduling, and enforcement clarity, since each order binds a different person under a different docket.

If safety is urgent but your classification is uncertain, file promptly anyway. Alaska courts are accustomed to triaging these situations; clerks and self-help resources will guide you toward the correct petition type, and a judge can consider ex parte relief when your facts show immediate danger. When you file, present your relationship summary and incident timeline openly. The court’s primary focus is safety, not punishing honest confusion about form titles. A good-faith filing with clear facts is always better than delaying while you attempt to perfect legal labels on your own.

Finally, look ahead to what you will ask the court to do if you are eligible. Think about the places that define your daily life—home, work, school, childcare, common routes, parking lots, bus stops. If a SAPO is appropriate, you will likely request stay-away zones and no-contact provisions calibrated to these places and routines. If a DVPO is appropriate, similar safety terms may apply, but you might also need conditions that reflect shared spaces or parenting realities. Writing down these needs now helps you complete the forms efficiently and articulate a coherent request at your hearing. Eligibility is not just a threshold question—it is the architectural plan for everything you will build on top of it.

Step 2: Obtain the correct forms

After you determine which track applies, collect the official Alaska Court System forms for that track. For a SAPO, the core petition is commonly labeled CIV-750, and the instruction packet is CIV-751; for DVPOs, you will use the DV-series (starting around DV-100 for the petition and related temporary order paperwork). Always download the most recent versions from the court’s forms page rather than using copies you find on third-party sites. Form revisions are not cosmetic—they reflect statutory updates, new checkboxes for relief, and clarified instructions that, if missing, can cause clerks to reject or delay filings. Confirm the revision date at the bottom of each document before you start typing.

Study the instruction sheet before filling anything out. CIV-751, for example, walks through eligibility criteria, privacy options, what facts to include, and how hearings and service work. The instructions also explain how to request ex parte relief and what to do if you need a remote hearing. A fifteen-minute read will save you a re-file trip and reduce the risk of missing key fields like confidential contact, law-enforcement information, or the section where you identify specific places you want protected. If your court offers a Civil Protective Order Wizard, consider using it. Wizards guide you through questions and then generate the correct forms with your answers merged, decreasing transcription errors and ensuring you pick the right order type.

Your packet usually includes three distinct types of pages. First, public petition pages that become part of the court file. These capture your identity, the respondent’s identity, and your narrative. Second, relief checklists where you select the safety terms you are requesting: no-contact, indirect-contact bans, stay-away distances, and protected addresses. Third, confidential or law-enforcement sheets, often not part of the public file, that contain sensitive information (like your residence) and the practical identifiers officers need to serve the respondent quickly, such as date of birth, physical description, typical hangouts, employer, shift times, and vehicles. Treat those identifiers seriously; accurate details can cut days off service timelines, which reduces your exposure between filing and the hearing.

Gather any supplemental pages your facts require. If the petition provides limited space for incidents, ask the clerk for an additional incident detail sheet or attach a typed addendum. Keep addenda concise and numbered to match the petition prompts. If you need address confidentiality, use the dedicated confidentiality form rather than omitting your address entirely; courts need a reliable way to contact you with orders and hearing notices. If your situation involves firearms risk and the statute supports firearm-related terms, check whether the packet includes specific requests or whether you should describe the risk in your narrative so the judge can tailor conditions appropriately.

If you are filing on behalf of a minor or an incapacitated adult, collect documents that prove your authority to act, such as a guardianship order, custody decree, or power of attorney. The forms will ask you to indicate your capacity; having proof ready prevents the clerk from holding your filing pending verification. If you anticipate the respondent arguing about household-member status or denying your identity information, consider bringing a copy of your ID and any document that verifies the respondent’s details (for example, a photo from the respondent’s public social media profile that shows their face along with a known vehicle).

Last, think logistically. Print at least two blank copies before you begin. If you make a mistake on a paper form, it is cleaner to re-copy than to cross out multiple lines in pen. If filling electronically, ensure your PDF editor preserves checkboxes and signatures correctly; courts often print these forms, and faint or missing checks can cause confusion. For signatures requiring a notary or in-clerk witnessing, do not sign until you are at the counter or before a notary. Preparing this way gives you an orderly, complete packet on the first try, which speeds intake, increases your odds of same-day ex parte review, and reduces stress when you need focus most.

