Overview

Florida Statute §784.046 creates a civil cause of action that allows a person to obtain a protective injunction when they have suffered repeat violence by another individual. In plain terms, the law recognizes that some threats to personal safety arise outside family or romantic contexts and still require fast, enforceable court protection. The statute precisely defines repeat violence as two separate incidents of violence or stalking directed at the petitioner or an immediate family member, with at least one incident occurring within six months of filing the petition. That six-month recency requirement is the heartbeat of the definition: it signals to the court that risk is not historical or speculative but ongoing, and therefore a protective order is justified to prevent escalation. Because §784.046 lives alongside other injunction tracks—domestic, dating, sexual violence, and stalking—the first tactical question for any filer is whether their facts fit this specific definition. When they do, the statute opens a streamlined path to immediate, temporary (ex parte) relief on filing and a final hearing typically set within fifteen days.

This article is a practitioner-grade walkthrough of §784.046 oriented to self-represented petitioners and advocates. We begin by unpacking the statutory language—what counts as “violence,” what qualifies as two separate incidents, and how the six-month window is applied by judges. Then we translate that definition into the mechanics: venue selection, evidence assembly, form selection (Florida Supreme Court Form 12.980(f)), and service of process. The result is a definition-driven playbook: every choice you make—what facts to emphasize, which exhibits to attach, how to outline testimony—should map back to the statute’s elements. If you keep the definition in the foreground at each step, you maximize the odds of quick, correct relief and minimize avoidable continuances or dismissals.

Who Can Apply

A Repeat Violence Injunction under Florida Statute §784.046 is available to any person—adult or minor (through a parent/guardian)—who has experienced two separate incidents of violence or stalking by the same respondent, with at least one incident within the last six months. There is no requirement of a domestic, family, or dating relationship. Typical eligible scenarios include neighbors, coworkers, classmates, landlords/tenants, acquaintances, or strangers whose conduct meets the statutory definition of violence or stalking.

• Adults: May file on their own in the county where the respondent resides or where an incident occurred.
• Minors: A parent or legal guardian files on the child’s behalf. The child may provide a statement and appear as appropriate.
• Immediate family impact: Incidents directed at your immediate family member (e.g., your child) can qualify you as the petitioner.
• No police report required: Arrests or reports help, but the court can grant relief based on credible sworn facts and exhibits.
• Jurisdiction/venue: File where the respondent lives or where a qualifying incident occurred for faster service and hearing logistics.
• Accessibility: Interpreters and disability accommodations are available upon request; you can also request address confidentiality if disclosure poses a safety risk.

If you share a qualifying domestic relationship (spouses, former spouses, co-parents, current/former cohabitants, or relatives by blood/marriage), you should use the Domestic Violence Injunction process under §741.30 instead, which offers family-law remedies (e.g., temporary timesharing, support, exclusive use of the residence) that are not available under §784.046.

Benefits of Filing Under §784.046

• Fast, emergency protection: Judges typically review petitions the same day or next business day. If warranted, a temporary (ex parte) injunction can issue immediately and remain in effect until the hearing (usually within 15 days).
• No filing or service fees: Clerks and sheriffs do not charge petitioners for filing or personal service in injunction cases, removing financial barriers to safety.
• Clear eligibility test: The definition—two qualifying incidents, one within six months—provides a straightforward threshold that’s easier to prove in non-domestic contexts (neighbors, coworkers, etc.).
• Concrete, enforceable relief: Final orders can include no-contact, stay-away zones for home/work/school, and firearm/ammo restrictions. Violations are criminally enforceable.
• Statewide and national verification: Orders are uploaded to FCIC/NCIC, enabling law enforcement across Florida and beyond to confirm validity quickly.
• Tailored to non-family disputes: Focuses the court on personal safety without pulling in family-law issues you don’t need—keeping hearings narrower and often faster.
• Flexible adjustments: You can later seek modification, extension, or dissolution based on changed circumstances, including continued harassment or relocation.
• Evidence-friendly process: Courts commonly accept practical proof—timestamped texts, emails, photos, call logs, and witness statements—organized by incident; police reports help but aren’t mandatory.

For petitioners who do not share a domestic or dating relationship with the respondent, §784.046 offers a precise, rapid, and low-cost path to court-enforced boundaries. It is designed to interrupt escalating patterns of harassment or physical aggression in everyday settings—workplaces, apartment complexes, schools, and neighborhoods—without requiring you to navigate family-law remedies you don’t need.

