How do I get a protection order for domestic violence?
By application to the district court — and where there is immediate danger, protection comes within 24 hours. Under the Protection against Domestic Violence Act, the application goes to the district court at the victim's current address, within one month of the act of violence. Where there is evidence of immediate danger, the court issues an emergency protection order within 24 hours — without waiting for a hearing. The main hearing is listed within 30 days, and the protection order is issued for a period of 3 to 18 months. The order is immediately enforceable and an appeal does not suspend it. State and municipal bodies are obliged to forward your request to the court within 24 hours.
📋 The rules
- Application to the district court within one month
- On immediate danger: emergency protection within 24 hours
- The hearing is listed within 30 days
- The protection order runs 3 to 18 months
- It is immediately enforceable; an appeal does not suspend it
🔓 Exceptions
- State and municipal bodies must forward the request to the court within 24 hours
- Measures include removal from the home and a ban on approaching
- Appeal lies to the regional court within 7 days of service
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The measures are real: the court can require the perpetrator to refrain from violence, remove them from the shared home, bar them from approaching the victim, the home, the workplace and places of social contact, determine where the child lives, and direct them to a specialised programme. Breaching a protection order is a crime under the Criminal Code — not an administrative offence — and the police monitor compliance. If you are in danger, call the emergency number. There are also 24-hour support helplines for victims of violence and crisis centres, and legal aid can be provided free of charge.
📎 Official sources
- Ministry of Justice · Protection against Domestic Violence Act →
- Prosecutor's Office · Information for victims →
- National Legal Aid Bureau →
❓ Frequently asked
What is the deadline to apply?
One month from the act of domestic violence, to the district court at the victim's current address. State and municipal bodies must forward the request within 24 hours.
How quickly does protection arrive?
Where there is evidence of immediate danger, the court issues an emergency protection order within 24 hours, without waiting for a hearing. The main hearing follows within 30 days.
How long does the order last?
From 3 to 18 months. It is immediately enforceable, and an appeal to the regional court does not suspend its effect.
What measures can the court impose?
Refraining from violence, removal from the shared home, a ban on approaching the victim, the home and the workplace, and determining where the child lives.
What if the order is breached?
Breaching a protection order is a crime under the Criminal Code, not an administrative offence, and the police monitor compliance with it.
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