Emergency Protective Order
Protective orders are available in all service areas of The Center for Women and Families. Laws on protective orders differ by state, but The Center can provide you with information about protective orders in Kentucky and Indiana. You DO NOT have to pay to file a request for a protective order in either state.
Protective Orders in Kentucky
There are different categories of restraining orders from various court proceedings, including but not limited to criminal court and other family court cases. We are providing information specifically on the Kentucky Domestic Violence Order as it provides stricter enforcement laws and consequences if violated compared to other types of restraining orders.
In Kentucky, protective orders are commonly known as EPOs (emergency protective orders), DVOs (domestic violence orders), and IPOs (interpersonal protective orders). The person who requests protection is known as the petitioner and the person for whom it is against is known as the respondent.
About Kentucky Emergency Protective Orders (EPO)
To file a request for an EPO, you must show there has been an act of domestic violence. The state of Kentucky only grants EPOs when there are signs of physical injury, serious physical injury, sexual assault, sexual abuse, or the threat of physical injury, serious physical injury, sexual assault, or sexual abuse.
After you request protection, the reviewing judge may grant or deny the EPO or may grant a summons for a future court date for the judge to hear further evidence before making a decision to grant or deny the EPO.
If the judge grants the EPO, it means that the court is granting protection in advance of a full court hearing. An EPO will become binding and effective after the respondent is served with notice of the order. “Served” means that the sheriff’s office provides the respondent with a copy of the order.
From the time that the judge grants an EPO until the hearing takes place, the judge can order the following requirements for protection:
- No contact
- No further violence
- No disposing or damaging of property
- Stay a specific distance from residence, school, work, minor child, family member
- Vacate residence
- Temporary custody
- Maintain distance of up to 500 feet
- Enter any other orders as needed, not including GPS tracking
An EPO is temporary. A full hearing is scheduled within 14 days of requesting an EPO. The full hearing can only take place after a respondent is served. If respondent is not served by the court date, the court has the power to keep an EPO in place for up to six months while regularly reviewing the case, usually at two-week increments.
After the respondent is served, a hearing will go forward where the judge takes evidence from the petitioner, respondent, and any witnesses. Evidence may include testimony, photos, communications between the parties, police reports, etc. The evidence will help the judge determine if there were acts of domestic violence as defined by Kentucky law. If there is sufficient evidence, as defined by law, the judge will issue a DVO.
About Kentucky Domestic Violence Orders (DVO)
To obtain a Kentucky Domestic Violence Order, your relationship with the respondent must meet the definition of family member, married or ex-spouse, who lived together as a couple, or have a child in common.
There are 2 kinds of Kentucky DVOs that can be requested:
- No Contact Order: This means there can be no contact of any kind between you and the respondent
- No Unlawful Contact Order: This allows you to still have contact with the respondent, but stops the respondent from committing any further threats or acts of violence. Judges can order the same requirements in a DVO that they can order on an EPO (see above).
Additionally, they may also order the following requirements:
- Award temporary maintenance
- Order counseling or treatment for one or both parties
Kentucky DVOs are limited to three years but may be extended upon motion to the court before expiration of the DVO. If the judge grants you a DVO, you need to keep it with you at all times. It is also a good idea to review safety information.
Interpersonal Protective Order (IPO)
As of January 2016, Kentucky offers its residents a new form of protective order: the IPO, which provides protection to victims of violence and abuse in a dating relationship, victims of sexual assault, and victims of stalking.
A petition for an IPO may be filed by:
- A victim of dating violence and abuse
- A victim of stalking
- A victim of sexual assault
- An adult on behalf of a victim who is a minor otherwise qualifying for relief under this subsection
The petition may be filed in the victim’s county of residence or a county where the victim has fled to escape dating violence and abuse, stalking, or sexual assault.
In most Kentucky counties, the IPOs will be heard in District Court rather than Family Court.
Information You May Need to File a Protective Order
Report the requested information to the best of your ability. Providing more information to law enforcement will assist them in serving the defendant.
Information about the abuser that will be helpful in filling out the request:
- Full name (first, middle, and last)
- Birth date, Social Security number, driver’s license number
- Height and weight
- Current residence address (directions for rural areas)
- Usual residence address (directions for rural areas)
- Occupation
- Employer’s name
- Employer’s address
- Was a weapon involved?
- Is the abuser believed to be armed and dangerous?
- Is there a pending divorce action? If so, the county and case number
- Is there a pending custody action? If so, the county and case number
Information about you that will be helpful in filling out the request:
- Full name (first, middle, and last)
- Birth date
- Current residence address (directions for rural areas)
- Usual residence address (directions for rural areas)
- Occupation
- Employer’s name
- Employer’s address
- Information needed for each minor child:
- Full name (first, middle, and last)
- Birth date
- Current residence address (directions for rural areas)
- Usual residence address (directions for rural areas)
After gathering as much information as possible, you will need to go to the intake location for your county.
Where to File Protective Orders in Kentucky
Listed below are Kentucky locations for filing protective orders in the service areas for The Center for Women and Families. For counties outside of our service area, please contact your local courthouse.