Step 1: Decode the Statutory Definition and Its Boundaries

Start by translating the law into a checklist you can prove. Under §784.046, “repeat violence” means: (1) two incidents of violence or stalking committed by the respondent; (2) the incidents are directed at you (the petitioner) or your immediate family member; and (3) at least one incident happened within six months before you file. Each phrase matters. First, the term “violence” is not colloquial—it covers statutorily recognized offenses such as assault, battery, sexual battery, or criminal acts resulting in physical injury, and it also includes stalking and aggravated stalking. Second, “two incidents” means two separate events that can be independently described with dates, places, and conduct. A single episode with multiple threats made in the same moment is usually one incident; separate days or materially distinct encounters will typically qualify as two. Third, the six-month recency test is a gating requirement: if your two most recent qualifying incidents are outside that window, the court will likely dismiss without prejudice or steer you to a different injunction type (e.g., stalking if there is a continuing course of conduct).

Why this architecture? The Legislature drew a line that balances speed with due process. Requiring two incidents filters out one-off conflicts while capturing volatile neighbor, coworker, landlord/tenant, or acquaintance patterns that escalate quickly. The six-month rule ensures immediacy: a pattern that has gone cold may not justify restraining orders with criminal teeth. As you assemble facts, think like a judge: can a neutral fact-finder mark two pins on a timeline and label each pin with conduct that fits “violence” or “stalking”? If yes, you’re speaking the statute’s language. If not, you likely need to gather more corroboration, consider whether one event was truly qualifying “violence,” or explore other injunction tracks (dating, sexual violence, or stalking injunctions have their own thresholds).

Two important boundaries flow from the definition. First, §784.046 does not require any domestic or dating relationship between you and the respondent—indeed, it is designed for non-domestic interpersonal contexts. If you and the respondent are (or were) spouses, intimate partners, co-parents, or cohabitants, the domestic violence injunction track likely fits better because it offers family-law remedies (housing, temporary timesharing, support) that §784.046 does not. Second, police reports are helpful but not required. The statute is civil; judges decide by a preponderance of the evidence. A petitioner’s credible, detailed testimony—anchored by exhibits like texts, emails, photos, witness statements, and call logs—can satisfy the elements even without arrests. The definition rewards specificity: dates, threats, physical acts, and the immediate effects on your safety. That precision sets up every subsequent step.

Step 2: Convert “Two Incidents” and “Six Months” into an Evidence Timeline

With the definition in hand, build a timeline that a judge can verify at a glance. Your goal is to identify exactly two or more qualifying incidents and ensure that at least one falls within the six months preceding your filing date. Start by listing every concerning occurrence over the last year in reverse chronological order. For each, jot: date (or best approximation), location, who was present, what the respondent did or said, and the immediate impact on you (fear, injury, missed work, changed routines). Then classify each event as “violence” (assault, battery, etc.), “stalking/aggravated stalking” (a course of conduct causing substantial emotional distress), or “non-qualifying” (rude messages, disputes without threats or physicality). This classification matters because judges will count only qualifying acts toward the “two incidents” threshold. If you are on the fence about whether something is violence or stalking, ask whether a reasonable person would view the conduct as a threat to safety or persistent, unwanted following/monitoring that produced substantial distress; if so, it likely qualifies.

Next, overlay the six-month clock. Take today’s filing target date and look back six months. Any qualifying incident within that window is your “recency anchor.” Now scan backward further. Identify the earliest second qualifying incident that is distinct in time and conduct. Two examples: (1) A coworker shoved you in the parking lot on March 10 and sent menacing DMs on May 2; filing by early October gives you an incident within six months (May 2) and a second incident (March 10). (2) A neighbor cornered you and threatened harm in January of the prior year, then vandalized your car in late September; filing by March captures September as the anchor and January as the second. If your only two qualifying events are seven and ten months old, you will likely miss the statute’s recency requirement; however, a new stalking message today resets your anchor. Keep monitoring and documenting until you have the necessary pattern.

Evidence should mirror the timeline. For each qualifying incident, pull corroboration that a judge can absorb quickly: timestamped texts, call logs, photos with metadata, police incident numbers, medical notes, witness contact cards, workplace incident reports, building security logs, or video stills. Organize exhibits by incident: “Incident A — June 4 Garage Assault (Exhibits A1–A6)” and “Incident B — August 27 Threatening Messages (Exhibits B1–B4).” This labeling will later translate directly to the petition’s narrative boxes and your testimony’s structure. Judges often annotate their copies; a clean, chronological packet earns credibility and reduces the need to continue the hearing for clarification.

