Sometimes allegations of child maltreatment will arise in the context of a domestic violence case where spouse abuse or another intrafamily offense is claimed. When an adult member of a family is abused, the children in the home are often abused as well.
All States have laws allowing abused persons to obtain orders of protection in a civil proceeding.
A protection order is a court directive designed to prevent family violence by imposing certain restrictions or requirements on the abuser. Specifically, a protection order may require that the abuser move out of the victim's home, refrain from abusing the victim, avoid all contact with the victim, participate in treatment or counseling, or pay the victim support. However, all of these remedies are not available in every State. In many States, other remedies may be ordered as well. It is also not unusual for courts to have the authority to impose additional terms or conditions which it deems necessary for the victim's protection.