Step 3: Complete the petition

Think of your petition as a sworn narrative paired with a surgical request for relief. Start with a concise overview paragraph that introduces the respondent and the nature of the conduct (sexual assault, coerced sexual acts, or sexual-stalking for a SAPO; abuse for a DVPO), followed by the most recent serious incident date. Then move into a numbered, chronological timeline. Each entry should include date, time, location, what happened, exact words if they matter, your reaction, and any witness or corroboration. The key is concreteness. Replace interpretations with observable facts. “He followed me from the bus stop, waited by my building door, and said ‘I’ll see you at work if you don’t answer me tonight’” is far more persuasive than “he’s dangerous and obsessed.” Judges read dozens of petitions; specific verb-driven sentences stand out and satisfy the civil standard more reliably than adjectives.

Bridge your narrative to exhibits. Select a handful of representative digital messages that show pattern, escalation, or sexually explicit threats. Print them with visible timestamps, phone numbers or handles, and context (preceding and following lines). Label each page as Exhibit A1, A2, etc., and refer to those labels in your timeline, for example, “see Exhibit A2 (May 3 text).” For call logs and voicemails, include screenshots and brief transcriptions if feasible; even a one-line summary with date and time is useful. For photos of injuries or places, add captions with location and date. If a police report exists, write the agency and incident number in the entry about that date; you do not need the full report to file, but the incident number signals credibility and allows the court to connect dots quickly if needed for ex parte relief.

The relief section is where precision pays off. For SAPOs, you will typically check boxes for no-contact and indirect-contact bans and propose stay-away zones. Do not write “stay away from my work” and assume everyone understands; specify the employer name, building address, floor, suite, garage, and common entrances or elevators. If you use public transit, identify the stop and usual route times where encounters have occurred or are likely. Choose realistic buffer distances given the environment—50 yards in a dense hallway is different from 100 yards in a parking lot; judges appreciate context. Include third-party contact bans to close loopholes like messages routed through mutual acquaintances or anonymous accounts. If the respondent has used particular apps, mention that pattern in your narrative so the court understands why you want a broad communications prohibition.

Protect your privacy correctly. Use the confidential law-enforcement sheet for your residence and other sensitive details, and refer to “my residence” in the public petition if appropriate. For mailing, provide a address where you can safely receive court notices—this can be a P.O. Box or an advocate program’s address if permitted. If you fear that serving the respondent at their workplace could escalate risk to you, state that and propose alternative service addresses while still ensuring due process. The goal is to achieve valid service quickly without unnecessarily exposing your routines.

If your case involves firearms risk and the statute supports tailored terms, describe the concrete facts that make firearm restrictions reasonable, such as a recent photo the respondent sent of a gun while making threats, or a past incident where a weapon was displayed. Courts must tailor relief; factual links allow the judge to craft conditions that are both protective and defensible. Similarly, if you need workplace or school coordination, include a line in your relief request that authorizes you to provide copies to specific administrators or security offices so those institutions can enforce access boundaries.

Close with a short forward-looking statement. Alaska courts issue long-term orders when the petitioner shows by a preponderance of evidence that prohibited conduct occurred and that ongoing protection is needed. One or two sentences that connect past acts to present fear—escalation, refusal to stop after warnings, proximity to your daily spaces—help the judge see why immediate and continuing restraint is justified. Sign where indicated, under penalty of perjury. If the form requires an oath before a clerk or notary, do not sign until you are in the correct setting. Make two extra copies of everything: one for the court’s working file and one to serve on the respondent, in addition to your own set. A complete, specific, and carefully tailored petition maximizes the chance of timely ex parte protection and sets you up for a focused, efficient hearing.

