If you are the victim of any act of domestic violence or threats of violence you may ask the Court for a protective order.  An Injunction (often referred to as a restraining order) places restrictions on the individual who allegedly committed the acts of violence.

There are five different types of Injunctions.  They differ according to your relationship with the individual you are filing against.  It is important that you file the correct one, otherwise your Injunction can be denied by the Judge.

Types of Injunctions

There are five different types of Injunctions.  They differ according to your relationship with the individual you are filing against.  It is important that you file the correct one, otherwise your Injunction can be denied by the Judge.

This petition is for violence between individuals who have or have had a continuing and significant relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.  The relationship must have existed within the past six months.

Click HERE for the Florida Supreme Court Instructions

This petition is used for individuals who are currently married, formerly married, related by blood or marriage, living with you now or has lived with you in the past (living as family), or have children in common.

Click HERE for the Florida Supreme Court Instructions

This petition is used when two incidents of violence have been committed against you or a member of your immediate family, one of which must have been within 6 month of filing this petition.

Click HERE for the Florida Supreme Court Instructions

This petition is for victims of sexual violence.  Sexual violence includes sexual battery, lewd or lascivious acts, luring or enticing a child, sexual performance by a child or any other forcible felony where a sexual act is committed.  You must have reported the sexual violence to a law enforcement agency and cooperate in the criminal proceeding.

Click HERE for the Florida Supreme Court Instructions

This petition is used for repeated following, harassment or cyberstalking of one person by another.

Click HERE for the Florida Supreme Court Instructions

Filing An Injunction

To request an injunction for protection, you must fill out the applicable Petition.  The Petition can be found on-line on the website listed above, or at the Criminal Justice Center.  You must file the Petition with the Clerk’s Office in person at the Criminal Justice Center or on-line through the Florida Court’s E-filing Portal by clicking on the link below.

eFile Court Documents

After the Petition is filed, the Clerk will forward it to the Judge for review. The Judge will make a decision to either:

  1. Issue an Order Setting Hearing without the issuance of a Temporary Injunction.
  2. Grant the Petition and sign a Temporary Injunction for Protection. All Temporary Injunction for Protection are set for a hearing in order for the Court hear from the parties before making a final decision whether a Permanent Injunction for Protection is applicable.
  3. Dismiss the Petition.

The Clerk of Court will notify the Petitioner of the Court’s Decision.

If the Court grants the Petition (temporary or permanent) or sets it for a hearing, the Clerk will send copies to the Sheriff’s Office to be served on the respondent

After an Injunction has been ordered, it sometimes becomes necessary for the Court to address other matters that may arise.  Below are a list of forms that the Court has made available for your use as applicable.

Required Documents

In addition to your petition, you will be required to provide some or all of the documentation below.