Finally, anticipate defense narratives and close gaps in advance. If you do not have exact dates, triangulate (e.g., “Friday before Labor Day, after my 6 p.m. shift,” supported by a supervisor’s schedule). If a witness is reluctant, consider a short signed statement for your filing and a subpoena for the hearing. If you have only one qualifying incident today, do not pad your petition with non-qualifying grievances; instead, continue to document. The court cares less about volume and more about alignment to the statutory elements. A persuasive timeline is not an autobiography; it is a legal map that proves the definition, point by point.

Step 3: Choose the Correct Track — Repeat Violence vs. Domestic, Dating, Sexual, or Stalking

Many petitions stumble because the filer picked the wrong statutory lane. Repeat violence is purpose-built for non-domestic relationships featuring at least two qualifying acts. If you share (or shared) an intimate or household relationship or a child with the respondent, the domestic violence injunction under §741.30 is usually proper—and strategically stronger—because it can include family-law relief such as exclusive use of a home, temporary parenting plans, and support. If the incidents occurred within a romantic/dating context but you never cohabited, dating violence may fit. If there is a single sexual offense (or certain enumerated sex-crime scenarios), sexual violence may offer immediate relief without the “two incidents” hurdle. Finally, if your harm is best described as stalking as an ongoing course of conduct (monitoring, following, cyberstalking) rather than discrete violent episodes, a stalking injunction under §784.0485 may be the cleanest route.

Decide by asking: Which definition can I prove tomorrow with the fewest moving parts? For repeat violence, the advantages are clarity and speed—two incidents plus a six-month anchor are simple to articulate. The trade-off is narrower relief: you will not secure family-law remedies. In mixed-context cases—e.g., a former roommate (not romantic) who physically attacked you in March and then stalked you online in July—repeat violence fits well. In a co-parenting conflict with physical threats plus coercive control, domestic violence is superior because the court can stabilize parenting time and exchanges while restraining the respondent.

From a filing-efficiency standpoint, misclassification costs time. Clerks are trained to route obviously misfiled petitions to the right track, but a judge may deny a temporary order and set a hearing on the correct form, forcing you to refile. That can delay relief by days. If you genuinely sit at the border between two tracks, compare element burdens: (a) For domestic violence, you can proceed with one incident if you also show reasonable fear of imminent danger; (b) for repeat violence, no “imminent danger” showing is required, but you must show two incidents, one within six months. Pick the track that most tightly fits your evidence and yields the remedies you actually need.

Pragmatically, this step is about remedy design. If your goals include workplace stay-away orders, firearm surrender, and no-contact provisions, repeat violence accomplishes that swiftly. If your goals include custody boundaries or exclusive possession, domestic violence is essential. Clarifying the track now will make your petition’s narrative, requested relief boxes, and exhibits unmistakably aligned for the duty judge.

Step 4: Draft with the Definition in Mind — Completing Form 12.980(f)

Form 12.980(f) is the Florida Supreme Court–approved petition for protection against repeat violence. Treat it as a structured argument where each box maps to the statutory elements. In your “relationship” box, make it clear that no domestic/dating relationship exists (or, if there was one long ago but you never cohabited or shared a child, explain succinctly). In the incident narrative sections, create two clean, self-contained vignettes—one per qualifying incident. Use headings inside the box if space allows: Incident 1—Date/Location/Conduct/Impact, then Incident 2—Date/Location/Conduct/Impact. Each vignette should read like a police narrative: objective, time-stamped, behavior-oriented. Avoid conclusions (“he’s dangerous”); prefer facts (“respondent shoved me into a stairwell; I fell and bruised my shoulder; Exhibit A shows the photo taken 9:42 p.m.”).

The six-month recency requirement deserves an explicit, one-line shoutout: “Incident 2 occurred within six months of filing.” That line directs judicial attention to the statutory anchor and reduces the risk of a mistaken denial based on recency. Where you have corroboration, cross-reference it in-line: “See Exhibit B (screenshot with timestamp), Exhibit C (ER triage note), Exhibit D (coworker statement).” If you lack a precise date, anchor with nearby objective events (“two days after my May 28 HR write-up,” “the night of the July 4 fireworks at City Pier”) and attach corroborating artifacts (HR memo, event program).

