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Palm Beach County Clerk · Protection Order Portal

You’re here. That’s a step.

A safe, private place to ask for protection — at your own pace.

Whatever brought you here today, you’re not alone. Take your time. You can pause, leave, or come back whenever you need to.

What to expect

A guided portal for filing civil injunction petitions for domestic violence, repeat violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking. Takes about 30 minutes. Confidential and secure — save your progress and resume anytime.

Confidential ~30 minutes Save and resume Safe Exit anytime Using this portal safely

Maya is here to listen. She’ll ask questions in plain language and help you fill out the right forms — at your pace. You can pause anytime. There are no wrong answers.

Who would you like to talk with?

Maya is online · She won’t rush you.

Have Questions?

Ask anything about protection orders, the filing process, or your rights.

If you need to leave quickly, press ESC. Nothing here is saved to your computer. Learn more
Quick Exit leaves instantly with no browser history.
No permanent data — closing the tab erases everything.
Confidential filing — your address can be hidden.

Need immediate help?

DV Hotline 1-800-500-1119 Victim Services Dial 211 Legal Aid PBC Legal Aid

Maya

Ready to help

Additional Information

We need a few more details. Fields marked with * are required.

Must Be 18 to File You must be 18 or older to file on your own. Under Florida Statute § 741.30, a minor child can file a petition for an injunction for protection against domestic violence by and through a parent or guardian.

You’re in the right place.

This form has a few short sections. Answer what you can — you can skip questions and come back to them. We’ll guide you the whole way.

Your progress saves automatically Everything you enter is kept as you go. Nothing is filed until you review and submit at the end.
Create a password to step away If you need to leave before finishing, set a resume password (use the button in the sidebar). When you come back, your answers will be waiting — only you can unlock them.
Leave instantly with ESC Press the ESC key — or the red Quick Exit button at the top of the page — at any moment. The page closes immediately and this site will not appear in your browser history.
Help is built in Tap the ? icons next to legal terms for plain-language explanations. There are no wrong answers, and nothing you enter commits you to anything.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. You can also reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-500-1119, any time.

Background – Self

We are going to ask some background information about yourself.

 
The respondent will see this address when they receive the served petition. If you do not want them to know where you live, check the box above to file a Request for Confidential Filing of Address (Form 12.980(h)) and we will keep your address off the served documents.
Why we ask
Florida courts require the petitioner's date of birth to verify identity, route the case to the correct division (e.g., Unified Family Court), and prevent duplicate records.
Your phone and email stay private from the respondent. Contact information you provide here is used only by the Clerk's office and the court to reach you — it is not included on the petition served to the respondent.

Background – Respondent

Now we will ask some questions about the person against whom you are filing the Petition for Injunction.

The respondent must be an individual person.

Civil injunction petitions can only be filed against a natural person — not a business, organization, or government agency. If the person you need protection from is a business or organization, this portal cannot help you. Please contact the Clerk's office directly at (561) 355-2996 or visit in person at the Palm Beach County Main Courthouse.

 
Not sure which option fits? Tap for definitions.
  • Spouse / Former Spouse — currently or previously legally married.
  • We live/lived together (cohabitant) — share or shared a household as a family, not just as roommates.
  • Parent of my child — share a child, whether or not you were ever married or lived together.
  • Related by blood or marriage — parents, children, siblings, grandparents, in-laws, etc.
  • Dating relationship — continuing and significant romantic or intimate relationship.
  • Acquaintance or stranger — know them but no family or romantic relationship, or no prior relationship.
Why we ask
If minor children are involved — whether you share them with the respondent or they were present during incidents — the court can include temporary custody, visitation, and child-support provisions in the protection order to keep them safe. Information about children is confidential and not available to the public.

Incidents

Next, you will be asked a series of questions about the incident(s) that happened. We will start with the most recent and then ask about the others.

Prefer to talk? Tap the microphone and speak — your words will appear here.

Other Incidents

Now let’s talk about other incidents. Add each one separately — even short ones. We will ask the same questions for each.

No other incidents added yet. Use the button below to add one.

More About the Respondent

Let’s get some more information about this person — including any tattoos, scars, or other distinguishing marks. These details help the Sheriff identify and serve them.

Physical Description

Why we ask
The respondent's physical description helps the Sheriff identify them when serving the petition and protection order, especially if their address is unknown or they move. Provide whatever you remember — none of these fields are required individually.

Vehicle Information

Employment

Prior Court Cases

This section will ask about other cases you and this person may have.

What protection are you seeking from the court?

Indicate all that apply.

Locations for Stay-Away Provisions

We filled in what you told us earlier — you can adjust anything here.

Review Your Petition

Plain Language Legal Language

Documents Ready

Petition Filed
Under Review
Hearing Scheduled
Order Issued
Active Protection

Upcoming Hearing

Recent Activity

Your Documents

Actions

Modify Order Request changes to existing terms
Extend Order Request extension before expiration
Report Violation The respondent violated the order

Safety Planning

Your safety is the most important thing. Use this checklist to prepare for your protection.

Local Resources:

National DV Hotline: 1-800-500-1119 (24/7) PBC Victim Services: 211 Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA): (561) 265-3797
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