Recently updated on October 13th, 2026 at 01:46 pm
Snohomish County Superior Court
Protection Orders for Snohomish County Superior Court
This website is provided as a service and a convenience by the Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk’s Office. It is not intended as legal advice to any person. This website will guide you through a series of questions and prepare civil protection order court documents for you to submit to the Clerk’s Office.
HOW IT WORKS
1. Get Started
Once you’ve determined which protection order type applies to you, select the case type below, then answer a few questions about your situation. You will then be provided information such as your eligibility, the steps involved, and the duration.
2. Complete Questionnaire
Answer a series of questions required to prepare your court forms. You will be guided through all the required questions in a simple and easy to understand format.
3. Review and Send
Using this online tool allows you to create and send all of the necessary court documents electronically to the Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk’s Protection Order Office. Once the protection order staff review your documents for completeness, they will provide them to the judicial officer, who will make a determination based on the documents and information submitted.
WHICH TYPE OF PROTECTION ORDER TO ASK FOR?
Unsure about which type applies to you?
Step through this screening tool, which asks some general questions without asking for any personal information, to suggest the most suitable protection order.
If you already know which specific protection order you need, you can skip to the next section.
PROTECTION ORDER TYPES
Washington State law allows a person to file a civil case in court asking a judge or commissioner to grant an order to protect them from another person whose behavior is abusive, threatening, exploitative or seriously alarming. The primary purpose of most civil protection orders is to order the “respondent” not to contact or harm the “petitioner.” There are different types of civil protection orders, intended for specific situations. State law establishes who can seek them, who they can protect, who they can restrain, the types of protections and relief they offer, when and where court hearings are conducted, and what costs may be incurred.
Domestic Violence Protection Order
A petition can be filed by a person who is a victim of domestic violence or fears violence by a family or household member.
Who can file
- Persons who are or were married.
- Persons who are or were domestic partners.
- Persons who have a child in common.
- Adults who do or did reside together.
- Persons 16 years or older who have or had a dating relationship.
- Adults who are related by blood or marriage.
- Persons with a biological or legal parent-child relationship, including step-parents and step-children, and grandparents and grandchildren.
Sexual Assault Protection Order
This protection order applies to situations involving unwanted sexual conduct by someone who is not a romantic partner or a member of the victim’s family or household.
Who can file
- A person, 16 or older, who is a victim of sexual assault (unless the victim qualifies for a domestic violence protection order).
- Any person* on behalf of a victim of sexual assault (unless the victim qualifies for a domestic violence protection order) who is:
- A child.
- A vulnerable adult as defined in RCW 74.34.020.
- An adult who cannot petition due to age, disability, health or inaccessibility.
*The court may require the participation of a parent or guardian on behalf of a minor. The court will determine if a person has legal standing to file a petition on behalf of another person.
“Sexual assault” means:
- Nonconsensual (meaning lack of freely given agreement) sexual touching of the genitals, anus or breasts, either directly or through clothing.
- Nonconsensual sexual penetration, however slight, of the genitals or anus by a body part of another, including the mouth, or the use of objects.
- Forced display of the genitals, anus or breasts for the purpose of sexually arousing another.
Antiharassment Protection Order
For protection against any kind of unlawful or harassing behavior that is annoying or stressful and that serves no lawful purpose.
Only certain antiharassment protection orders can be filed at the Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk’s Office. Most antiharassment cases are filed at the District Court level. Antiharassment cases filed in Superior Court have a $53 filing fee.
Who can file
- An adult who is a victim of unlawful harassment.
- Parents, on behalf of their child:
- Against an adult whose behavior is detrimental to the child.
- Against a minor who is under investigation or has been adjudicated of an offense against the child.
“Unlawful harassment” means a knowing and willful course of conduct which seriously alarms, annoys, harasses, or is detrimental to such person, and which serves no legitimate or lawful purpose. The conduct shall be such as would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress, and shall actually cause substantial emotional distress to the petitioner, or, when the course of conduct would cause a reasonable parent to fear for the well-being of their child.
“Course of conduct” means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over a period of time, however short, evidencing a continuity of purpose.
Vulnerable Adult Protection Order
Vulnerable adults are senior citizens or other persons who have physical or mental disabilities. This protection order is aimed at protecting them from someone who is mistreating them or exploiting them financially.
Who can file
- A vulnerable adult who is a victim of:
- Abandonment
- Abuse (sexual, mental, physical)
- Financial exploitation
- Neglect
- A legal guardian, legal fiduciary, the Department of Social and Health Services, or an “interested person” on behalf of the vulnerable adult.
“Vulnerable adult” includes someone who:
- Is over 60 years old and without the functional, mental, or physical ability to care for themselves.
- Is 18 years or older and:
- Was found incapacitated.
- Has a developmental disability.
- Has been admitted to a DSHS-licensed care facility or received in-home care from a provider under DSHS contract.
- Self-directs at-home care from a compensated personal aide.
*The court will determine if the vulnerable adult is unable, due to incapacity, undue influence or duress, to protect their own interest.
*The court will determine if a person has legal standing to file a petition on behalf of the vulnerable adult.
Stalking Protection Order
May be filed by someone who is experiencing stalking conduct by someone who is not a romantic partner or a family or household member.
What stalking includes
Stalking conduct may include a person intentionally and repeatedly harassing or following another person, and the person who is being harassed or followed is placed in fear for themselves or their property. Stalking conduct also includes behaviors that intend to frighten, intimidate or harass another person, even if the stalker did not intend to place the person in fear or intimidate or harass the person. Cyberstalking conduct may include, with the intent to harass, intimidate, torment or embarrass any other person, making an electronic communication to another person using any lewd, lascivious, indecent, or obscene words, images, or language, or suggesting the commission of any lewd act.
FEATURES WITH THIS SERVICE
Friendly
Simple language. Requirements are broken down.
Official
Court documents created can be sent electronically, directly to the Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk’s Protection Order Office.
Complete
When complete, all of the required court forms necessary for your situation will be created and available to send directly to the Clerk’s Office.
Ask Questions
You can send a message directly to the Protection Order staff at the Clerk’s Office through this online tool.
Built-in Tools
There are services such as:
- Auto-save
- Automated checks for required information
- Ability to attach evidence such as photos, police reports, and pictures of text messages or emails
Hola!
You can view all content in Spanish. Answers must be completed in English for the courts to review.
RESOURCES
Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County
YWCA Housing and Shelter
Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center
Victim Support Services
Department of Social and Health Services
Adult Care Services
Care Crisis Line
NOTES
Legal Information
The legal information contained here does not constitute legal advice or substitute for legal advice.
Courts
This website provides services to prepare cases across Washington, as the state courts share the same state-wide law. It also covers slight court-specific differences, such as additional required court forms.
CONTACT TECHNICAL SUPPORT
This contact form is for technical support questions only.