In the “relief requested” portion, tailor remedies to your life patterns. Ask for specific stay-away radiuses for home, workplace, school, and common routes (e.g., “100 feet from my building’s entry foyer and parking spaces 27–31”). Include a no-contact clause covering direct/indirect communications (calls, texts, email, social media, third parties) and a firearm/ammunition surrender term if applicable. If the respondent has a habit (e.g., waiting at a bus stop you must use), describe it and ask for tailored boundaries. Judges appreciate petitions that convert abstract safety concerns into practical, enforceable lines on a map.

Finish by checking the box requesting a temporary (ex parte) injunction if you believe immediate protection is needed. You need not prove “imminent danger” as a separate element under repeat violence; rather, the judge weighs whether temporary restraints are warranted until the hearing. Your verified signature under penalty of perjury makes every sentence in the petition evidence. Before signing, read aloud for internal consistency: dates must make chronological sense, exhibit labels must match attachments, and the six-month requirement must be unmistakable. Submit clean copies—courts scan, route to the duty judge, and, if granted, transmit to FCIC/NCIC swiftly. Precision at drafting is the difference between same-day relief and a preventable continuance.

Step 5: Venue, Filing, and Service Strategy — Turning the Definition into Enforceability

Where you file—and how quickly the papers are served—often dictates whether the injunction’s protections bite when you need them. Venue is proper either in the county where the respondent resides or where any qualifying incident occurred. Choose the venue that maximizes service speed and courtroom familiarity. If the respondent lives and works in County A but one incident occurred in County B where you live, filing in County A often accelerates sheriff service because deputies know the neighborhoods, employers, and routines; filing in County B may be more convenient for your hearing travel. There is no fee to file a repeat-violence petition, and the sheriff serves process without charge; the State of Florida deliberately removes cost barriers in these cases. If you file in person, bring your timeline and exhibits neatly labeled; a well-organized packet increases the odds that a duty judge issues temporary relief the same day.

Think through service logistics before you hand papers to the clerk. Personal service is required to bind the respondent; until the respondent is served, a temporary order protects you in principle but is harder to enforce on the ground. In your petition or an attached information sheet, provide the respondent’s full legal name, nicknames, DOB, physical description, vehicles, employer, regular shifts, hangouts, and any “best hours” to locate them. If you know they evade the front door, suggest alternate service locations (loading docks, smoke areas, gym times). Call the sheriff’s civil unit the day after filing to confirm receipt, and maintain a call log with dates and the deputy’s name. If the respondent is in another county or state, ask the clerk to route papers to that jurisdiction’s sheriff or an approved process server. Anticipate the extra days and, if needed, request that any temporary order be extended to cover service delays.

Filing electronically via the ePortal is possible in many circuits, but first-time, self-represented petitioners often benefit from the in-person path because the deputy clerk can witness your oath, spot missing pages, and route to the judge immediately. If safety requires concealment of your residence, ask about address confidentiality options (e.g., Florida’s Address Confidentiality Program) and provide a reliable mailing address that doesn’t disclose your home. When a temporary order issues, pick up multiple certified copies (one for your wallet, one for work or school security, one for a trusted friend). Law enforcement can verify an injunction through FCIC/NCIC, but certified paper in your possession gives officers everything they need if database updates lag by a few hours.

Finally, treat enforceability as a design problem. Draft your requested stay-away zones to match the physical geometry of your life—entry foyers, elevators, parking stalls, bus stops, school gates. Ask the judge to specify distance boundaries “as the crow flies” and include no-contact terms that cover indirect contact and social media. If the respondent’s conduct includes tracking tech or drive-bys, mention it explicitly and request tailored conditions (e.g., no presence on your residential block, no parking across from your unit). The statute gives the court authority to stop repeat harm; your job is to transform the abstract definition into a crisp order that police can act on quickly and confidently.

Step 6: Preparing Evidence and Witnesses

Once your petition has been filed and a hearing date set, begin evidence preparation immediately. Florida courts decide injunctions under a civil “preponderance of the evidence” standard—meaning you must persuade the judge that it is more likely than not that two qualifying acts of violence or stalking occurred and that continued protection is reasonable. Effective preparation starts with organization and specificity. Construct a detailed timeline for each incident noted in your petition: list dates, times, locations, participants, and your reaction. Use this outline as the backbone for your testimony and exhibits.

