Restraining Orders

This section defines domestic abuse for the purposes of getting a domestic abuse restraining order in family court or in district court. Domestic abuse is when the abuser commits one of the following acts:

• attempts to cause or causes you physical harm (with or without a weapon);
• places you in fear of immediate serious physical harm (including threatening you with a weapon);
• causes you to have sexual relations against your will by force, threat of force, or duress (coercion);
• stalks you – stalking is defined as either:
  • harassment (behaving or acting in a way that intends to seriously alarm, annoy, or bother you, and which serves no legitimate (valid) purpose. His/her actions must reasonably cause you to suffer substantial emotional distress or to be in fear of bodily injury); or
  • maliciously and repeatedly following you with the intent to place you in reasonable fear of bodily injury; or
• cyberstalks you (sends any communication by computer to you for the sole purpose of harassing you or your family).¹

In addition, a domestic abuse restraining order can be granted in family court on behalf of a minor child who is sexually exploited by anyone, regardless of his/her relationship to the child.²

To figure out which court you have to file in (district court or family court), go to Am I eligible? Do I file in family court or district court?

¹ RI Gen. Laws §§ 8-8.1-1(4), (5)(iv)-(vii), (6), (8); 15-15-1(3), (4), (9)
² RI Gen. Laws § 15-15-3(a)