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  • Petition for Protection from Abuse

  • The translation on this website is for informational purposes only.
    When you file a protection order petition through this website, the answers must be filed in English.

  • The court processes requests for Temporary Protection Orders during normal business hours. Call 911 if you or your minor children face an immediate and present danger of abuse.

     

    There are a number of steps in this process. If at any time you feel overwhelmed and would like free assistance, click on “Find an Advocate.”

    Find an Advocate

    Please answer the questions as best you can. You can make your address and phone number confidential.  You can also save or download your form to finish it later.

    Boxes with an asterix (*) must be filled out. This information is necessary for the court to make a decision on your protection petition.

    Once you click submit,  your petition will be created as a PDF document and emailed for official filing with the Court Clerk in your country.  You can also download and send a copy to yourself.

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  • Your Information

    The court calls the person filing a petition for protection a “plaintiff.” That is you. The person you are seeking protection from is called the “defendant.” That person is also called an “adverse party.”
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  • The court needs your email address to communicate with you.

    If you do not currently have a secure email address, you can set up a free one through proton mail. This link below will walk you through the process.

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  • The cover sheet for your case has to include the full social security numbers. The court clerk uses this information to record your petition in the list of pending cases (or “the docket”) before the court.

    The public cannot see the cover sheet. It is also stored in a separate place from the rest of the case file, and destroyed later.

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  • Adverse Party Information

    The adverse party is the person you are seeking protection from. Law enforcement will need specific information about the adverse party to find them and “serve” them with a copy of the petition.  “Serve” just means give the documents in person.
    • Click to Add Home Address 
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    • Click to Add Work Address 
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    • Click to Add Other Address 
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    • It will also assist the police in enforcing the protection order if you can provide the adverse party’s date of birth, social security number and current address.
    • Click to Add Adverse Party Identifiers 
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    • Click to add Physical Appearance Information  
    • Click to Add Car Information 
    • Click to Add Weapon Information 
    • Click to Upload photo(s) of adverse party 

    • Files uploaded will be made available to the person you are seeking protection from.

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    • Minor Adverse Party Information

      When the adverse party is less than 18 years old, the court needs more information.

    • Both the person you are seeking protection from and their parent or guardian will get notification when the petition is filed.

      A guardian is a person appointed by the court to make legal decisions affecting the adverse party's personal health, safety and welfare.

    • Address where parent or guardian can be served 
    • Click to add another address 
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    • Close this section 

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  • Children Information

    The court needs information about your minor child(ren), for two reasons (1) to issue a protection order for them, (2) to have the power to make legal decisions for them
    • Click to add Child #1 Information 
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    • If you are married to a person when a child is born, the law assumes you are both the child’s legal parents. This means parentage is established.

      If you are not married, it is more complex. Putting a man’s name on your child’s birth certificate does not establish fatherhood under the law. Instead, a man must sign a formal acknowledgment of fatherhood or a court must decide that he is the father of a child (“paternity”). Only then is parentage established.

      If you indicate that parentage is established in any other situation, you may create rights for the adverse party to seek parenting time.

    • Click to add Child #2 Information 
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    • If you are married to a person when a child is born, the law assumes you are both the child’s legal parents. This means parentage is established.

      If you are not married, it is more complex. Putting a man’s name on your child’s birth certificate does not establish fatherhood under the law. Instead, a man must sign a formal acknowledgment of fatherhood or a court must decide that he is the father of a child (“paternity”). Only then is parentage established.

      If you indicate that parentage is established in any other situation, you may create rights for the adverse party to seek parenting time.

    • Click to add Child #3 Information 
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    • If you are married to a person when a child is born, the law assumes you are both the child’s legal parents. This means parentage is established.

      If you are not married, it is more complex. Putting a man’s name on your child’s birth certificate does not establish fatherhood under the law. Instead, a man must sign a formal acknowledgment of fatherhood or a court must decide that he is the father of a child (“paternity”). Only then is parentage established.

      If you indicate that parentage is established in any other situation, you may create rights for the adverse party to seek parenting time.

    • Click to add Child #4 Information 
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    • If you are married to a person when a child is born, the law assumes you are both the child’s legal parents. This means parentage is established.

      If you are not married, it is more complex. Putting a man’s name on your child’s birth certificate does not establish fatherhood under the law. Instead, a man must sign a formal acknowledgment of fatherhood or a court must decide that he is the father of a child (“paternity”). Only then is parentage established.

      If you indicate that parentage is established in any other situation, you may create rights for the adverse party to seek parenting time.