Step 4: File the petition with the court

Filing transforms your preparation into a live case and starts the judicial timeline for both temporary and long-term relief. In Alaska, you can file in the district or superior court where you live, where the respondent lives, or where the conduct occurred. Bring your completed petition, any required confidential or law-enforcement sheets, and enough copies to be stamped. There is no filing fee for petitions under AS 18.65.850–.870 (SAPO) or for the comparable DVPO initial filings, so cost should not deter you from walking to the counter as soon as you are ready. When you reach the clerk, state plainly that you are filing for a protective order and, if applicable, that you are also requesting ex parte (temporary) relief due to immediate danger. Have your identification ready in case the clerk needs to confirm names for the file.

Expect the clerk to check for completeness. They may scan for signatures, dates, checked relief boxes, and the presence of confidential sheets. If a field is missing, fix it on the spot rather than leaving. If your packet is complete and you are requesting ex parte relief, ask about same-day review. Many Alaska courts have a daily calendar or on-call judge who can consider temporary orders quickly. In smaller communities or after hours, the clerk may explain how law enforcement can contact an on-duty judicial officer for emergency relief; take down those instructions in case you need them later. If you are in immediate danger but the judge is not available for a short window, remain in a secure part of the courthouse if possible and coordinate with security or an advocate until review is expected.

When your case is accepted, the clerk will assign a case number and stamp your copies. Ask for at least two stamped copies: one for your records and one for service on the respondent (some courts produce a separate service packet). Confirm with the clerk how you will receive notice of hearings and orders; provide a safe mailing address and a phone number or email that you check regularly. If you need address confidentiality, ensure it is set correctly—your public case record should not expose your residence. If you anticipate travel or limited phone access, tell the clerk; the court may be able to accommodate remote appearances or adjust how they contact you.

If the judge is reviewing ex parte relief, you may be asked to wait while judicial staff consult your petition. Be prepared to answer short, focused questions about the most recent incidents and why immediate protection is necessary. Keep your answers factual and concise; this is not the long-form hearing. If the judge grants a temporary order, the clerk will provide copies labeled as such, often effective until the full hearing (commonly around ten days, though timing varies by calendar and service). Read the temporary order immediately. Confirm the no-contact language, stay-away distances, and covered places; make sure your workplace and school are listed if requested. Ask the clerk how the order will be entered into law-enforcement databases and whether the court will transmit copies directly to local police or whether you should deliver one yourself.

Service planning begins at filing. Clarify who will serve the respondent—law enforcement typically handles service at no cost in protective-order cases, but private process servers are an option if needed. Provide the clerk or serving agency with the respondent’s addresses, employer, typical hours, vehicle details, and any safety flags (for example, known weapons). Ask how you will be notified when service is successful; service date drives the hearing timeline and enforcement strength. If the respondent evades service, ask the clerk early about alternative methods or a continuance to avoid dismissal for lack of notice.

Before leaving the courthouse, organize your packet. Place your stamped petition and any temporary order in a folder you can carry daily. Program the case number into your phone notes with the court’s phone number. If you have an advocate, text them a photo of the stamped cover page so your support network has the reference. If your temporary order is granted, give a copy to workplace or school security the same day and discuss safety measures (entry screening, escorts, alert procedures). Filing is not the end; it is the pivot to enforcement and the countdown to your full hearing. The more disciplined you are in this moment—reading the temporary order, confirming notice procedures, and planning service—the better positioned you will be for the next steps.

Step 5: Request an ex parte (temporary) order when immediate protection is needed

An ex parte order is the court’s rapid-response tool for situations where waiting even a few days could expose you to significant risk. “Ex parte” simply means the judge can grant temporary relief without first hearing from the respondent, based on your sworn petition and any brief, supplemental statement you provide at filing. The legal threshold is focused on immediacy and safety: the court looks for specific, recent facts that show you face danger or serious harassment now, not merely in the abstract or in the distant past. To make the strongest possible showing, concentrate on the last incidents and explain concisely why delay would be unsafe. For example, if the respondent followed you home twice this week, sent sexually explicit threats last night, or is now appearing at your workplace entrances, those details demonstrate current, concrete risk. Present your timeline, then draw a clear line between those facts and the relief you need: no-contact, a defined distance, and protection for particular places you must go each day. Clarity helps the judge tailor the temporary order so law enforcement can enforce it without ambiguity.

