Injunctions for Protection
Types of Injunctions
The Domestic Relations Clerk will help victims obtain Injunctions for Protection. Injunctions are commonly referred to as “restraining orders”. There are no fees to file an injunction. The Clerk will supply the forms and provide assistance if needed.
There are five types of Injunctions that differ based on the nature of the threat and the victim’s relationship to the abuser. Please review the types of Injunctions below.
You may file a Domestic Violence Injunction if there has been an incident of violence and the Respondent is your spouse, former spouse, related to you by blood or marriage, living with you or has lived with you in the past, or is the other parent of your child(ren), whether you have been married or lived together.
You may file a Repeat Violence Injunction if two or more incidents of violence have been committed against you or a member of your immediate family by another person. At least one of those acts of violence must have occurred within the last six months of filing a petition.
You may file a Sexual Violence Injunction if there has been an incident of violence wherein a sexual act is committed or attempted. In order to receive an injunction, you must have reported the sexual violence to law enforcement and be cooperating in any resulting criminal proceeding.
You may file a Dating Violence Injunction if there has been an incident of violence between individuals who have had a continuing relationship of a romantic and intimate nature. The relationship must have existed within the past six months.
You may file a Stalking Violence Injunction if someone purposely follows or harasses you repeatedly over a period of time for no legitimate reason.
Domestic & Sexual Violence
The Clerk of Court shall provide clerical assistance for the preparation and filing of a temporary injunction for protection against abuse by any person who is not represented by counsel.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911 or the Sheriff’s Office at (863) 946-1600. Domestic Violence forms can be found online at flcourts.gov/family-law-forms.