A protective order is a legal order issued by a state court which requires one person to stop harming another person. You can get specific information on the laws in your state by using the pull down menu on the top, left-hand side of this page. In general, domestic violence protective order laws establish who can file for an order, what protection or relief a person can get from such an order, and how the order will be enforced. Many jurisdictions also allow the court to make decisions about the care and safety of your children. Courts can order the abuser to stay away from and have no contact with your children's doctors, daycare, school or after-school job.
Most courts can make temporary custody decisions, although many courts are very reluctant to do so.
Some can issue visitation or child support orders. When the abuser does something that the court has ordered him not to do, or fails to do something the court has ordered him to do, he has violated the order. The victim can ask the police or the court, or both, depending on the violation, to enforce the order. The police can generally enforce the stay away, no contact, cease abuse, exclusive use, and custody provisions - those that need immediate response. If you are unable to call them when the violation occurs, they should take a report if you call them soon afterwards.