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

Plain-language guidance on seeking a domestic violence protection order in Alaska.

Protection Orders in Alaska: Basic Overview

What a Domestic Violence Protection Order Is in Alaska

A domestic violence protection order in Alaska is a civil court order that aims to increase safety for a person who has experienced domestic violence or feels at risk of it. It is sometimes called a “DVPO” or “protective order.”

It is separate from a criminal case. A protection order does not send someone to jail by itself, but it can place clear limits on contact and behaviour. If the order is violated, police may be able to respond and prosecutors may choose to bring criminal charges.

Protection orders are meant to be flexible. A judge can include different types of conditions depending on the situation and the information shared with the court.

Who May Qualify to Apply

Alaska’s domestic violence protection system focuses on people who have a specific relationship with the person they are asking for protection from. In many cases, a person may qualify if there is or was a close personal, family, or household relationship, such as:

• Current or former spouses
• People who live together or used to live together
• People who have or are expecting a child together
• People who are or were dating or in an intimate relationship
• Family members related by blood, marriage, or adoption
• Sometimes other household members in the same residence

Alaska also has protection orders for situations that are not domestic-violence-related (such as stalking or harassment by someone with no close relationship). Those follow different rules and may use different forms.

Where Protection Orders Are Usually Filed in Alaska

Most people file for a domestic violence protection order at an Alaska state court. This is often the local district court or superior court serving the community where the person lives or where the abuse happened.

In many communities:

• Court clerk’s offices provide the forms and basic information on how to file.
• Domestic violence advocacy organizations may help with safety planning and with filling out forms.
• Legal aid organizations and some private lawyers may give legal advice or representation to people who qualify for their services.

In rural or remote communities, a person may sometimes start the process through a local court location, tribal court, or by working with law enforcement or advocates who can help connect them with the right state court.

From Filing to a Temporary Protection Order

While exact steps vary, the process in Alaska often follows this general pattern:

1. Completing the petition

   The person seeking protection fills out a written petition. This form usually asks for:

   • Basic information about both people involved
   • The type of relationship they have or had
   • A description of what has happened and why protection is being requested
   • Specific protections the person is asking the court to order
2. Submitting the petition to the court

   The completed forms are turned in to the appropriate court. Some courts may allow fax, email, or electronic filing in certain situations, while others require in-person filing. Clerks can usually explain local options.

3. Requesting an emergency or temporary order

   If the person feels there is immediate danger, they can usually ask the court for a short-term order right away. In many cases, a judge will review the written petition the same day or as soon as possible.

   The judge may decide whether to issue a temporary protection order based only on the written documents and, sometimes, a brief conversation with the applicant (in person or by phone or video).

4. Service on the other person

   If a temporary order is granted, the court typically arranges for law enforcement or another authorized person to “serve” the other party with:

   • Notice of the case
   • A copy of the temporary order (if granted)
   • The date, time, and place of the full hearing

   The order is usually not enforceable against the other party until they are properly served.

Moving From Temporary Order to Full Hearing

After a temporary domestic violence protection order is issued, the court usually schedules a full hearing within a set time period. This is sometimes called a “long-term” or “final” protection order hearing.

At this hearing:

• Both people have the chance to appear and speak to the judge.
• Each side can usually provide documents, witnesses, or other information.
• The judge decides whether to continue, change, or end the temporary order.

If the other person has not been served by the first court date, the hearing may need to be rescheduled so that proper notice can be given.

Typical Protections a Person Can Request

Alaska courts have flexibility in what they can include in a protection order. Not every request will be granted. Common protections people may ask for include:

• No-contact provisions – Directing the other person not to contact the protected person in any way, including in person, by phone, text, email, social media, or through third parties (except possibly for limited, court-approved reasons).
• Stay-away conditions – Requiring the other person to stay a certain distance away from the protected person, their home, work, school, or other important places.
• Exclusive use of a residence – Ordering the other person to move out of a shared home and not return, at least for the duration of the order.
• Temporary custody and parenting time – Setting short-term arrangements for where children will live and how, or if, the other parent can have contact. This can include supervised visitation or other conditions the court finds appropriate.
• Firearms restrictions – Temporarily limiting the other person’s ability to possess or buy firearms or requiring them to turn in firearms for the length of the order, as allowed under state and federal law.
• No harassment or intimidation – Prohibiting threatening, stalking, or harassing behaviour, including online or through others.
• Other tailored conditions – The court may add terms needed to address safety, such as limiting alcohol or drug use around the protected person or children, or directing how required exchanges of children will take place.

What to Expect at the Protection Order Hearing

A protection order hearing is usually less formal than a full trial, but there is still a clear structure. Many people represent themselves. Others may have lawyers, sometimes through legal aid or private counsel.

In a typical hearing, the judge may:

• Explain the purpose of the hearing and the basic process.
• Ask each side to share their version of events under oath.
• Review documents such as messages, emails, call logs, photos, or medical or police records, if they are properly submitted.
• Hear from witnesses who have first-hand information about key events or safety concerns.
• Ask follow-up questions to clarify timelines, details, or safety needs.

The person asking for protection usually needs to describe what has happened, how they know the respondent, and why they believe a protection order is needed. The other person usually has an opportunity to respond, ask questions, and present their own evidence.

After hearing from both sides, the judge may:

• Grant a longer-term protection order with some or all requested protections
• Modify the protections (adding, removing, or changing terms)
• Deny the request if the legal standards are not met
• Set another hearing if more information is needed

How Judges May Review Evidence and Testimony

Judges look at the information presented to decide whether the legal standard for a domestic violence protection order is met. This often includes:

• Testimony – What each person and their witnesses say under oath about what happened, when, and how it affected safety.
• Consistency – Whether accounts are generally consistent with prior statements, documents, or other evidence.
• Documents and records – Screenshots, texts, emails, photos, medical records, police reports, or other items that support or contradict the stories told in court.
• Context and pattern – Whether there appears to be a pattern of behaviour that raises safety concerns, not just a single event.

Judges are limited to the evidence and testimony allowed under court rules. They cannot investigate on their own. They also cannot usually give legal advice to either side.

Changes in Forms, Procedures, and Timelines

Alaska’s protection order process can change over time. Courts sometimes update forms, filing options, and timelines. For example:

• New forms may replace older versions.
• Remote options (phone or video) for hearings may change.
• Rules about deadlines, service, and extensions of orders may be updated.

Because of this, it is important to check current information directly with:

• The local Alaska state court
• Legal aid organizations or lawyers practicing in Alaska
• Domestic violence advocacy organizations familiar with local practice

Additional support options and information about services across the United States can also be found through resources listed at https://www.dv.support.

Important Reminders

• A protection order is a civil tool focused on safety; it is not a guarantee of protection.
• Each case is different. Outcomes depend on the facts presented and the judge’s decision.
• This overview is general legal information about Alaska’s process and is not legal advice for any specific situation.
• People who have questions about their rights, risks, or legal options may wish to talk with a qualified lawyer or a trusted local advocate for more detailed guidance.