How the Petitioner or Protected Party is Populated depending on who is filing (including filing on behalf of someone else)
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This article helps explain how a petitioner or the protected party is populated. This should help explain who is the petitioner vs the victim.
Situations
There are some specific situations that seem to be permitted based on the wording of the petition for individual protection order types. However, we were not sure how Snohomish County prefers the two sections I mentioned above to be populated i.e. who is the petitioner, and who is the protected party.
In certain cases, the solution is not obvious because the protected party section has space for one person only.
Some Situations are…
- A parent or guardian Harrison Ford (non-victim) is filing for children victims Jane, Kate, and Lauryn. On DV/AH the adult petitioning is always listed as the protected party on the LEI. The petition will request desired protection and the order will indicate if the parent and/or children are protected.
- Non-parent (and non-guardian) Harrison Ford is filing for children victims who live with the non-parent, and the respondent is not a parent. Same as above.
- A law enforcement agency filed against a person, John Smith. ERPO LEI is specific to this case type, there is no section titled Protected on this LEI, it is titled, Petitioner.
- DSHS petitions on behalf of the Vulnerable Adult, Anthony Hopkins. VA would be listed as a Protected party, and DSHS/Interested party would be indicated in the section “If you filed for someone else…” directly below the Protected party section.
For Reference.. Directory of Situations
The case types are color-coded to help you find the case type quickly. Anti-Harassment is in Red, Domestic Violence is in Purple, Extreme Risk is in Green, Sexual Assault is in Pink, Stalking is in Orange, and Vulnerable Adult is in Blue.
| Situation and victim | Applies to Case Type | County Specific | Petitioner | LEIS (Law Enforcement Information Sheet) Protected Party |
| Victim Jane Doe is an adult 18 or 18+ is filing for self only | Anti–Harassment, Domestic Violence, Sexual-Assault, Stalking, Vulnerable-Adult | – | Jane Doe | Jane Doe |
| Victim Jane Doe is 18/18+ who is filing for self, and optionally more victims: i) own children or for whom the adult is guardian, ii) adult children, iii) adult household members | Domestic Violence | – | Jane Doe | Jane Doe |
| Victim Jane is 16-18 and is filing against someone she dated (or is dating) | Domestic Violence | – | Jane Doe | Jane Doe |
| Next Friend: An adult Harrison Ford (non-parent) is filing for a child victim Jane Doe who is 13-15. The respondent is not Jane’s parent or guardian | Domestic Violence | – | Harrison Ford | Harrison Ford – the Minors will be listed in minor section. Law Enforcement inputs protected parties based on the order. |
| A parent or guardian Harrison Ford (non-victim) is filing for children victims Jane, Kate, Lauryn | Anti-Harassment, Domestic Violence, Sexual-Assault | – | Harrison Ford | Harrison Ford – the Minors will be listed in minor section. Law Enforcement inputs protected parties based on the order. |
| Non-parent (and non-guardian) Harrison Ford is filing for children victims who live with the non-parent, and the respondent is not a parent. | Anti-Harassment | – | Harrison Ford | Harrison Ford Law Enforcement inputs protected parties based on the order. |
| An adult (non-victim) Harrison Ford is filing for a Vulnerable Adult Anthony Hopkins If the protected party is a vulnerable adult, they would file a vulnerable adult not an AH or SA. | Anti-Harassment, Sexual-Assault | – | Harrison Ford | Anthony Hopkins |
| A law enforcement agency filing against a person, John Smith | Extreme-Risk | – | The ERPO LEI indicates Petitioner not Protected | No protected party on LEI |
| An adult guardian or legal fiduciary Harrison Ford is filing for a victim who is a vulnerable adult, Anthony Hopkins | Vulnerable-Adult | – | Harrison Ford would be listed Under “If you filed for someone Else…” section just below the Protected Party section | Anthony Hopkins |
| An interested party Harrison Ford is filing for victim who is a vulnerable adult Anthony Hopkins | Vulnerable-Adult | – | Harrison Ford would be listed Under “If you filed for someone Else…” section just below the Protected Party section | Anthony Hopkins |
| DSHS petitions on behalf of the vulnerable adult, Anthony Hopkins | Vulnerable-Adult | – | DSHS would be listed Under “If you filed for someone Else…” section just below the Protected Party section | Anthony Hopkins |
| An interested party or adult guardian or legal fiduciary Harrison Ford is filing for victim who is a vulnerable adult Anthony Hopkins | Vulnerable-Adult | Franklin County | Harrison Ford would be listed Under “If you filed for someone Else…” section just below the Protected Party section |
Two copies of LEI: 1. Anthony Hopkins 2. Harrison Ford |
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