Are you wondering how to get a restraining order? Are you fearful of you or your children becoming the victim of domestic violence? You should know first that a Washington State restraining order that can order domestic violence perpetrators from having any contact with a victim or even potential victim is relatively easy to obtain procedurally. Washington State restraining order law even prohibits courts charging a filing fee to obtain a restraining order, and state law provides that courts must provide facilitators who can help you through the process. The legislature wanted to send a message that the state will do everything it can to protect persons from domestic violence by making the process of obtaining a Washington State restraining order very user friendly.
That being said, the legal process involved is still designed to have due process protections for the respondent (the person to be restrained). Intuitively, if the procedure to get a restraining order is easy, without protections orders may be entered inappropriately or unjustly. Furthermore, the Washington State restraining order process is occasionally abused by persons wanting to enact revenge or to gain advantage in a pending custody dispute. The protections for the respondent in a Washington State protection order case include the right to be notified of all orders and hearings before being subject to the order and the right to be heard before a permanent order is in place.

Nevertheless, Washington State restraining order law tends to error on the side of protecting victims and preventing violence from occurring at all, and the process has consistently been held constitutional. Finally, while how to get a restraining order is a streamlined process, consulting with an experienced Washington State restraining order attorney may be advisable, depending upon your particular circumstances.

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