Violence Protection

If You are in Danger Call 911

The Violence Protection division is available to provide information to all parties involved with the injunction for protection process; commonly referred to as restraining orders. 

Types of Injunctions

Generally, Florida law states that a court can enter an injunction to protect the victim of violence under any of the following types of violent relationships:

Domestic Violence: Requires that the parties have lived together "as if a family" or have a child together. Petitioner must be a victim of domestic violence, or have reasonable cause to believe that violence is imminent.

Repeat Violence: Requires that the respondent have committed two incidents of violence against the petitioner or the petitioner's immediate family member, one of the incidents must have been within the past six months.

Dating Violence: Requires that the parties have had a continuing dating relationship within the past six months that involved the expectation of affection or sexual involvement. Petitioner must be a victim of violence or have reasonable cause to believe violence is imminent.

Sexual Violence: The Petitioner must be a victim of sexual violence, have reported that crime and be cooperating with law enforcement agencies; or the respondent who committed the sexual violence was sentenced and the term of imprisonment is expired or is due to expire within 90 days.

Stalking: The Petitioner must be a victim of stalking or cyberstalking committed by the respondent. A person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks another person commits stalking.

Pro se Filing Help

Turbo Court can assist Pro se (for oneself) filers with document preparation:

• Domestic Violence Packet Filing Help

Violence Protection Forms

Weekday Injunction Packets

(take to Manatee County Clerk's Office any weekday)

Weekend Injunction Packets

(take completed packet to Manatee Sheriff's office front desk on weekend or holiday)

Procedure to File an Injunction

The Clerk of Court's Violence Protection Division provides the forms and instructions for completion. The completed petition and any other necessary forms are filed with the clerk, who will have a judge review the file as soon as possible, usually the same day. At that time the judge will determine whether to issue a Temporary Injunction with a hearing set within 15 days, set a hearing on the petition without issuing a temporary injunction, or deny the petition.

There is no fee to file an injunction or to have one served in the State of Florida.

For a victim who is a minor (less than 18 years of age,) a parent or guardian must file on behalf of (OBO) the minor child.

12th Judicial Circuit

Interpreters - http://www.jud12.flcourts.org/Programs/Court-Interpreters