Jefferson County:
Monday-Sunday: 24 hours/day
Jefferson Hall of Justice, 1st floor
600 West Jefferson Street, Louisville, KY 40202
Bullitt County:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Bullitt County Courthouse
300 S Buckman St, Shepherdsville, KY 40165
After hours and on weekends
Bullitt County Detention Center
1671 S. Preston, Shepherdsville 40165 (to the left of main door, Room
118)
Shelby County:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Shelby County Courthouse
401 Main St, Shelbyville, KY 40065
After hours and on weekends
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
501 Main Street, Shelbyville, KY 40065
OR
Shelbyville Police Department
303 Main Street, Shelbyville, KY 40065
Spencer County:
Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Spencer County Courthouse
27 E. Main Street, Taylorsville, KY 40071
After hours and on weekends
Taylorsville Police Department
70 Taylorsville Rd., Taylorsville, KY 40071
OR
Spencer County Sheriff’s Office
18 E. Main Street, Taylorsville, KY 40071
After hours if no one is there, call dispatch at 502-477-5533 for an immediate
Response.
Henry County:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Henry County Courthouse
30 N. Main Street, New Castle, KY 40050
After hours and on weekends
Call the State Police at 502-532-6363
Trimble County:
Monday – Friday between 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Trimble County Courthouse
30 Highway 42 East, Bedford, KY 40006
Outside of business hours
Call the State Police at 502-532-6363
Oldham County:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Oldham County Courthouse
100 West Jefferson Street, LaGrange, KY 40031
After hours and on weekends
LaGrange Police
121 West Main St., LaGrange, KY 40031
OR
Oldham County Police
1855 North Highway 393, LaGrange, KY 40031
OR
Oldham County Sheriffs
100 W West Jefferson St., Suite 2, LaGrange, KY
Protective Orders in Indiana
Indiana does not have categories of protective orders. A protective order is often referred to as a PO.
Under Indiana Law, protective orders are available for
- Victims of family or domestic violence
- Victims of stalking
- Victims of sex offenses
If you fall within one of these categories, you can petition for a protective order in the county where you currently or temporarily reside, the county where the respondent resides, or the county where an offense occurred.
Indiana POs are limited to 2 years but may be extended upon motion to the court before expiration of the PO. If a PO is granted, you need to keep it with you at all times. It is also a good idea to review safety information.
Where to File Protective Orders in Indiana
Listed below are Indiana locations for filing protective orders in the service areas for The Center for Women and Families. For counties outside of our service area, please contact your local courthouse.
- Clark County
Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Clerk’s Office, Clark County Government Building
Room 137
501 E. Court Avenue, Jeffersonville, IN 47130
- Floyd County:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Floyd County City County Building Clerk’s Office
Room 235
311 Hauss Square, New Albany, IN 47150
After hours and on weekends
Floyd County Sheriff’s Department
311 Hauss Square, New Albany, IN 47150
After Your Petition Is Filed
After you file your request for protection, the judge may or may not issue an EPO. Regardless, you will receive a date and time to appear in court.
If you receive an EPO, you need to keep a copy of it with you at all times.
The Center for Women and Families can provide legal advocacy for you at your hearing. Call to request an advocate. 1-844-BE-SAFE-1
Additional Safety Planning with a Protective Order
Your DVO will be entered into a nationwide database for law enforcement access.
Violations of an active protective order should be reported to your local law enforcement agency as soon as possible after the offending behavior.
What should I do when I leave the courthouse?
Here are some ideas that might be helpful to you after leaving the courthouse:
• Make several copies of the order as soon as possible.
• Keep a copy of the order with you at all times.
• Leave copies of the order at your workplace, at your home, at the children’s school or daycare, in your car, with a sympathetic neighbor, and so on.
• Give a copy to the security guard or person at the front desk where you live and/or work along with a photo of the abuser.
• Give a copy of the order to anyone who is named in and protected by the order.
• If the court has not given you an extra copy for your local law enforcement agency, take one of your extra copies and deliver it to them. One week after court, call your local law enforcement offices to make sure they have received copies of the order.
• Take steps to safety plan, including changing your locks and your phone number.
Ongoing safety planning is important after receiving the order.
People can do a number of things to increase their safety during violent incidents, when preparing to leave an abusive relationship, and when they are at home, work, and school. Many abusers obey protective orders, but some do not. It is important to build on the things you have already been doing to keep yourself safe. Advocates at The Center can assist you in designing a safety plan and can provide other forms of support. You can call us at 502-581-7222 in Kentucky, 812-944-6743 in Indiana or toll-free at 1-844-237-2331. You can also learn more about safety planning on our website here.
Additional Safety Planning If You Did Not Receive a Protective Order
If you are not granted a protective order, there are still things you can do to stay safe. You may want to contact an advocate at The Center to get support and advice on how to stay safe. We can help you develop a safety plan and help connect you with resources. You can call us at 502-581-7222 in Kentucky, 812-944-6743 in Indiana or toll-free at 1-844-237-2331. You can also learn more about safety planning on our website here.
You may be able to reapply for a protective order if a new incident of domestic abuse or sexual assault occurs after you were denied the order.
If you believe the judge made an error of law, you can talk to a lawyer about the possibility of an appeal. Generally, appeals are complicated and you will most likely need the help of a lawyer.
If you were not granted a protective order because your relationship with the abuser does not qualify, you may be able to seek protection through the criminal court system. Contact your local prosecutor’s office.
Additional Resources:
Kentucky
- Legal Aid Society:
To file for a free attorney to represent you at your EPO hearing, contact Laslou.org online or call (502) 584-1254. You may also request to complete a Legal Aid application when you file for your EPO.
- Additional information about EPOs in Jefferson County:
Domestic Violence Intake Center
- General information about protective orders in Kentucky:
Indiana
- Additional information about no-contact orders and EPOs in Floyd County:
Office of the Floyd County Prosecutor
- General information about orders of protective orders in Indiana:
