How to Get a Protection From Abuse Order in Kansas
Plain-language information on Kansas Protection From Abuse orders for domestic violence survivors.
Protection From Abuse (PFA) Orders in Kansas
What a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order Is
A Protection From Abuse (PFA) order in Kansas is a court order that is meant to help a person stay safer from abuse by a current or former partner, family member, or certain other household members. It is a civil (non-criminal) court process.
A PFA order can place rules on the person who is causing harm, such as not contacting you or staying away from where you live, work, or go to school.
Information in this article is general and may change. For the most up-to-date details about Kansas procedures, it is important to check with a local advocate, legal service, or lawyer.
Who Can Ask for a PFA Order
In Kansas, a PFA is typically for people who have a certain type of relationship with the person who is harming them. In general, people who often qualify include:
- Current or former spouses or intimate partners
- People who live together now or lived together in the past
- Family members related by blood or marriage
- Parents of a child in common
Other protection orders may exist in Kansas for people who do not have a family or intimate relationship, such as neighbors or co-workers, but those are often handled under different laws or processes.
Because the rules about who qualifies can be specific, a local domestic violence program, legal clinic, or lawyer can help you understand whether a PFA is available in your situation.
Where to File a PFA in Kansas
PFA cases are usually filed in the district court for the county where you live, where the person who is harming you lives, or where the abuse occurred. This is often at the county courthouse.
Court clerks can usually tell you where to go to start the process and may provide blank PFA forms. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they can explain basic filing steps, like office locations and hours.
Places That May Help With Forms
- Local domestic violence programs: Many shelters and advocacy programs in Kansas have staff who can help people understand PFA forms, safety planning, and court preparation.
- Legal aid or legal services: Some organizations provide free or low-cost legal help, which may include explaining the PFA process, helping with paperwork, or sometimes providing a lawyer.
- Self-help centers or law libraries: Some courthouses have self-help desks, law libraries, or online resources with instructions and sample forms.
Additional support options and contact details for services across the United States, including Kansas, can often be found through resources listed at https://www.dv.support.
Steps in the PFA Process
Exact steps can vary by Kansas county, but the process usually has several stages: filling out forms, asking for a temporary order, serving the other person, and having a full hearing.
1. Completing and Filing the Petition
- You complete a written request, often called a “petition,” describing your relationship to the person and why you are seeking protection.
- You file the petition with the district court. Some courts allow filing during regular business hours only; some may have emergency options after hours.
- There may be filing fees, but many survivors can ask the court to waive (excuse) the fees because it is a protection case.
When filling out forms, it can be safer to avoid sharing new addresses, phone numbers, or online contact information if you are trying to keep those details private. Ask court staff or an advocate if address confidentiality options are available.
2. Temporary or Emergency Orders
After you file, you can usually ask the court for a temporary PFA order. In many cases, a judge can look at your request on the same day or soon after, without the other person present.
This temporary order, if granted, can give short-term protection until a full hearing can be held. Some courts or judges may also have procedures for emergency orders outside normal hours, often through on-call judges or coordination with law enforcement.
3. Serving the Other Person (“Service”)
For a full PFA order to be considered, the person you are seeking protection from usually must receive official notice of the case. This is called “service.”
- Service is often done by the sheriff or another authorized person, not by you.
- The papers usually include the petition, the temporary order (if one was granted), and the date and time of the court hearing.
- The case may be delayed or rescheduled if the other person has not been successfully served by the hearing date.
If you are worried that service may increase your risk, you can talk with a local advocate or lawyer about safety planning around the time the other person receives notice.
4. Full PFA Hearing
A full PFA hearing is usually scheduled within a short time after the temporary order is issued. At the hearing:
- You and the other person each have a chance to speak to the judge, present information, and bring witnesses or documents.
- The judge decides whether to grant a longer-term PFA order, and if so, what protections to include.
- In some situations, the other person might not appear. The judge may still decide the case based on the information available.
Some people choose to have a lawyer represent them at the hearing; others proceed without one. Whether or not a lawyer is available can depend on local resources and your circumstances.
What a PFA Order Can Include
If a judge grants a PFA order, it can include different kinds of protections. The specific terms will depend on the judge’s decision and the situation.
No-Contact and Stay-Away Rules
- Ordering the person not to contact you in any way, including in person, by phone, text, email, social media, or through others.
- Requiring the person to stay away from your home, work, school, or other important places.
Residence and Housing
- Allowing you to stay in a shared home and ordering the other person to move out, even if their name is on the lease or deed, depending on Kansas law and the judge’s order.
- Setting rules around collecting personal belongings, often with law enforcement present.
Child-Related Orders
If you have children with the person, a PFA might include temporary orders about:
- Who the children live with on a temporary basis
- When and how parenting time or visitation happens
- Conditions for safe exchanges of the children
PFA child-related orders are usually temporary. Longer-term decisions about custody and parenting time are often handled in separate family court cases.
Financial and Other Support
- Temporary financial support for you or for children, in some cases
- Orders about using a vehicle, paying certain bills, or returning property
- Conditions about weapons, where allowed by Kansas law
The judge will decide which of these protections are appropriate based on the information presented in your case.
How Long PFA Orders Can Last
Temporary PFA orders are generally short-term and last only until the full court hearing. If a longer-term PFA order is granted after the hearing, it may last for a longer period. In some situations, survivors may be able to ask the court to extend or modify an order before it ends.
The exact timeframes and rules for extensions can change and may be different depending on the facts of the case and Kansas law at the time.
Because laws and court procedures can change, it is important to confirm current Kansas rules and options with a local domestic violence program, legal aid office, or lawyer.
Checking Current Kansas Procedures
Court practices, forms, and deadlines can differ from county to county in Kansas, and they may change over time. Before you decide how to move forward, it can be helpful to:
- Call or visit the clerk’s office at your local district court to ask about current PFA filing procedures
- Contact a Kansas legal aid organization or lawyer to understand your options
- Reach out to a local domestic violence program for help with safety planning and information about the court process
This article offers general information only and is not legal advice. For guidance about your specific situation, a lawyer licensed in Kansas or a local legal service can provide more detailed explanations of your rights and options.