How to Get a Protection Order in Alabama (2025 Guide)

A survivor-focused walkthrough of how protection orders work in Alabama, from first report to hearing.

Protection Orders in Alabama: Basic Information

What a Protection Order Is in Alabama

In Alabama, a civil protection order (often called a Protection From Abuse order, or PFA) is a court order that aims to increase safety when someone is being harmed, threatened, or controlled by a person close to them. It is separate from criminal charges, although both can happen at the same time.

A protection order is a piece of paper from a judge that can place rules on the person who has been abusive. It does not guarantee safety, but it can be one part of a broader safety plan and can give law enforcement clearer authority to act if the order is violated.

Who Can Ask for a Protection Order in Alabama

In Alabama, protection orders are usually available when the abusive person has a certain type of close relationship with the person seeking protection. In general, people who may qualify include:

• Current or former spouses
• People who live together or used to live together in the same household
• People who are or were in a dating or romantic relationship
• People who share a child together, regardless of whether they ever lived together or married
• Certain close family members, such as parents, children, or others related by blood or marriage who live or have lived in the same household

There may be other situations that qualify, and details can be specific. If someone is not sure whether their relationship fits the rules, they can ask a local legal aid office, domestic violence advocate, or lawyer to check the current eligibility standards.

Where Survivors Commonly Start

People in Alabama often start the protection order process in one or more of these places:

• Local police or sheriff’s office: They cannot issue a civil protection order, but they can respond to immediate danger, document incidents, and sometimes explain how to request a PFA at the courthouse.
• Court clerk’s office: In many counties, the circuit or district court clerk provides the forms to ask for a protection order and explains basic filing steps. Staff cannot give legal advice but can describe the process.
• Domestic violence advocacy programs: Local shelters and advocacy organizations often help people fill out forms, understand options, and prepare for court. They may also help with safety planning.
• Legal aid or private lawyers: Some people choose to get legal advice or representation, especially if children, housing, or complex situations are involved.

Basic Steps in the Protection Order Process

1. Filing the Request

The process often begins when someone completes written forms at the courthouse asking for a protection order. These forms usually include:

• Basic information about both people (names, addresses if safe to share, contact details)
• The relationship between the two people
• A description of recent incidents of abuse, threats, or stalking, in simple language
• Specific protections being requested (for example, no-contact, temporary custody)

Once the forms are completed, they are filed with the court clerk. There may or may not be filing fees; in many domestic violence situations, the court may waive fees, but policies can vary.

2. Temporary (Emergency) Order

After the forms are filed, a judge may review the request the same day or within a short time. In many cases, the judge can decide to issue a temporary or “ex parte” order based only on the information from the person asking for protection, without first hearing from the other party.

A temporary order can:

• Set immediate rules, such as no-contact and stay-away requirements
• Give short-term decisions about who stays in the home or has temporary custody of children

This temporary order usually lasts only until a full hearing can be held.

3. Service on the Other Person

For a long-term order, the person accused of abuse has a right to receive notice and a chance to be heard in court. This is called “service.” Typically, law enforcement or another authorized person delivers the court papers to them.

Service may include:

• A copy of the petition (what was filed)
• Any temporary order granted by the judge
• The date, time, and place of the court hearing

The long-term protection order cannot usually be decided until service is completed, unless the law allows a narrow exception.

4. The Court Hearing

The court sets a hearing date, often within a short period after the temporary order. At the hearing, both people have a chance to speak, present evidence, and call witnesses. The judge then decides whether to grant a longer-term protection order and what terms it will include.

What a Protection Order Can Usually Include

The exact terms of a protection order depend on the situation and the judge’s decision. Some protections that are commonly requested in Alabama include:

• No-contact: Ordering the other person not to contact the protected person in any way (in person, phone, text, social media, through others, or at work or school).
• Stay-away: Requiring the person to stay a certain distance away from the protected person’s home, work, school, or other important locations.
• Exclusive use of the home: Deciding who can stay in a shared residence, at least temporarily, and ordering the other person to move out even if their name is on the lease or deed.
• Temporary custody and visitation: Setting short-term arrangements for children, including who they live with and how parenting time or exchanges are handled.
• Child support or financial provisions: In some cases, the court can make temporary decisions about financial support, use of vehicles, or other property matters.
• Firearm restrictions: The court may be able to limit the other person’s ability to possess or purchase firearms while the order is in place, depending on the specific order and circumstances.
• Other safety conditions: Such as no harassment, no stalking, and no destruction of property, or limiting contact through third parties.

The person asking for protection can usually list what they are requesting on the forms. The judge decides what to grant, change, or deny.

What to Expect at the Hearing

Sharing Your Story

At the hearing, the judge will want to understand what has been happening and why a protection order is being requested. The person asking for the order may:

• Describe specific incidents of violence, threats, or stalking in a clear, factual way
• Explain how these incidents affected their sense of safety and the safety of any children
• Clarify what they are asking the court to order and why

Evidence and Witnesses

The judge may consider many types of information, including:

• Testimony from the person asking for the order
• Testimony from the person responding to the order
• Witnesses, such as friends, family, neighbors, or professionals who observed injuries, threats, or controlling behaviour
• Photos, text messages, emails, social media posts, voicemails, or other records of threats or abuse
• Police reports, medical records, or other documents, when available

Each side has a chance to present their information and to ask the other side questions through the court process. Court rules can limit how this happens and what evidence is allowed.

Possible Outcomes

After hearing from both sides, the judge may:

• Grant a protection order with some or all of the requested terms
• Modify the requested terms (for example, changing visitation details or distance requirements)
• Deny the request for a long-term order
• Reschedule the hearing if more information or time is needed in certain circumstances

If the judge grants the order, it will be written and filed with the court. Copies are usually provided to both parties and may be shared with law enforcement so they know the order exists.

Limits and Duration of Protection Orders

Protection orders in Alabama are not usually permanent by default. The length of time an order can last, and whether it can be renewed, depends on the type of order and the judge’s decision. In general:

• Temporary orders last only until the next court date or a short period set by the judge.
• Longer-term orders can last a longer period, sometimes several years, depending on the case and current law.
• In some situations, a person can return to court to ask for an extension, change, or early end to the order.

Protection orders also have limits. They cannot solve every safety concern, and some people may not follow them. They also do not replace criminal charges, family law cases, or immigration processes, although all of these can interact.

Following Up and Staying Informed

After an order is granted, people often:

• Keep copies of the order in several safe places (home, work, school, with a trusted person)
• Share a copy with local law enforcement, if the court has not already done so
• Tell schools, childcare providers, or employers as needed, to help with enforcement
• Update safety plans regularly, with or without an advocate

Rules Can Change: Check Local Sources

Alabama’s rules about who qualifies for a protection order, what the court can order, how long orders last, and how they interact with issues like firearms or custody can change over time. Different counties may also have slightly different procedures for filing and hearings.

For up-to-date information about a specific situation, it is usually best to:

• Contact a local legal aid office or family law attorney in Alabama
• Speak with a domestic violence advocate who is familiar with nearby courts
• Ask court staff about current forms and basic procedural steps

This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Outcomes in any case depend on the facts, the evidence, and the judge’s decision.

Recommended Articles

• Safety Planning in Ontario
• Staying Safer with Technology
• Safety Options in Alberta
• Safety Considerations in British Columbia
• Support and Safety in Quebec