Gather corroborating proof. Judges respond most strongly to contemporaneous evidence—records created close in time to each incident. Examples include photographs of injuries or damage, police reports, call logs, threatening text messages, emails, screenshots of social-media posts, or written statements from witnesses. Print digital items with visible timestamps and sender/receiver identifiers. Avoid editing or redacting content; bring the full exchange so context is clear. Divide evidence into labeled sets: “Incident 1 — March 12 Assault (Exhibits A1–A4)” and “Incident 2 — July 30 Threats (Exhibits B1–B3).” Prepare three identical binders—one for the court, one for yourself, and one for the respondent.

Identify witnesses early. Anyone who saw, heard, or directly experienced the incidents can testify. Typical witnesses include neighbors, coworkers, responding officers, or relatives present during confrontations. Contact them as soon as the hearing is scheduled. If they hesitate, remind them that testimony is under oath in a controlled courtroom, not in front of the respondent’s supporters. If a witness cannot attend voluntarily, request a subpoena through the clerk; most circuits issue them within two business days. Bring copies of the subpoenaed materials to the hearing as backup.

Prepare your own testimony. Practice summarizing each event clearly and calmly. The judge expects factual narration, not emotional argument. Use short sentences and avoid exaggeration: “Respondent followed me from the parking lot to my apartment door, shouted threats, and blocked my entry.” Maintain chronological order. If the respondent made electronic threats, print those communications and link them verbally: “These screenshots in Exhibit B show the messages sent that night.” Judges appreciate petitioners who stay focused and use evidence naturally rather than reading long written statements.

Anticipate defenses. Common tactics include denying contact, claiming mutual aggression, or asserting misunderstanding. Neutralize them in advance: keep GPS metadata, workplace logs, or witness corroboration that places the respondent near you when incidents occurred. If self-defense is alleged, clarify sequence and proportionality—describe your attempts to disengage or retreat. Bring any restraining communications you sent (“Please stop contacting me,” “Do not come to my office”) to show reasonable boundaries. The more factual scaffolding you provide, the less room remains for doubt.

On hearing day, organization equals credibility. Bring extra copies, tabbed exhibits, and a concise outline of points you must cover. Remember: you control the narrative of your own experience; evidence converts that narrative into proof that meets § 784.046’s definition of repeat violence.

Step 7: Presenting Your Case in Court

The hearing transforms your written petition into sworn testimony. Arrive thirty minutes early with identification, copies of exhibits, and witnesses. When the case is called, stand at the petitioner’s table and address the judge as “Your Honor.” The judge will verify service on the respondent; if not properly served, expect a continuance and possible extension of any temporary injunction. Once confirmed, you are sworn in and may begin. Start with the most recent incident within the six-month window, then the earlier one. Chronological order helps the judge map facts against statutory requirements.

Speak deliberately and factually. Each time you reference an exhibit, hand a copy to the bailiff for the judge and the respondent. Emphasize the two required incidents, describing conduct, your reaction, and resulting fear or injury. Avoid conjecture or character arguments; judges rely on facts. Maintain composure even if the respondent interrupts or makes accusations—the court notes demeanor as a credibility factor. After you finish, the judge or opposing side may ask clarifying questions. Answer succinctly. Use “yes,” “no,” or short explanations rather than narratives unless asked to elaborate.

Present witnesses one at a time. Ask open questions that draw out what they directly saw or heard: “Where were you standing?” “What did you observe?” Witnesses cannot testify to rumors or what others told them. The respondent or their attorney may cross-examine; remind witnesses to remain polite and concise. If cross-examination becomes abusive, you may ask the judge to intervene. After witnesses, you may add brief rebuttal testimony addressing specific falsehoods—support it with documents or timestamps rather than emotion.

The respondent will then testify. Avoid reacting; keep your eyes on the judge. When they finish, the judge weighs credibility, consistency, and whether both incidents meet § 784.046’s definition. Final argument is usually brief: summarize how your evidence proves two separate acts and continuing fear, and request the specific relief listed in your petition. The judge will typically announce a ruling immediately. If granted, review the written order before leaving to confirm stay-away distances, contact prohibitions, and firearm provisions. Obtain certified copies on the spot—those papers are your shield until the order is uploaded to state databases.