    • Click to add information about your other children 

    • Please enter the following information for your other minor child(ren):

      • Full legal name
      • Whether you are asking for their protection
      • Their date of birth, sex, and race
      • Places they have lived in in the last five years
      • Name and relationship of adult(s) living with the child in the last five years, and adult(s) present address
      • Name and address of persons not a party of this proceeding that they have physical custody or claim to have physical custody or visitation rights of any of your child(ren)
    • Click to add information about where the child(ren) currently live 

    • DO NOT INCLUDE THE ADDRESS IF YOU ARE REQUESTING THAT YOUR ADDRESS REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. Any address you enter below will be given to the defendant.

    • You asked that the following address {plaintiffAddress} remains confidential. If that is the case, you must type "CONFIDENTIAL" in this field.

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    • Click to add place where the child(ren) lived for the last five years 

    • DO NOT include your address if you requested it to remain confidential.

    • You asked that the following address {plaintiffAddress} remains confidential. If that is the case, you may want to type "CONFIDENTIAL" in this field.

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    • Click to add information about child #1 
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    • Click to add information about child # 2 
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    • Click to add information about child # 3 
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    • Click to add information about child # 4 
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    • Click to add information about your other children 

    • Please enter the following information for each one of your children:

      • Full legal name
      • Date, City, and State where children lived
      • Name and Relationship of Adult(s) Living with Child(ren), and Adult(s) Present Address
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  • What happened?

    The court wants to understand why you need the protective order.  A protection from abuse order is only available if there is physical violence, bodily injury, sexual abuse or threats of physical violence. 

  • Be sure and provide as much detail as you can about when, where and how the abuse happened, as well as any injuries. Abuse includes:

    • Slapping, punching, shoving, kicking, choking, strangling, hitting, grabbing, pushing, spitting,
    • Attempts to frighten you by punching a wall, breaking furniture, destroying treasured items, or frequent calling, texting or following behaviors.
    • Threats, such as words suggesting harm to you, your child(ren), your pet, the adverse party, and/or loved ones. For example, threats to kill you, your children, or commit suicide.
    • Use or display of weapons by the adverse party, to frighten or threaten you

  • Tell your story as completely as possible, by including a general description of your relationship and specific incidents. Think about these questions:

    • How do you know the adverse party?
    • How long have you been together? Years? Since a particular date?
    • Do you live together? Have you in the past?
    • Have there been previous protection orders?
    • Have certain behaviors been present throughout your relationship? What are they?
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  • In describing specific events, think about these questions:

    • Did anyone call the police?
    • Did you get medical attention?
    • Did anyone see your injuries?
    • Were there any witnesses?
    • Are there any pictures, videos, or text messages related to the incident?
    • What did the adverse party do or say that made you feel afraid?
    • Was a weapon involved?
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  • Other Cases

    The judge needs to know about any cases involving the adverse party, you, and/or the minor child(ren). This will help the judge make their decision.
    • Click to add information about divorce or legal separation case 
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    • Click to add information about divorce or legal separation case 
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    • Click to add information about action seeking protection order case 
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    • Click to add information about action seeking protection order case 
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    • Click to add information about action seeking protection order case 
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  • Relief: Protected Persons and Locations

    Relief is what you are asking the court to order. What do you want the court to order regarding who makes decisions for or lives with the child(ren)? Custody: having the right to make decisions for your child(ren).

  • DO NOT INCLUDE THE ADDRESS IF YOU ARE REQUESTING THAT YOUR ADDRESS REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. Any address you enter below will be given to the defendant.

  • You asked that the following address {plaintiffAddress} remains confidential. If that is the case, you must type "CONFIDENTIAL" in this field.

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  • Relief: Custody and Visitation

  • Custody: when you have right to make decisions for your child, except for parenting time.

    Visitation: when a person has access to your child and spends time with them.

    Joint Legal Custody: when you and the other parent share major decisions for the child, except for parenting time.

    Sole Legal Custody: when only one parent will make major decisions for the child, except for parenting time.

  • Parenting Time: amount of time each parent spends with their children when parents separate.

    Supervised Parenting Time: parenting time supervised by a third party.

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  • Relief: Final Order

    Typically, 21 days after you get your temporary Protection Order, you will need to go to a hearing. You can ask additional relief that will last for one year. What would you like the court to order?

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  • Review and Submit

  • You have successfully filled out the petition for a Protection from Abuse Order (PFA). By clicking “Submit,” you will file your petition with the court clerk in {county}.

    If you would like to save your answers and view them later, select “Save.”

  • You have selected Wichita County. The Wichita County District Court is located in Leoti, Kansas. If you want to file in the city of Wichita, please select Sedgwick County instead.

  • Request for Court Interpreter at the Hearing

    Your request for an interpreter will be sent to the court.
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