How to Get a Restraining Order in Connecticut
A clear guide to seeking a restraining order in Connecticut in the context of domestic violence.
Understanding Restraining Orders in Connecticut Domestic Violence Situations
What a Restraining Order Is (In Plain Language)
A restraining order in Connecticut is a court order that can help increase safety when someone you know is harming, threatening, or seriously frightening you. It is sometimes called a “relief from abuse” order. It is a piece of paper from a judge that sets rules the other person must follow.
A restraining order is not a guarantee of safety, but it can:
- Order the person to stop contacting or threatening you
- Set physical distance and “stay-away” rules
- Include temporary arrangements about children or the home
- Create a record with the court and police that abuse has been reported
Even with a restraining order, safety planning is still important. Consider combining legal steps with other safety strategies, both in-person and online.
Who May Be Able to Apply in Connecticut
Connecticut law on who can apply may change, and details can be specific. In general, people often seek domestic-violence-related restraining orders when the harm or threats come from:
- A current or former spouse or partner
- Someone you live with or used to live with
- The other parent of your child
- A family member or relative
In some situations, people who are dating but do not live together, or who share a child, may also qualify. The exact eligibility rules can be technical, so checking with a local advocate, legal aid office, or Connecticut court clerk is important.
If you are not sure whether your relationship qualifies, you can still contact a local domestic violence organization or legal aid office and ask general questions about eligibility, without naming the other person if that feels safer.
Where to Get Forms and Basic Help
In Connecticut, restraining order forms are usually available:
- At local courthouses, often at the clerk’s office or a self-help centre
- On the official state judicial branch website (forms section), if you have safe internet access
- Through local domestic violence advocacy organizations, which may keep copies or help you find them
People who may be able to give general information or practical help with forms include:
- Court clerks (they can explain procedures but cannot give legal advice or tell you what to write)
- Domestic violence advocates (often available in or near courthouses or through shelters and community agencies)
- Legal aid or community legal clinics that work in Connecticut
- Private lawyers, if you choose and it is accessible to you
When searching online for forms or help, try to use a device or browser where your history can be cleared safely. For ideas on this, see information similar to what is described in digital safety guides.
Overview of the Process in Connecticut
1. Completing and Filing the Application
To ask for a restraining order, you usually need to:
- Fill out forms describing your relationship with the other person and the harm or threats you have experienced
- Sign forms, often under oath (sometimes before a clerk or notary)
- File the forms with the appropriate Connecticut court, usually a civil or family court handling restraining orders
There may or may not be a filing fee, depending on your situation and current rules. Sometimes fees can be waived. Court staff or advocates can explain how that works in Connecticut at the time you apply.
2. Temporary (Ex Parte) Orders
After you file, a judge may review your papers the same day or soon after. In many domestic violence situations, the judge can issue a short-term order without hearing from the other person first. This is often called a “temporary” or “ex parte” restraining order.
If a temporary order is granted, it usually stays in place until a full hearing is held. The order is not in effect against the other person until they are officially notified (served).
3. Serving the Other Person
For the restraining order to be enforceable, the other person usually must be “served” with the court papers. This typically means a sheriff, marshal, or other authorized person gives them a copy of the application, temporary order (if granted), and notice of the hearing date.
In many cases, you are not expected to serve the papers yourself. The court or local officials can explain who in Connecticut is allowed to serve the documents and how this is arranged.
Service can sometimes increase risk, because the other person learns about the court action. Consider talking with an advocate or legal aid worker about any safety concerns you have around the timing of service.
4. The Court Hearing for a Longer-Term Order
The court usually sets a date for a hearing where both sides may appear. At the hearing, you may be asked to:
- Confirm or explain what you wrote in your application
- Answer questions from the judge
- Provide any documents or witnesses you have, if available
The other person also has a chance to attend, respond, and present their side. After hearing both sides (or if the other person does not show but was properly notified), the judge decides whether to:
- Grant a restraining order
- Change the conditions that were in the temporary order
- Deny the request
If an order is granted, the judge will set how long it lasts and what specific protections it includes, following Connecticut law and the information presented.
Common Protections a Restraining Order Can Include
The exact protections available depend on Connecticut law at the time and the judge’s decision. Some common types of relief in domestic-violence-related orders may include:
No-Contact and Communication Limits
- No-phone calls, texts, emails, or social media messages
- No contact through other people, except as the court allows (for example, about children)
- Limits on any contact allowed, such as only through a lawyer or specific app, if the judge decides that is appropriate
Stay-Away and Residence Protections
- Orders to stay a certain distance from you, your home, work, school, or other places you often go
- Temporary decisions about who can stay in a shared home
Temporary Child-Related Arrangements
- Temporary decisions about custody or parenting time
- Conditions on visits, such as supervised visits, if the court sees safety concerns
- Instructions about how and where children will be exchanged for visits, if those are allowed
Long-term decisions about parenting and support usually happen in separate family law cases. Temporary child-related orders in a restraining order are often meant to address immediate safety concerns.
Financial and Property-Related Protections
- Orders not to interfere with your use of certain property, like a vehicle you rely on
- Orders related to temporary financial support, if allowed under Connecticut law and based on your situation
- Orders not to cancel insurance or remove you from certain policies
Specific financial protections can be complex and may depend on whether you are married, share children, or have shared property. Local legal aid or a lawyer can explain current options in Connecticut.
How Long a Restraining Order Might Last
In Connecticut, temporary orders usually last only until the court hearing. If a longer-term restraining order is granted after the hearing, the judge will set how long it remains in effect, following the laws and policies in place at that time.
Some orders may last months; others may be issued for longer periods, with the possibility of asking the court to renew them before they expire. The timelines and renewal rules can change, so it is important to ask the court or a local legal resource about current Connecticut procedures.
Confirming Current Connecticut Procedures
Court procedures, eligibility rules, and available protections can change over time. To confirm up-to-date information about restraining orders in Connecticut, consider:
- Contacting your local courthouse and asking the clerk how restraining order cases are handled
- Speaking with a local domestic violence advocate about current forms, timelines, and supports
- Reaching out to legal aid services in Connecticut for general legal information related to your situation
- Checking the official Connecticut judicial branch website for the most recent forms and instructions
Additional support options across North America, including connections to local services, can be found through resources listed at https://www.dv.support.
If it feels safer, you can start by asking only general questions, without sharing names or detailed locations, until you are comfortable and feel ready to share more.