Approach the brief ex parte interaction with discipline. You may be asked a few questions: when was the last contact, what exactly happened, do you fear an encounter today or tomorrow, and what places need immediate protection. Give direct answers in one or two sentences each. Judges are not looking for polished speeches; they need crisp, verifiable facts that map to statutory relief. Bring your exhibits but expect the court to rely primarily on your sworn narrative for the temporary stage; save detailed exhibit walkthroughs for the full hearing. If you have an incident number from police or campus security, state it; it signals that third parties have already observed or documented the situation. If you are requesting workplace or school protection, say who the security contact is and ask for permission to provide a copy immediately so those teams can implement access controls or escorts right away.

The order you receive—if granted—will specify what conduct is prohibited, where the respondent must not go, and for how long the temporary relief remains in effect. Read it carefully before leaving the courthouse. Confirm that every essential location is listed with usable precision: street addresses, building names, suites, and parking areas if applicable. If something critical is missing, politely ask the clerk whether the judge can adjust the language the same day; minor corrections are often possible while the file is still on the temporary calendar. Make multiple copies on the spot. Keep one on your person, place one in a safe home location, deliver one to your workplace or school security (plus HR or administration where appropriate), and consider giving a copy to a trusted neighbor or building management if access control is relevant. Ask the clerk whether the court will transmit the order to law enforcement electronically or whether you should hand-deliver a copy to your local department—procedures vary by location, and immediate entry into law-enforcement databases improves response times.

Remember that a temporary order is exactly that—temporary. Its power is twofold: it gives you legal boundaries today and sets the stage for a focused, timely long-term hearing. To maximize both effects, coordinate service promptly (see Step 6), document any post-order violations meticulously, and maintain ordinary routines only to the extent they are safe. If you must adjust commutes or appointments for safety, do so and keep notes about any respondent sightings or attempted contacts; those observations can matter at the long-term hearing. If the respondent violates the temporary order, call law enforcement immediately, provide the order, and request an incident number. Fast reporting, coupled with a copy of the order, allows officers to act decisively and creates a near-term record that supports continuation of relief. Finally, consider a short safety briefing with people who regularly intersect your day—coworkers who cover the reception desk, roommates, building managers—so they know to call 911 if the respondent appears and to avoid relaying messages on your behalf. The temporary stage is about compressing confusion and expanding clarity; the more specific you are in requests and follow-through, the more protective the ex parte window becomes while you move toward a full hearing.

Step 6: Ensure service on the respondent

A protective order cannot fully operate in the real world until the respondent has been properly served with the petition, any temporary order, and the notice of hearing. Service is not a formality; it is the due-process backbone that lets the court enforce boundaries and move to a long-term decision. In Alaska protective-order cases, law enforcement commonly performs service at no cost, though private process servers are an option when speed or geography demands it. Your job is to make service as efficient as possible by supplying accurate, specific, and practical information. Start with the respondent’s full legal name, nicknames, and any aliases. Add date of birth if known, a recent physical description, and distinguishing features. Then list target locations: residence with unit number, usual entrance, and best time window; workplace with address, shift start and end, door used for breaks; common hangouts such as a gym or coffee shop with typical hours; and vehicle make, model, color, and plate if available. The confidential law-enforcement information sheet exists for exactly this purpose—fill it out thoroughly and update it if you learn something new after filing.

Coordinate actively with the serving agency. Ask the clerk how service requests are transmitted and whom to call for status updates. If a deputy or server attempts service and misses the respondent, they may leave a notice or simply log the attempt; get those timestamps so you can anticipate the next window. If the respondent appears to be evading service, bring that to the court’s attention early. Alaska courts can authorize alternate methods when standard personal service proves impracticable, but they must see diligence first—multiple attempts at different times and places, reasonable efforts to confirm addresses, and, where appropriate, contact with employers or property managers. Keep a service log: date and time of each attempt, location, outcome, and any notes (for example, “vehicle present, neighbor said he left 15 minutes earlier”). This log is a small effort with large payoff; it demonstrates your diligence and helps the court decide whether to adjust hearing schedules or authorize alternatives.

