Restraining Orders

This section defines domestic violence for the purposes of getting a civil order for protection. Domestic violence, also known as family violence, is when a family or household member commits one or more of the following acts against you:

• attempting to cause, threatening to cause, or causing you physical harm;
• placing you in fear of physical harm;
• stalking you;
• causing you to involuntarily engage in sexual activity by force, threat of force, or duress;
• committing a sex offense against you;
• abusing, torturing, mutilating, or killing an animal with the intent to threaten, intimidate, coerce, harass, or terrorize you.¹

In addition, for the purposes of getting a civil order for protection, the following people can get an order for protection against anyone, even if the person is not a family or household member:

• victims of repeated acts of harassment;
• victims of stalking; and
• victims of sex offenses.²

¹ IC § 34-6-2-34.5
² IC § 34-6-2-5-2