Prepare your documents for Domestic Violence Injunctions in Florida

Gathering evidence strengthens your case when filing for a domestic violence injunction. While your personal testimony is often sufficient, providing supporting evidence can significantly improve your chances of obtaining protection.

The following are accepted types of evidence under Florida law:

Evidence Type 1: Pending Criminal Case
If there is an ongoing criminal case against the respondent (the abuser), this can support your petition. Judges in Florida are more likely to grant an injunction if law enforcement or the State Attorney is already involved.

Evidence Type 2: Photos of Injuries, Property Damage, or Violence
Photos of bruises, cuts, broken property, or any physical evidence of abuse can be powerful in court. In Florida, attaching brief descriptions of what each image shows can help the judge understand the severity of the situation.

Evidence Type 3: Print outs of Text Messages, Emails, or Voicemails
You can print out or take screenshots of threatening or harassing messages and submit them with your petition. In Florida courts, these are typically submitted as printed documents or attached to your petition as PDFs.

Evidence Type 4: 911 Calls

If you called 911, include:

• The date and time of the call

• Who made the call

• What was said or reported

• Any dispatcher details (e.g., male/female voice)

• The case number or incident report related to the call

Contact the Clerk of Court or law enforcement agency for a record of your 911 call, if available.

Evidence Type 5: Medical Records.

Provide documentation of injuries or health visits related to the abuse. Florida courts accept:

• ER discharge papers

• Hospital visit records

• Patient portal summaries (e.g., MyChart printouts)

• Doctor’s notes related to injuries or trauma

Evidence Type 6: Police reports
If law enforcement was involved, include a copy of any incident or arrest reports. You can obtain these from your local sheriff’s office or police department.

Evidence Type 7: Testimony
Written statements from family members, neighbors, or anyone who witnessed the abuse can support your case. Florida does not require notarized affidavits, but the statements should be detailed and include names, dates, and specific incidents witnessed.

After the screening this website will guide you through the rest of the steps to creating the case documents.

Just for your knowledge: In order to apply for a domestic violence injunction (DVI), you need to fill and submit a predefined set of official Florida court forms. These have questions aimed at understanding your situation and the people involved.

The most important form is the petition, and it's called Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence.

Based on the information and evidence you provide, a judge in Florida may issue a Temporary Injunction for Protection on the same day you file. This is also known as an ex parte order, and it is meant to offer immediate protection until a full court hearing can be held.

In situations that appear less urgent or involve limited evidence, the judge may issue the temporary order within a few days.

If the judge finds that there are no legal grounds, the petition is incomplete, or the court lacks jurisdiction, the request may be denied. In some cases, a hearing may still be scheduled so both parties can present their sides.

After the temporary injunction is issued and served, the court will schedule a final hearing, usually within 15 days. Both you and the respondent (the abuser) have the opportunity to attend this hearing and present evidence or testimony.

During the hearing, the judge will review:

• Evidence submitted by both parties

• Witness testimony (if any)

• Any updates since the temporary order was issued

If the judge finds sufficient evidence that domestic violence occurred or is likely to occur again, they will issue a Final Injunction for Protection, which may last for a set period or be indefinite.