Process Overview
This website presents a list of questions, and then at the end generates the paperwork for case
HOW THIS WEBSITE WORKS
This website provides a guided experience to people who are working themselves on preparing the court forms for a Domestic Violence Protection (Restraining) Order.
1. Take Screening
Select the specific protection order you want to file for. Then answer a few questions to determine your eligibility.
2. Prepare Case Documents
Prepare the main set of your court documents by covering one topic at a time. Each topic is covered in simple and non-legal language. Your responses are then used populate a fresh copy of the official court forms.
3. Consult Advocate (Optional)
Depending on your situation, we can suggest any trusted free victim advocacy non profits. These are court departments or advocates who assist victims documentation and safety planning.
4. E-File SSOOPO (Protection Order) Documents
This website simplifies the filing to a couple of clicks, and get follow up notifications from the court.
How to Get a Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (SSOOPO)?
How to get a Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (SSOOPO)?
Getting an SSOOPO typically involves filing a petition with the court and attending a hearing. In emergency situations, the court may issue a temporary (Ex Parte) order the same day. For a final order, the full process may take up to three weeks, depending on the court’s schedule and case details.
Step 1
You: Gather evidence. What do you need to get a Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order?
Gather evidence to support your case, though your personal testimony alone is also considered evidence.
The following are considered as evidence of stalking or sexually oriented offenses:
Evidence Type 1: Pending Criminal Case
Judges are also more likely to issue an order if there is an ongoing criminal case, therefore it’s important to call such cases out when seeking a temporary protection order.
When a judge sees that there’s a criminal case happening, they might think it means the police or the district attorney are fairly certain they can prove the offense occurred.
Evidence Type 2: Photos of violence, injuries, or property damage
These are common types of evidence submitted. They can include photos of injuries caused by the respondent or damage to personal property. It is helpful to attach photos near the incident description to give the judge full context.
Evidence Type 3: Printouts of messages, emails, or transcripts of voicemails
You can take screenshots of threatening or sexually explicit messages and attach them. Similarly, you can print emails or download them as images or PDF files. In most cases, digital files must be converted to printed form.
Evidence Type 4: 911 Calls
Rather than simply stating you called 911 or a support hotline, strengthen your case by listing the following:
The number dialed
The date and time (or approximate) of the call
Who made the call
What was reported
Any details about the responder (e.g., male/female voice)
Evidence Type 5: Medical Records
You may include medical documentation related to the respondent’s actions—such as injuries, trauma, or mental health effects. These can be hospital visit records or secure printouts from a patient portal (e.g., MyChart).
Evidence Type 6: Police Reports
Include any police reports filed due to stalking behavior or sexually inappropriate actions.
Evidence Type 7: Testimony
Testimonies from witnesses are helpful. This could be from a neighbor, co-worker, friend, or bystander. A testimony should describe what the witness saw or heard, with as much detail as possible.
Step 2
You: Take Online Screening
Determine if your situation is roughly suitable for applying for a Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order by taking a screening. You can begin by entering your zip code in the top right corner.
Step 3
You: Create Case Documents - "Packet"
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 Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (SSOOPO), you need to fill out and submit a predefined set of official Ohio court forms. These forms include questions to understand your situation and the people involved.
The most important form is the petition, and it's called Petition for a Civil Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order.
Step 4
You: E-file with the court. How to file a Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Civil Protection Order in Ohio
This website also allows you to digitally sign and e-file with the court.
There are other options, including court forms online, but those do not allow you to officially file with the court.
To formally request protection, you must submit the documents to the clerk of court. This step is called filing, and there are two ways to complete it — both have the same legal effect:
Online (called e-filing)
In person
E-filing is convenient and available at any time. The filing date is recorded as the day you file, or the next business day if submitted after hours.
Protection order documents for a Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (SSOOPO) are filed with the Clerk of Courts in your county, typically in the Court of Common Pleas (General Division or Domestic Relations Division, depending on location).
Once the filing is successful, a case number is assigned by the court.
Step 5
Judge Issues a Temporary Protection Order
Depending on the facts and evidence presented, a Judge can issue a restraining order the same day until the hearing, called an Emergency Temporary Order.
In relatively less risky situations, a temporary order is issued in a few days.
If there are no grounds or if the application is incomplete or the jurisdiction is incorrect the request for an order may be denied. Optionally a hearing may be set for the parties to present their case.
