The Washington State Court issued a new protection order statute, under RCW 7.105 and is effective July 1, 2022. All the current types of restraining orders are now under one statute: combining the following:

 

  1. Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO)
  2. Sexual Assault Protection Order (SAPO)
  3. Stalking Protection Order
  4. Anti-Harassment Protection Order (AHO)
  5. Vulnerable Adult Protection Order (VAPO)
  6. Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO)

 

These orders are now consolidated and simplified under this revised statute. The new legislation is now a new combined protection order petition, instead of the 6 individual protection order types, we now have just an all-in-one petition. The main intent is to make it more accessible, efficient, and effective, still aiming to truly center on survivors and their safety. 

 

What Are The Important Changes in RCW 7.105 That I Need To Know

 

Court proceedings can be difficult for survivors. The new statute aims to provide relief during the process by allowing them to receive more support while in court. 

 

  1. There is now one form to be used for all protection order petitions, and the filing can be done remotely or in person, whichever the petition prefers. 
  2. Law Enforcement Confidential Information Form (LECIF) can now be sealed and filed into the case.
  3. Submitting evidence or exhibits at the full hearing of a protection order case.
  4. Denial Orders For Temporary Protection Orders – petitioner may still have a return hearing date and submit an amended petition within 14 days.
  5. Anti-Harassment Protect order now has subcategories that you can just tick on the form whichever applies to your petition. 
  6. Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) has its own forms.
  7. Combined temporary order form for all civil protection orders, except for ERPO.
  8. The court may issue a different order type than the one requested by the petitioner.
  9. Previously, a protection order can only be filed in the county where the victim lives. In this new statute, the victim can file in the county where the scenario happened, regardless of where the victim lives. 

 

If you have questions about this and may need help navigating through the new statute, or requirement documents when requesting a Civil Protection Order (CPO), Soriano Law LLC is able to help you. Please reach out to us via phone (360-249-6174), social media (Facebook @SorianoLawLLC), or email ron@sorianolawllc.com