Restraining Orders

You could qualify for an order of protection due to domestic violence if the abuser has committed domestic violence, as defined by law, and the abuser is a family or household member, which means:

• a spouse/ ex-spouse;
• someone you live/d with;
• anyone related to you by blood or marriage;
• someone you are dating or have dated;
• someone who you have a child in common with, even if you never lived together and never married.¹

If the person abusing you does not fall into one of these relationship categories, you may still be able to get an order of protection against him/her if s/he is stalking you or has sexually assaulted you. For an order of protection due to stalking or sexual assault, you do not need to have a relationship with the offender.²

Note: A court in Missouri can give you an order of protection even if you are only in Missouri temporarily as long as the domestic violence happened, was attempted, or was threatened within the state of Missouri. If there were additional incidents of domestic violence that happened outside of Missouri, you can also include these incidents in your petition as a way to show your need for protection.³

¹ MO ST § 455.010(7)
² MO ST § 455.010(12)
³ MO ST § 455.032