Safety is part of service planning. Tell the serving agency about any known weapons, substance use, threats to third parties, or volatile behaviors. If you share spaces with the respondent—an apartment complex, a garage, or a campus—ask servers to avoid times and places that would likely cause a dangerous encounter for you. If the respondent works in a secure facility, give the server information about security contacts to coordinate entry. In rural or remote settings, travel time and distance can complicate service; consider whether a private process server who operates in that area can accomplish faster delivery while the law-enforcement request is pending, and ask the clerk whether dual paths are permissible in your venue. The goal is lawful, provable service as soon as possible without elevating risk to anyone involved.

Once service succeeds, get proof. A return of service or affidavit will be filed with the court; ask for a copy and note the service date and time. This moment starts the clock for certain enforcement and hearing milestones. If you have a temporary order, law enforcement will typically treat violations after service even more decisively because the respondent is now on formal notice. Provide copies of the served order to your workplace or school if you have not already done so, and tell them that service is complete; many institutions escalate their internal protocols once they know the respondent has been formally notified. If service fails in the days leading to your hearing, do not let the date pass in silence. Ask the clerk about a continuance based on lack of service so your case is not dismissed. Show your service log and the agency’s attempt history to demonstrate diligence. Valid service is the hinge between paper and protection; treating it as a project with clear tasks, owners, and timelines dramatically improves the odds that your hearing happens on schedule and your order is enforceable on the street.

Step 7: Prepare for the hearing

The long-term hearing is where your temporary relief can be extended into a durable order—commonly up to a year—based on a preponderance of the evidence. Treat preparation as a mini-trial project with three pillars: a tight narrative, curated exhibits, and logistics that reduce stress. Start by condensing your incident timeline into a one to two-page outline. Order entries from oldest to newest, but place special emphasis on the last sixty to ninety days; recency matters because it speaks to ongoing risk. For each entry, keep the same structure you used in the petition: date, place, what the respondent did, exact words that matter, your reaction, and any witnesses or documentation. Read the outline aloud; it should flow as a coherent story without rhetorical flourishes. Trim adjectives and leave verbs. Judges need the who/what/where/when, not character assessments.

Exhibits should be selected, not dumped. Aim for a small, representative set that shows pattern and escalation. For messages, include screenshots with the sender, recipient, timestamp, and a few lines of context before and after the key text. For call logs, show repeated attempts or late-night patterns. For photos, ensure the date and location are clear; if you used a smartphone, the printed photo won’t include metadata, so add a caption stating when and where the image was taken. For medical or police interactions, bring discharge papers or incident numbers. Label everything simply—Exhibit 1, 2, 3—and reference those numbers in your outline so you can guide the judge efficiently. Make three complete sets: one for the court, one for the respondent, and one for you. Place each set in order with tabs or paper clips. The physical organization signals credibility and saves minutes that feel like hours in a hearing room.

Logistics matter as much as content. Confirm the hearing time, location, and whether remote appearance is allowed or advisable. If appearing in person, plan your route and arrival time to avoid crossing paths with the respondent at the entrance or hallway; ask security or an advocate about safe waiting areas. If you need an interpreter or any accessibility accommodation, request it with the clerk as early as possible. Identify witnesses who can offer first-hand observations—neighbors, coworkers, security staff—and ask them to attend or to be reachable by phone if the court allows telephonic testimony. Subpoenas are sometimes necessary; ask the clerk how to arrange one if a witness is reluctant but essential. Finally, rehearse. Practice a five-minute version of your story that hits the essential incidents and why ongoing protection is needed. Anticipate two or three likely questions: why you believe risk continues, whether you have changed routines for safety, and what specific relief you want the court to order. Preparation turns a stressful appearance into a structured conversation where your facts drive the outcome.

Step 8: Attend the court hearing

Arrive early, check in with the clerk or bailiff, and find a safe place to sit. When your case is called, approach the table with your outline and exhibit set neatly stacked. Speak in short, factual sentences. Begin with your name, the respondent’s name, and a single sentence that frames the case (“I am seeking a Sexual Assault Protective Order due to a series of incidents including unwanted sexual contact and stalking; the most recent was last Thursday outside my workplace”). Then walk the court through your outline chronologically, handing up exhibits as you reference them. Avoid editorializing; let the facts carry the weight. Quote exact words when they matter, especially if they demonstrate sexual content, threats, or refusal to respect boundaries. If the judge interrupts with a question, stop and answer directly before resuming. Judges appreciate witnesses who listen and respond rather than recite prepared text regardless of context.

Expect the respondent to have an opportunity to speak or to ask you questions through the court. If questioned, stay calm and answer only the question asked. You are not required to speculate about the respondent’s motives or mental state; it is both acceptable and wise to say “I don’t know” where appropriate. If the respondent introduces documents or messages, review them before responding; if a document appears incomplete or out of context, politely explain the missing context and, if possible, point to your exhibit that contains the fuller exchange. If the respondent denies an incident, rely on your contemporaneous anchors—incident numbers, witnesses, timestamps. Courts weigh credibility, and contemporaneous records usually carry more weight than generalized denials.

When the judge turns to relief, be prepared to restate exactly what you are requesting in practical terms. Identify addresses and distances, including entrances and parking areas. Ask for an indirect-contact ban that covers phone, text, email, social media, and contact through third parties. If workplace or school security needs a copy, ask the court to authorize sharing and to include those locations expressly in the order. If there has been a pattern of encounters along a commute route, request that route by name (for example, “the pedestrian bridge between Lot C and Building A”). The more precise the map, the easier enforcement becomes. If the court signals it will grant an order but proposes shorter duration or narrower terms than you requested, explain concisely why your version better fits the risk (for example, “the garage is where two of the last three encounters occurred; including it prevents forced proximity in that enclosed space”). Judges often appreciate targeted justifications grounded in the evidence they just heard.

Finally, listen carefully to the court’s decision and ask clarifying questions immediately. If the judge reads the terms quickly, request a moment to confirm the list of protected places and distances. Ask when written copies will be available at the clerk’s window. If the court denies some portion of relief, note the reason; you may be able to address the issue with additional evidence later or seek modification if circumstances change. If the court denies the petition entirely, ask whether the denial is without prejudice and what would be necessary to revisit the request (for instance, additional documentation, witness testimony, or subsequent incidents). The hearing is the fulcrum of your case; a calm, factual presentation coupled with precise relief requests gives the court what it needs to protect you effectively.

Step 9: Receive the protective order

When the judge announces the decision and signs the order, shift immediately into implementation mode. Pick up certified copies from the clerk as soon as they are available—ask how many you are allowed and purchase additional certified copies if needed. Certified copies carry an embossed seal or stamp that law enforcement and institutions recognize, reducing friction when you need quick help. Read every term before you leave the courthouse. Confirm the effective date and time, the expiration date, all protected addresses, the no-contact and indirect-contact prohibitions, any firearms-related provisions, and instructions for property retrieval if applicable. If any location or distance appears incorrect or incomplete, raise it with the clerk promptly; minor clerical issues can sometimes be corrected via an amended order without a full return to the judge’s bench, depending on local practice.

Distribute copies strategically. Deliver one to your local police department or campus security and ask them to confirm the order is entered into their system. Provide copies to your workplace HR and security office, your school’s Title IX or safety office if applicable, and any housing or building management team responsible for your residence. If the order lists a child’s school or daycare, provide a copy there as well and ask about their alert protocols should the respondent appear. Keep one certified copy on your person at all times and store scanned images in a secure cloud folder accessible from your phone. If the order includes a route or public space that private security monitors—such as a hospital campus or corporate complex—share a copy with that security team and ask for a point of contact in case you need an escort.

Establish your incident workflow. If the respondent violates any term, call law enforcement immediately. State that you have a current protective order, identify yourself, and describe the violation as specifically as possible (date, time, location, behavior). Provide the officer with a copy of the order if requested and ask for an incident number before the officer leaves. Immediately record the event in your log: a short entry with date, time, place, what occurred, witnesses, and the incident number. If the violation is digital, take screenshots that include the sender, timestamp, and context; email them to yourself to establish a clean preservation trail. If the violation involves a vehicle, note the plate and direction of travel if you safely can. Consistent documentation does two things: it helps police and prosecutors act quickly, and it equips you to seek modification or extension later with hard evidence rather than general assertions.

