Restraining Orders

An emergency protective order (EPO) can do the following:

1. order the abuser not to commit acts of domestic violence and abuse against you;
2. order the abuser not to contact you or anyone else named in the order, including contact that is:
   • face-to-face;
   • by telephone;
   • in writing;
   • electronic; or
   • through a third party;
3. order the abuser to stay up to 500 feet away from you or anyone else named in the order;
4. order the abuser not to come within a certain distance of a specific home, school, or place of employment;
5. order the abuser not to sell or destroy any of your property or any property you share with him/her;
6. order the abuser to leave the home you share;
7. give you temporary custody of your children;
8. if contact is allowed, specifically explain which types of communication are allowed and which types are not allowed;
9. allow either party to get his/her personal belongings from the home and order law enforcement to help, if requested; and
10. order any other protections necessary to prevent future domestic violence.¹

A final domestic violence order (DVO) can include:

• the protections listed above in numbers 1 - 8 & 10; and
• any of the following additional terms:
  • giving you temporary child support;
  • ordering that either or both of you receive counseling services available in the community;
  • giving you possession of any shared pets (“domestic animals”);
  • if you ask for it, allowing you and the abuser to:
    • have limited contact or communication; and
    • be in a common area together under limited circumstances with specific restrictions placed on the abuser.²

¹ Ky. Rev. Stat. § 403.730(2)(a); see also the petition on the Kentucky Courts website
² Ky. Rev. Stat. § 403.740(1)