There are generally three kinds of protective orders in Texas, also referred to as protection orders or restraining orders. When a petitioner applies for a protective order, the court will usually hold a hearing without the alleged offender present. The judge may issue a temporary or ex parte order that remains in effect until the date of the final hearing, up to 20 days. At a final hearing, the court can issue a final protective order that may stay in effect for up to two years. Both temporary and final protective orders are civil actions usually filed by alleged victims. However, another kind of protective order is the Magistrate’s Order for Emergency Protection (MOEP), also known as an emergency protection order (EPO). A criminal court usually issues a MOEP or EPO in conjunction with a domestic violence arrest.