Restraining Orders

To extend/renew your order, you must file a “petition for renewal” at any time within 90 days before the order expires. Your petition should state the reasons that you want to renew the protection order. If the abuser violated the order in any way, you could mention this in your petition as well.¹ The judge is supposed to renew your order unless the abuser can prove to the judge that s/he will not commit acts of domestic violence against you, your children, or your family or household members once the order expires.²The judge cannot deny a motion to extend/renew your order for any of the following reasons:

1. The abuser has not violated your protection order;
2. You or the abuser are a minor;
3. You did not report the acts that caused you to need the protection order, or any violations of your order, to law enforcement;
4. A no-contact order or a restraining order preventing the abuser from contacting you has been issued in a criminal proceeding or a domestic relations proceeding;
5. The request you are making to the court could be granted in a different court action;
6. The amount of time that has passed since the abuser’s last act that caused you to need the protection order; or
7. The abuser no longer lives near you.³

The court will schedule a hearing for no more than 14 days from the date you file your petition, or 30 days if the abuser is going to be notified by mail or publication. The abuser must be notified at least five days before the hearing.¹ A judge may extend your order by granting a renewal for a fixed time period or may enter a permanent order.⁴

The judge cannot change the terms of your renewed protection order unless you request the change.⁵

¹ R.C.W. § 7.105.405(1)
² R.C.W. § 7.105.405(4)(a)
³ R.C.W. § 7.105.405(6)
⁴ R.C.W. § 7.105.405(8)
⁵ R.C.W. § 7.105.405(7)