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Legal Information: Virginia

Restraining Orders

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Laws current as of July 9, 2025

What is the definition of an act of violence, force, or threat?

For the purposes of getting this protective order, the act of violence, force, or threat has to:

  • result in physical injury; or
  • reasonably make you fear death, sexual assault, or physical injury.1

Some examples of acts that could qualify as acts of violence, force, or threat are:

  • forceful detention;
  • stalking;
  • any criminal sexual assault crime (including rape, sexual battery, sodomy, and more - all are listed in Article 7); or
  • any criminal offense that results in physical injury to the body or reasonably makes you fear death, sexual assault, or physical injury.1

1 Va. Code § 19.2-152.7:1

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