Step 8: Understanding and Enforcing the Final Order

A granted injunction under § 784.046 becomes effective immediately upon entry and service. The written order specifies the prohibited acts: no contact, stay-away distances from specified locations, and surrender of firearms or ammunition where applicable. Violating any term constitutes a first-degree misdemeanor under § 784.047. Law enforcement enforces these orders on sight; they are entered into both the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) within 24 hours. Carry a certified copy at all times until you confirm database entry.

If the respondent contacts, follows, or threatens you, call 911 and show the order. Officers can arrest without a warrant based on probable cause of violation. Document every incident—date, time, description, and any proof (screenshots, voicemails, witnesses). Within days, file a Motion for Contempt or Violation of Injunction at the clerk’s office. The court may impose jail, fines, or tighter conditions. Persistent violations can justify converting a temporary order into an indefinite one.

Injunctions carry weight beyond personal protection. They can affect firearm possession, professional licensing, and employment screenings. Judges take enforcement seriously because violations show disregard for judicial authority. Petitioners should therefore report even minor breaches. Likewise, if circumstances change—perhaps relocation, renewed threats, or reconciliation—you can request modification. File a Motion to Modify Injunction explaining what has changed and what updates are needed (address changes, added protected locations, or increased distance). If reconciliation occurs, courts still require written dissolution before contact resumes; informal agreements do not cancel orders.

Enforcement also extends to other states under the federal Full Faith and Credit Clause. Provide a copy of your Florida injunction to local law enforcement if you move; most states will register it automatically. Keep one certified copy with travel documents. The true power of a repeat-violence injunction lies not in the paperwork itself but in your awareness of how to use it—by promptly reporting violations, renewing before expiration, and keeping clear documentation, you transform a court order into a sustained shield of accountability.

Step 9: Safety Planning and Recordkeeping

Court orders are powerful only when paired with proactive safety planning. Begin by adjusting daily routines to reduce predictability—vary departure times, parking spots, and routes. Notify trusted friends, family, and employers of the injunction so they can help monitor compliance. Share the respondent’s photo with building security or HR if appropriate. Schools and childcare facilities should also have copies of the order to prevent unauthorized pickups or approaches.

Maintain meticulous records. Create a binder or encrypted digital folder labeled “Injunction Case File.” Include your petition, temporary and final orders, proof of service, police reports, and a log of any follow-up contacts or violations. Record each suspicious event, even indirect messages through mutual acquaintances or social media. Include screenshots and note dates and times. If you later seek renewal, modification, or enforcement, these logs become decisive evidence showing ongoing concern or pattern continuation.

Engage with certified victim-service agencies. Florida’s network of domestic and repeat-violence centers offers free counseling, relocation help, and safety-tech guidance. Advocates can review privacy settings, assist with confidentiality programs, and help prepare renewal motions. Keep their hotline numbers accessible but discrete. Revisit your digital safety—change passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, and avoid location-tagged posts. If the respondent has shown tech-savvy behavior, consider using a new email or phone dedicated to legal communications.

Monitor expiration dates. Note the injunction’s duration (often one year) and set reminders 90 days before expiration. Contact the clerk to confirm active status in FCIC. Continuously assess whether threats persist. Even if contact stops, documenting that calm period can still justify renewal if fear remains reasonable. Safety planning is dynamic; updating it as life circumstances evolve ensures the injunction remains more than symbolic—it becomes part of a comprehensive personal security strategy.

Step 10: Renewal, Modification, and Long-Term Transition

Under § 784.046, most injunctions are issued for a fixed term—often one year—but may be extended indefinitely upon proof of continued fear or new incidents. Begin renewal review at least three months before expiration. Examine your log for post-order contact, surveillance, or indirect communications. If fear remains, prepare a Motion to Extend Injunction. The motion should briefly restate the original order, list any new events, and assert that continued protection is necessary. Attach recent evidence such as messages, witness statements, or violation reports. File before the expiration date to prevent a protection gap; once an order lapses, you must restart the process from scratch.

At the renewal hearing, the judge evaluates whether fear of future violence is objectively reasonable. Even without fresh incidents, credible testimony that the respondent still monitors or contacts you can suffice. Extensions can be for months, years, or “until further order.” If you move or change employment, request modifications adjusting protected addresses. Conversely, if you wish to terminate the injunction, file a Motion to Dissolve affirming that you act voluntarily and free from coercion; the court will verify under oath.