The temporary order is only valid for about 3 weeks which is the amount of time until the hearing. If the hearing is delayed for any reason, you need to check with the court to ensure the temporary order is re-issued until the hearing.
Step 6
Law Enforcement: Delivers Temporary Protection Order to the abuser
- Clerk would have the abuser served by law enforcement. You don't need to do anything in this case
- Clerk would give you a packet of temporary order and other documents, and you will have it formally served via another adult or legal courier to the abuser
- In some cases such as when the respondent address is unknown, a complete set of Temporary Order and supporting documents called the "911- Packet" is handed to you. This is handy e.g. in case there is a confrontation with the abuser and cops get called, the cops can hand over physically the 911-packet to the abuser.
Step 7
You, Abuser: Attend Court Hearing
Attend a hearing: The court holds a hearing within a couple of weeks where the evidence is examined. If there is sufficient supporting evidence as determined by a Judge, a full restraining order is issued. At this point it becomes a crime for the abuser to break the conditions of the restraining order.
If the abuser misses this hearing even though they were served the court order on time (about 1 week before the hearing) then you might get the court order automatically i.e. without discussion and further evidence.
Step 8
You: Collect Final Order
After the hearing, a final order may be issued. You can take a paper copy of the order with you for your record, and which can be crucial if you have to call the police for a future incident. The order is typically valid for 1 year.
Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Orders are covered under Ohio Revised Code § 2903.214
Under Ohio law, the forms for Civil Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Orders (SSOOPO) were officially amended on April 15, 2021, marking the update of statutory provisions—including the expanded definition to cover coercive control and stalking behaviors under Ohio Revised Code § 2903.214
Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Orders are covered under Ohio Revised Code § 2903.214.
These civil protection orders are designed to protect individuals who have been subjected to stalking, sexually oriented offenses, or patterns of behavior that cause fear of harm or significant emotional distress. Petitioners do not need to be in a domestic or family relationship with the respondent to qualify for an SSOOPO.
While Ohio law does not specifically define "coercive control," understanding this concept—recognized in other states like Washington—helps clarify the types of behavior that may support a petition.
Coercive Control, as defined under RCW § 7.105.010(4)(a) in Washington, refers to a pattern of behavior that causes physical, emotional, or psychological harm and unreasonably interferes with a person’s free will or liberty.
Examples include:
Threats, intimidation, or use of technology to harass or monitor
Controlling daily activities, finances, or access to healthcare
Isolation from friends or support systems
Sexual or reproductive coercion
Psychological abuse, manipulation, or litigation abuse
This understanding can help illustrate to a court how stalking or sexually oriented behavior may go beyond isolated incidents and reflect a sustained pattern of harm, justifying the need for protection.
WHO CAN START A CASE
This website provides a guided experience for people who are preparing court forms for a Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order (SSOOPO) on their own.
1. Victim 15+ years
Anyone 15 years or older, and without a parent's permission can create the paperwork and file to start a case.
2. On behalf of a minor (under 18)
Someone 15 or older can petition on behalf of a minor who is a family or household member.
3. On behalf of a senior or disabled person
An adult can file on behalf of a vulnerable adult
WHAT PROTECTIONS CAN YOU ASK THE JUDGE FOR
Here are the typical restrictions places on the abuser via the restraining order.
Stay Away From You
Abuser would have to stay at least 100 yards away from you, your children and locations you request such as your work
Hand over a car
Get access to cars held by the abuser
Don't post intimate images
Take down, delete, and do not distribute intimate images of a protected person, as defined in RCW 9A.86.010.
Not to contact you
Not to contact you via phone or text or mutual friends
Vacate the shared residence
The respondent can be asked to vacate the shared residence. You can also request help from police to kick them out.
Restrict Abusive Litigation
This is to prevent the misuse of the legal system to harass, intimidate, or burden you.
Not stalk you
Not stalk you or your loved ones, including your accounts on facebook or other social media
Handover Passport, Cell phone, Medications etc.
You an ask for your personal items such as passport, medications, clothes. This would be applicable if you were living together up to now.
Get Drugs, Mental health and Sex Offender Treatment
You can request the abuser to seek treatment for alcoholism, drug use, domestic violence abuse (RCW 43.20A.735) or sex offender (RCW 18.155.070)
FAQs
Once a judge issues the protection order and the respondent (abuser) has been officially served, any violation—such as contacting, approaching, or harassing the protected person—can result in immediate arrest or criminal charges.
