Victims of domestic abuse must file the correct paperwork with the Family Court to obtain a domestic violence injunction (protective order). A domestic violence protective order comes in the following two forms:
Temporary Order of Protection – All protective orders begin with the issuance of a temporary order of protection that remains in effect for 30 days (beginning on the date of service). If the order expires or isn’t served, it’s automatically ended unless another order is applied for and approved.
Extended Order of Protection – An extended domestic violence protective order must be applied for while the temporary order is still active. If approved, the domestic violence injunction can remain in place for up to one year.