Long-term, integrate the injunction into broader stability planning. If you relocate out of state, deliver a certified copy to local law enforcement for entry into their database—protection orders are nationally enforceable under the Violence Against Women Act and the Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause. Keep your Florida case number and certified copy accessible for quick verification. Continue security habits even after the respondent seems to comply; behavioral patterns can re-emerge after orders expire.

Finally, focus on recovery and empowerment. Counseling, support groups, and legal-aid clinics help survivors transition from reactive safety to proactive wellbeing. Renewal and modification are procedural tools, but your ultimate goal is sustained peace and autonomy. By understanding how § 784.046 interacts with enforcement mechanisms and renewal rights, you transform a temporary legal remedy into a lasting framework for safety and confidence.

Associated Costs

Florida ensures that victims of violence and stalking can seek court protection without financial hardship. Under § 784.046(3)(a), petitioners are exempt from filing fees, service charges, and other clerk costs when filing a petition for injunction against repeat, dating, or sexual violence. The sheriff must serve the respondent personally at no cost to the petitioner, regardless of county. This approach reflects Florida’s legislative intent to prioritize safety and equal access to justice over cost recovery.

The only possible out-of-pocket expenses are incidental: obtaining certified copies (typically $2–$5 each), printing digital evidence such as photos or text-message screenshots, and optional notary fees if signing outside the clerk’s office. Subpoenas for witnesses rarely incur cost in injunction proceedings, as most courts waive them. Should you later need an official transcript for appeal, transcription is a private service paid directly to a court reporter. In practical terms, the process is among Florida’s most affordable civil remedies: the State shoulders administrative and enforcement costs so that petitioners never delay filing because of money.

Time Required

Speed is a hallmark of Florida’s injunction process. Once the verified petition is filed, judges typically review it the same day or the next business day. If the allegations show imminent danger, the court issues a Temporary (Ex Parte) Injunction immediately. That order lasts up to 15 days, within which the respondent must be personally served and a final hearing held. In practice, most petitioners appear before a judge within 7 to 14 days of filing. When service delays occur, courts extend the temporary injunction to avoid any protection gap.

Hearings themselves are brief—often 20 to 45 minutes—focused on testimony and exhibits establishing two qualifying incidents within the statutory timeframe. After the hearing, a final injunction takes effect instantly and is entered into statewide databases within 24 hours. Motions to extend or modify are usually heard within two weeks of filing. Overall, from petition to enforceable final order, a typical repeat-violence case concludes in under three weeks, making it one of the fastest civil procedures available in Florida.

Limitations and Cautions

While § 784.046 is robust, it has clear boundaries. A court cannot issue a repeat-violence injunction unless the petitioner proves two distinct qualifying incidents of violence or stalking, with at least one within the past six months. Alleging a single event, no matter how serious, will not satisfy the statute unless paired with another qualifying act. If only one incident exists but stalking behavior continues, a separate Stalking Injunction (§ 784.0485) may be more appropriate.

Procedurally, a temporary order cannot exceed 15 days without a hearing. If the respondent has not been served by that deadline, the petitioner must request an extension; otherwise, protection lapses automatically. Courts also cannot use repeat-violence injunctions to decide property disputes, custody, or financial support—those belong under domestic-violence or family-law statutes. Petitioners must remain truthful and precise: exaggeration or false claims may result in dismissal or sanctions under perjury laws.

Finally, petitioners should understand that an injunction is a civil order; it does not substitute for criminal prosecution. However, violating it is a crime, and enforcement depends on accurate service and diligent reporting. Judges emphasize one principle: the order’s strength lies in the petitioner’s vigilance. Knowing its limits and acting promptly when boundaries are crossed ensures the protection envisioned by the Legislature truly works.

Authoritative References

• Florida Statutes § 784.046 — Repeat, Dating, and Sexual Violence Injunctions
• Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.980(f)
• Florida Courts — Overview for Petitioners
• Florida Senate — Current Statutory Text
• Florida Department of Children and Families — Certified Domestic & Repeat-Violence Centers

These references contain the official statutory language, procedural rules, and court-approved forms governing petitions for injunctions against repeat violence in Florida. Petitioners should read § 784.046 and Form 12.980(f) in full before filing to confirm that their circumstances meet all statutory requirements. Consulting a local clerk or certified victim advocate can also ensure compliance with formality and maximize the likelihood of swift, effective protection.