AM I ELIGIBLE FOR A RESTRAINING ORDER? 

ABUSE PREVENTION ORDERS 

You may request an Abuse Prevention Order (a “209A Order”) from a judge of this court if: 

1.	  You and your abuser are or were: 

•  married,
 
•  or residing together in the same household,
 
•  or in a substantive dating or engagement relationship,
 
•  or related by blood or marriage,
 
•  or you have a child in common;
 

2.	  and you are suffering from abuse because your abuser has: 
•  harmed or attempted to harm you physically,
 
•  or put you in fear of imminent serious physical harm,
 
•  or caused you to engage in sexual relations involuntarily by using force, threat or duress;
 

3.	  and you: 

currently live within the geographical area of this court,
 

• 
•  or used to live within the geographical area of this court but you left to avoid abuse.
 

A judge may issue an Abuse Prevention Order without prior notice to your abuser if there is 
a substantial likelihood of immediate danger of abuse. 

HARASSMENT PREVENTION ORDERS
 

You may request a Harassment Prevention Order (a “258E Order”) from a judge of this court if: 

1.	  You are suffering from harassment because: 

•	 

someone has committed 3 or more acts:
 

R 

that were willful and malicious,
 

“Malicious” means characterized by cruelty, hostility or revenge. 

R  and were aimed at you,
 
R  and were intended to cause you fear, intimidation, abuse or damage to property,
 

“Abuse” means causing or attempting to cause physical harm, or causing fear of imminent serious physical harm. 

R  and did in fact cause you fear, intimidation, abuse or damage to property; 

•	  or someone has caused you at least once to engage in sexual relations involuntarily 


by using force, threat or duress;
 

•	  or someone has committed against you at least once an act that violates any of the following statutes: 
General Laws chapter 265, §§ 13B, 13F or 13H (indecent assault and battery), 22 or 22A (rape), 
23 (statutory rape), 24 or 24B (assault with intent to rape), 26C (enticing a child), 43 (criminal stalking), 
43A (criminal harassment), or chapter 272, § 3 (drugging for sexual intercourse); 

2.	  and you currently live within the geographical area of this court. 

A judge may issue a Harassment Prevention Order without prior notice to your harasser if there is 
a substantial likelihood of immediate danger of harassment.