Restraining Orders

In a temporary or final interpersonal protective order, the judge can:

1. order the abuser not to:
   • commit any acts of dating violence and abuse, stalking, or sexual assault;
   • contact you or another person;
   • throw away or damage any of your property or joint property;
   • come within a specific distance – up to 500 feet – of you or another person;
   • come within a specific distance of your home, school, workplace, or another place you go to frequently; and
   • do anything else that the judge believes could put you in danger of future acts of dating violence and abuse, stalking, or sexual assault;
2. give you possession of any shared domestic animal;
3. order that you and/or the abuser receive counseling services available in the community in cases of dating violence and abuse; and
4. allow the following type(s) of contact between you and the abuser if you specifically ask for it:
   • limited, necessary contact; and
   • being in a common area together under limited circumstances with specific restrictions laid out by the judge.¹

¹ Ky. Rev. Stat. §§ 456.040(2); 456.060(1)