Restraining Orders

A temporary or permanent restraining order may:

• order the abuser to not threaten, harass, assault, molest, sexually assault or attack you;
• prohibit the abuser from imposing any restraint upon you or your liberty (freedom);
• prohibit the abuser from entering your home or the shared family home;
• grant you temporary child custody or visitation rights;
• order the abuser to not injure or threaten to injure your animals;¹
• order the abuser not to contact you in any way, including through your home, workplace, etc.;
• order the abuser to stay 100 yards away from you;²
• grant you temporary possession of an automobile, checkbook, documentation of health, automobile or homeowners insurance, any documents needed for purposes of proving identity, a key or other necessary specified personal belongings;
• if you and the abuser are spouses, or if you have a minor/dependent child in common and you live together, the judge may order the following additional things if they are necessary to maintain the safety and basic needs of you or your child(ren). The judge can prohibit the abuser from:
  • taking any action that could result in the termination of any necessary utility services or necessary services related to your home or the family home;
  • taking any action that could result in the cancellation, change of coverage or change of beneficiary of any health, automobile or homeowners insurance policy that would harm you or the child that you have with the abuser;
  • getting rid of, transferring, hiding, etc., any specified property owned or leased by you;³ and/or
• anything else that is needed to protect you, your children and/or anyone else the judge believes is appropriate.¹

In addition, as part of a permanent restraining order, the judge can order the following additional protections. The judge can order that the abuser:

• make rent or mortgage payments on the family home or the home where you live with your and the abuser’s minor/dependent child(ren);
• maintain (keep) utility services or other necessary services related to the family home or the home where you live with your and the abuser’s minor/dependent child(ren);
• maintain (keep) all existing health, automobile or homeowners insurance coverage without any change in coverage or change in the beneficiary; and/or
• provide financial support for any dependent child(ren) that you have with the abuser (provided that the respondent has a legal duty to support such child or children and the ability to pay), which will last up to 120 days or until another order for financial support is decided by a court, whichever happens first. Note: The judge cannot enter any order of financial support without sufficient evidence as to the abuser’s ability to pay, which must be presented at the hearing. (If the judge does not make an order for financial support at the hearing, it cannot be done as part of the restraining order later on).⁴

¹ C.G.S. § 46b-15(b)
² See Application for Relief from Abuse
³ C.G.S. § 46b-15(d)
⁴ C.G.S. § 46b-15(e)