Restraining Orders

If the court makes an appointment for you with an advocate, you can go to that appointment. A court officer will help you fill out the paperwork to file for a domestic abuse protective order and request a temporary restraining order (TRO). 

If you prefer not to get help with filling out the petition and other paperwork, you can fill it out on your own. The paperwork is available at your local courthouse and online at the Hawai‘i Judiciary website. You will find links to the forms you will need at our Hawai‘i Download Court Forms page. For information on the courthouse in your area, please see our Hawai‘i Courthouse Locations page. However, you may want to consider going to the appropriate support office in your circuit. They can help you through the process and give you advice on safety planning.

On the petition, you will be the “petitioner,” and the abuser will be called the “respondent.” Write about the most recent incidents of violence, using descriptive language that fits your specific situation. For example, you might use words like “slapping,” “hitting,” “grabbing,” “threatening,” “choking,” etc. Include details and dates, if possible. Describe any property damage, any hospital visits or medical appointments due to the abuse, and explain whether the abuser owns or has threatened you with a weapon. Be specific. It may also be important to write down any previous court action you have taken against the abuser.

Be sure to include your name, a safe mailing address, and your phone number. If you are staying at a shelter, give a post office box, not a street address. When you have completed the paperwork, the advocate will instruct you to bring it to the family court in your county.

Note: It may also be useful to bring identifying information about the abuser, such as his/her home address, work address, a description and plate number of the abuser’s car, and information about his/her gun ownership.