Lastly, align your network. Brief trusted coworkers, neighbors, or front-desk staff who might unintentionally facilitate contact—people who answer phones, receive visitors, or manage access points. Tell them not to relay messages and to call 911 if the respondent appears. Clarify with HR and security how to handle deliveries, unexpected visits, and caller verification. Consider simple routine adjustments for the first weeks after issuance—vary departure times, use different entrances, arrange escorts in higher-risk locations—to reduce opportunities for unwanted encounters while the respondent adjusts to the order’s constraints. A signed order is powerful, but its real strength emerges when you pair it with disciplined reporting, clear institutional partnerships, and small daily choices that keep you one step safer.

Step 10: Modification or renewal

Protective orders are living tools, not static artifacts. As your circumstances change, the order should change with them. Alaska law generally sets long-term protective orders to last up to one year, with the ability to request extension when risk persists. Calendar the expiration date the day you receive the order—enter it in your phone with multiple reminders at 60, 30, and 10 days before expiration. If protection is still necessary, file for an extension within the statutory window (commonly within 30 days before expiration; some procedures also allow a post-expiration window with prompt filing). Use the court’s extension form and attach a short, factual statement that updates the court on events since issuance: any violations (with incident numbers), any sightings or attempted contacts, continued proximity risks (for example, the respondent now works in the building next to yours), and any reasons your fear remains reasonable even if there were no direct contacts (for example, an active investigation or recent indirect messages through third parties). Judges do not require new assaults to extend; they require credible evidence that the protective need continues.

Modification is appropriate when the original terms need adjustment. Common examples include adding a new workplace or school, expanding a distance around a specific entrance where repeated encounters occur, or clarifying a route that has become a flashpoint. Draft a short motion that identifies the current term, explains the specific problem you’re experiencing, and proposes precise new language. Attach any supporting documentation—security logs showing repeated incidents at a garage entrance, emails from an employer confirming a new location, or screenshots of indirect contact attempts that suggest the need to broaden the communications ban. Narrow, evidence-backed requests are more likely to be granted quickly. If the respondent requests modification, attend and oppose where necessary, focusing on safety impacts rather than speculation about intent.

Termination, by contrast, is a safety decision you make when the protective need has ended. If you no longer require the order—because the respondent moved away, there has been a sustained period of no contact, or other conditions reduce risk—you may ask the court to terminate. Before doing so, consult with an advocate or attorney to consider second-order effects, such as whether the order’s presence deters contact that might otherwise resume. If you do terminate and later need protection again, you can file a new petition based on new facts, but you will start the process anew (including service and a hearing). Weigh the benefits of termination against the ease of keeping the order in place until expiration, especially if the administrative burden is low and your daily life is not hindered by its terms.

Across extension, modification, and termination, documentation remains your ally. Keep your incident log current; save emails from HR or security; preserve screenshots; and collect copies of any police follow-up. Good records shorten hearings, reduce disputes about what happened, and allow the court to act with confidence. Maintain relationships with your institutional partners—police liaisons, campus security, building managers—so you can gather letters or logs quickly when you need them. If geography or employment changes, update those teams and provide the latest order so enforcement does not lag behind your life. Finally, treat your own wellbeing as a parallel track: engage advocates, counselors, or support groups who can help you plan beyond the legal process. Protective orders are part of a broader safety architecture that includes awareness, community, and practical routine choices. By approaching post-judgment life as a cycle of monitoring, documenting, and adjusting, you ensure the order remains a precise, effective tool aligned with your real-world risk.

Costs associated

No fee for filing under AS 18.65.850–.870. Potential expenses may include attorney fees, transportation, or private service costs.

Time required

Emergency orders may be issued within hours. Long-term hearings occur within 10 days. Extensions or modifications add additional weeks.

Limitations

Orders last one year unless extended. Effectiveness depends on law enforcement. Some reliefs require notice to the respondent to be enforceable.

Risks and Unexpected Problems

Respondents may retaliate or challenge the order. Hearings can be emotionally difficult. Service delays may create unsafe gaps. Courts may deny relief if evidence is insufficient.