You can get a temporary protection order the same day as you file in case of an emergency as long as you apply on a business day and typically by noon. Regular (non emergency) orders may be issued in a few days. While some cases may be decided only at a hearing in 2-3 weeks.
As a legal warning, restraining orders forces the abuser to stay away from the victim and comply with other conditions or else they will be charged with a crime and face prison time. Furthermore by taking guns away from the abuser it can reduce the risk of fatality for the victim.
Its free.
A full protection order may last up to five years and can be renewed before it expires. Temporary orders stay in effect until the full hearing takes place.
Yes it is possible but it depends on the order type and job.
No, a lawyer is not required. However, having a lawyer in any legal situation can benefit you.
Thousands of stalking-related protection orders are filed in Ohio courts each year. These orders provide vital protection for people experiencing unwanted and threatening behavior.
You should seek an SSOOPO if you're experiencing ongoing unwanted contact, stalking, or sexually threatening behavior, even if it doesn’t meet the threshold for criminal charges. SSOOPOs provide fast, civil protection that’s easier to obtain and can act as a safety measure while criminal cases are pending—or if no charges are filed at all.
Resources
Official website of the Washington Courts which provides court forms and instructions.
WCSAP unites agencies engaged in eliminating sexual violence and provides information and training to members
WSCADV is a resource for programs that assist domestic violence survivors and their families
The VINE system is a free service that allows petitioners to register for notification when a protective order of any type that has been served or is about to expire.
Do Protection Orders Help?
Here the outcome of a research on domestic violence from University of New Hampshire
1. Reduce Violence
Domestic Violence Protection (restraining) Order and restraining orders in general are effective in reducing violence and harassment. For half the women in the sample studied, a protective (restraining) order stopped the violence. For the other half, the orders significantly reduced violence and abuse.
2. Cost Effective
Domestic Violence Protection (restraining) orders are free for the victims. They are a relatively low-cost solution for the government, particularly when compared with the social and personal costs of partner violence.
3. Cities vs. Countryside
The impact of civil protective orders on reducing violence and abuse did not differ for rural (country side) and urban (cities) women. In rural areas, where resources and services for partner violence may be more limited, it is critical to reduce barriers to obtaining protective orders as research indicates they may be an effective resource. Community-level barriers to enforce civil protective orders exist for women in rural areas.
RISKS
The abuser may react to your filing for a restraining order
Respondents in stalking or sexual offense cases may become angry or vengeful, especially when they lose access or control over the victim.
Stalkers may use GPS trackers, surveillance cameras, or hacking methods to continue monitoring your location or online activity.
The abuser might spread false rumors or misleading information about you on social media, in your workplace, or within your community.
In sexually oriented cases, the abuser may try to shame or manipulate you by threatening to share intimate photos, texts, or past encounters.
The respondent might threaten you through phone calls, texts, or social media, or try to intimidate you in public or at court to drop the case.
The abuser may spread false information particularly on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or other social media.
Calculating the Risk Level
The Stalking and Sexual Offense Risk Assessment is a set of questions used by law enforcement, courts, or advocates to evaluate the potential danger posed by a stalker or sexual offender. These questions help assess the likelihood of continued harassment, escalation, or violence.
This screening considers behaviors such as repeated surveillance, threats, prior criminal activity, and emotional or psychological control—warning signs that may suggest a heightened risk to the victim's safety.
- Has the stalking or harassment increased in frequency or intensity recently?
- Has the offender ever threatened to harm or kill you?
- Does the offender know where you live, work, or frequently visit?
- Has the offender ever followed you, shown up at your home or job uninvited, or sent unwanted messages?
- Does the offender have access to weapons or has a history of violent behavior?
- Has the offender ever made threats involving sexual violence or forced any sexual activity?
- Has the offender tried to contact or intimidate your friends, family, or employer?
- Has the offender shared or threatened to share intimate or personal images or messages of you?
- Does the offender have a criminal record related to stalking, harassment, or sexual offenses?
- Has the offender expressed suicidal thoughts or extreme obsession with you?
Court Forms Created
When you pass the screening and complete the questionnaires, you can then download the following standard court forms filled correctly with your information. These court forms are provided by the Washington Courts.
