You usually start by going to your local court , not the police station, to get a restraining order.

Where you normally go

In most places, restraining orders are issued by a civil court (often called family court, district court, or superior court, depending on your area). You can usually:

  • Go to the clerk’s office at your local courthouse and ask for restraining order (or protection order) forms.
  • Visit your court’s self-help or protection-order assistance center if there is one; they often help you fill out forms for free.

If you are outside the United States (for example in the UK), what you ask for and where you go can differ, and you may instead apply for things like a non‑molestation order through the civil courts.

If you are in immediate danger

If you feel in danger right now, you should not wait to get to a courthouse. You can:

  • Call 911 (or your country’s emergency number) so police can protect you and document what is happening.
  • Contact a local domestic violence hotline or shelter; they can guide you step by step and sometimes go with you to court.

Courts can sometimes issue an emergency or temporary order quickly once you file, especially in cases of violence, stalking, or credible threats.

Basic steps once you’re at court

The exact forms and names vary by state or country, but the general steps are similar:

  1. Get the correct forms for your situation (domestic violence, harassment, stalking, etc.).
  2. Fill them out with detailed descriptions of what has happened, including recent incidents.
  3. File the paperwork with the court clerk; a judge may review it the same day for a temporary order.
  4. Make sure the other person is formally “served” with the papers, usually by law enforcement or a process server.
  5. Attend the hearing the court schedules, where a judge decides whether to issue a longer-term order.

Who can help you

You do not have to do this alone. Helpful options include:

  • Legal aid clinics or local legal help organizations that assist with restraining orders at low or no cost.
  • Court self‑help centers, which often have step‑by‑step instructions and sometimes volunteers.
  • Domestic violence advocates, who can help with safety planning and court preparation.

If you tell your city, state, or country, more specific directions (like the exact courthouse or online forms link) can be identified for your area.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.