Restraining Orders

In an emergency or nonemergency sexual violence protective order, the judge may order the abuser to:

• not contact you - directly, indirectly, or through a third party;
• stay away from your home, your workplace, your school, or any other place you go;
• not come within a specified distance of you;
• turn in any firearms or projectile weapons to the police or a licensed firearms dealer in Delaware;
• not purchase or receive any other firearms or projectile weapons while the order is in effect;
• allow law enforcement to immediately search for and take (seize) the abuser’s firearms, projectile weapons, or ammunition;
• get a drug, alcohol, or mental health assessment; and
• do or not do anything else the judge believes is reasonably necessary to protect you.¹

If you think that you will be in more danger if the abuser learns your location, you can ask for the court not to reveal your current address or place of residence.²

Note: The judge cannot order the abuser to pay you money damages in a sexual violence protective order.³ For more information on how to try to get financial compensation in court, go to our Suing an Abuser for Money page.

¹ Del. Code tit. 10, §§ 7204(d); 7205(c)
² Del. Code tit. 10, § 7203(c)
³ Del. Code tit. 10, § 7203(l)