How to Get a Temporary Protection Order (TPO) in Nevada
Nevada Temporary Protection Orders and extended orders, explained for survivors.
Understanding Temporary Protection Orders (TPOs) in Canada
What Is a Temporary Protection Order?
A temporary protection order (often called an emergency protection order, restraining order, or peace bond depending on the province or territory) is a court order that can place short-term limits on another person’s contact with you.
The goal is to reduce immediate risk by setting clear rules, such as no-contact, staying away from certain places, or other safety-focused conditions.
Names and details of protection orders differ across Canada. Local laws and procedures in your province or territory will affect how a TPO works and what it is called.
Who Can Usually Apply for a TPO?
Who qualifies can vary, but courts commonly consider applications from people who:
- Are experiencing threats, harassment, stalking, or physical, sexual, or psychological harm
- Have safety concerns about their children’s exposure to violence or intimidation
- Are in, or have recently left, a close relationship with the other person (such as family, intimate partner, or ex-partner)
- Are being targeted by someone they know in the community (for example, a neighbour or acquaintance), depending on local rules
Courts generally look at the pattern of behaviour and current level of risk, not just a single incident.
Some regions limit certain types of emergency orders to family or intimate partners, while other orders may be available for neighbours, acquaintances, or others. Local legal information services can explain options in your area.
From Application to Hearing: Common Stages
The exact steps differ by province or territory, but many TPO processes have similar stages.
1. Application for a Protection Order
The process usually starts with an application to a court. Depending on your region, this may be done by:
- Filling out court forms and filing them at a courthouse
- Speaking with a duty counsel or legal clinic that helps complete forms
- Asking police or a designated professional to help apply, where this is available
You may be asked to describe recent incidents, ongoing safety concerns, and why you are afraid. Written statements, texts, photos, or other documents may be used as supporting information.
Some courts let people apply by phone or video, especially for urgent or remote situations. Court staff can explain what is available locally.
2. Temporary (Emergency) Order
In many places, a judge or justice of the peace can make a temporary order quickly if there appears to be an immediate safety concern. This may be:
- Issued without the other person being present (called “ex parte” in some regions)
- Made for a short period until a full hearing can be scheduled
This temporary order is usually focused on urgent conditions, such as stopping contact or removing weapons, until both sides have a chance to be heard.
3. Service of the Order on the Other Person
After a temporary order is made, it needs to be “served” on the other person so they know the conditions and the date of the next hearing. Service usually means:
- Giving them a copy in a legally recognized way (often by police, a sheriff, or a process server)
- Documenting when and how they received it
The order generally is not fully enforceable against the other person until they have been properly served, though local rules can vary.
Courts usually do not ask people to personally hand the order to the other party. Court staff or police can explain service options that reduce risk.
4. Extended or Full Hearing
A later court date is usually set to decide whether to continue, change, or end the temporary order. At this extended hearing:
- Both sides may have a chance to speak or provide written information
- The judge reviews safety concerns and evidence from each side
- The court decides whether to make a longer-term order, adjust conditions, or dismiss the application
This hearing may be in person, by phone, or by video, depending on regional practices and court capacity.
If attending court near the other party feels unsafe, you can ask court staff in advance about options such as separate waiting areas, remote attendance, or staggered entry/exit where available.
What Types of Relief Can a TPO Include?
Relief is the set of rules and protections included in the order. Not every court will grant every type of condition. Examples can include:
- No-contact terms: No phone calls, texts, emails, messages, or third-party contact, except as the court allows (for example, through lawyers or supervised services).
- Stay-away conditions: Requiring the person to stay a certain distance away from your home, work, school, or other places important to you or your children.
- Firearms and weapons restrictions: Temporarily removing or prohibiting firearms or certain weapons, where permitted by local law.
- Exclusive possession of a home: In some family situations, granting one person temporary exclusive use of the shared residence.
- Conditions about children’s safety: For example, supervised contact or limits on where exchanges can occur, often coordinated with family law processes.
- Communication boundaries: Rules about respectful or limited communication if some contact is necessary for children or logistics.
Protection orders are focused on safety, not on dividing property or making final parenting decisions. Those issues are usually handled through separate family law processes.
How Long Do Temporary Protection Orders Last?
The length of a TPO depends heavily on local law and the court’s decision. In many places:
- Emergency or temporary orders may last from a few days up to several weeks or months.
- At the extended hearing, the court may replace the TPO with a longer-term order that can last months or sometimes years.
- Some orders have a set end date, while others last until a court changes or cancels them.
Courts may allow applications to renew or extend protection orders if safety concerns continue. There is usually a process to ask for changes if circumstances change on either side.
Because timelines differ across provinces and territories, local legal information services or community-based advocates can explain typical durations in your area. Additional support options across Canada can also be found through resources listed at DV.Support.