Seattle Attorneys Blog
Washington law provides several types of civil protection orders designed to protect people from violence, harassment, stalking, and abuse. Since July 1, 2022, all of these orders are governed by a single statute—chapter 7.105 RCW—which consolidated what had previously been scattered across multiple chapters of the Revised Code of Washington. Whether you are considering seeking a protection order or have been served with one, understanding the different types and how they work is an important first step.
The attorneys at Blair & Kim handle protection order cases for both petitioners and respondents throughout King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties. Contact us for a confidential case evaluation.
The Six Types of Protection Orders in Washington
Under chapter 7.105 RCW, Washington recognizes six types of civil protection orders. Five of them—domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, anti-harassment, and vulnerable adult—use a unified petition process. The sixth—extreme risk protection orders—operates under a separate framework because it deals with firearm access rather than interpersonal contact.
1. Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO)
A DVPO protects a person who has experienced domestic violence from an intimate partner or family/household member. Under RCW 7.105.010, “domestic violence” includes physical harm, bodily injury, assault, the infliction of fear of physical harm, nonconsensual sexual conduct, coercive control, unlawful harassment, or stalking by one intimate partner against another.
A key feature of the 2022 statutory update is that the definition of domestic violence now includes coercive control—a pattern of behavior that causes another person to suffer harm and unreasonably interferes with their free will and personal liberty. This can include financial exploitation, isolation from family and friends, threats against children or pets, and abusive use of litigation. Courts are also no longer required to find that the fear of harm was “imminent”—a significant change from the prior law.
Importantly, as the Court of Appeals confirmed in In re Marriage of Sheridan (2026), a petitioner does not need to prove that the respondent intended to cause fear or harm. The focus is on the respondent’s conduct, not their subjective state of mind.
Who can petition: An intimate partner, family member, or household member—or someone filing on behalf of a minor. Persons 15 and older may file on their own behalf.
2. Sexual Assault Protection Order (SAPO)
A SAPO protects a person who has been the victim of nonconsensual sexual conduct or penetration. Before the 2022 consolidation, victims of a single sexual assault by someone outside their family or household often fell through the cracks—they did not qualify for a DVPO (no domestic relationship) or an anti-harassment order (which requires a “course of conduct,” not a single act). The SAPO fills that gap.
Who can petition: Any person who has been subjected to nonconsensual sexual conduct or penetration, regardless of their relationship to the respondent.
3. Stalking Protection Order
A stalking protection order protects a person who has been the victim of stalking as defined under RCW 9A.46.110. Stalking involves intentionally and repeatedly following, harassing, or monitoring another person in a way that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Unlike the anti-harassment order, a stalking protection order specifically addresses conduct that creates a pattern of surveillance and pursuit.
Who can petition: Any person who has been the victim of stalking conduct, regardless of their relationship to the respondent.
Not sure which type of protection order applies to your situation? Blair & Kim’s attorneys can evaluate the facts and help you determine the best course of action. With offices in Seattle and Bellevue, the firm serves clients throughout King County, Pierce County, and Snohomish County. Reach out to discuss your case.
4. Anti-Harassment Protection Order (AHPO)
An AHPO protects a person who has been subjected to unlawful harassment—a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person that seriously alarms, annoys, harasses, or is detrimental to that person and serves no legitimate or lawful purpose (RCW 7.105.010(37)(a)). Anti-harassment orders are commonly used in neighbor disputes, workplace conflicts, and situations involving people who do not share a domestic relationship.
As the Court of Appeals held in Perkins v. Jensen (2026), a business owner who directs employees to harass a neighbor can be subject to an AHPO—and the rules of evidence do not apply in protection order proceedings, meaning hearsay is admissible.
Who can petition: Any person who has been subjected to unlawful harassment, regardless of their relationship to the respondent.
5. Vulnerable Adult Protection Order (VAPO)
A VAPO protects a vulnerable adult—a person 60 or older who cannot care for themselves, or an adult with a developmental disability, mental illness, or other incapacitating condition—from abuse, neglect, abandonment, or financial exploitation. These orders can be filed by the vulnerable adult, a family member, a guardian, or an interested person such as an adult protective services worker.
Who can petition: The vulnerable adult themselves, a family member, guardian, or interested person authorized under the statute.
6. Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO)
An ERPO is different from the other five types. It does not restrict contact between two people. Instead, it temporarily removes a person’s access to firearms and prohibits them from purchasing new ones when they pose a significant danger to themselves or others. ERPOs are governed by chapter 7.94 RCW and can be filed by family members, household members, or law enforcement. They use a separate petition process and are not part of the unified form used for the other protection orders.
Who can petition: Family members, household members, and law enforcement officers.
How the Protection Order Process Works
Regardless of which type of protection order you seek, the process under chapter 7.105 RCW generally follows the same steps. The petitioner files a petition using a unified form, along with a sworn declaration describing the conduct. The court may issue a temporary (ex parte) protection order the same day or the next judicial day, without a hearing, if the petition establishes that the petitioner is in immediate danger. A full hearing is then scheduled, typically within 14 days, where both sides can present evidence and testimony. If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner has been subjected to the conduct defined in the relevant statute, it issues a full protection order.
Full protection orders can last for a fixed period or be issued without an expiration date. They can include provisions restricting contact, requiring the respondent to stay away from the petitioner’s home, school, or workplace, transferring temporary custody of children, requiring the surrender of firearms, and ordering the respondent to participate in treatment programs.
What Happens If You Violate a Protection Order?
Violating a protection order in Washington is a criminal offense. Under RCW 7.105.450, a knowing violation of a DVPO, SAPO, stalking protection order, or VAPO is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. A violation can be charged as a class C felony if the respondent has two or more prior convictions for violating protection orders. Violations of anti-harassment orders are prosecuted under a separate provision but carry similar penalties.
Because a violation can result in criminal charges, anyone who is subject to a protection order should understand its terms precisely and comply with every provision. If you believe a protection order was issued in error, the proper remedy is to seek modification or appeal through the courts—not to ignore it.
Getting Help With a Protection Order in Washington
Protection order proceedings move quickly and the stakes are high—for both sides. For petitioners, a protection order can provide critical safety and stability. For respondents, an order can affect custody, housing, firearm rights, employment, and immigration status. The initial hearing is often the most important moment in the case, because appellate courts give broad deference to the trial court’s credibility findings and factual determinations.
The attorneys at Blair & Kim, PLLC handle all types of civil protection orders under chapter 7.105 RCW, as well as the intersection of protection orders with family law (custody, parenting plans, divorce) and criminal defense (violation charges, DV charges). With offices in Seattle and Bellevue, the firm serves clients throughout King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties, including Kirkland, Redmond, and Lynnwood.