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Legal Information: Rhode Island

Restraining Orders

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Laws current as of July 19, 2024

Step 3: A judge will review your application.

After you finish filling out your application for the restraining order, bring it to the court clerk. The clerk will forward it to a judge. The judge may wish to ask you questions as s/he reviews your complaint. Based on what you write in the complaint, the judge will decide whether to issue an immediate temporary order. The decision will be based on whether or not you and/or your child is at risk for immediate and severe injury, damage or loss. The judge will then set a date for a hearing for the final order. You will be given papers that state the time and date of your hearing for a final order. The hearing should be scheduled to happen within 21 days.1

Note: If you received a temporary order, you should keep a copy of it with you at all times.

1 RI Gen. Laws §§ 8-8.1-4(a)(2); 15-15-4(a)(2)

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