Under the Domestic Violence Protection Act, domestic violence orders for protection are available to family and household members, including those over the age of 16 in dating relationships who are subject to domestic violence. Domestic violence is defined as physical harm, bodily injury or assault, or the fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, between family or household members; sexual assault of one family or household member by another; or stalking of one family or household member by another. Domestic violence protection orders are available through separate actions or as part of a dissolution, legal separation or parentage cases.
Anti-harassment orders do not require a family or household relationship. They are available to anyone subject to unlawful harassment. Unlawful harassment is a knowing and willful course of conduct which seriously alarms, annoys or harasses one or is detrimental to such person and serves no legitimate purpose. Anti-harassment orders do not address any issue associated with the parenting of children.