1. The next step is to appear before the judge, and explain why you need protection.

2. In most cases, after hearing your story, the judge will give you a temporary protective order which is good up to 10 court business days. You should keep this order with you at all times.

3. The judge will then schedule a second hearing no later than 10 court business days after this temporary order is issued.

4. The police will serve your dating partner with a copy of the temporary order. The order will tell your dating partner the day and time of the second hearing. Once the order has been served, it is a crime for your dating partner to violate the order by doing any of the things it prohibits.

5. You must return to court for the second hearing; if you do not, your protective order will expire. This second hearing is often referred to as "the 10-day hearing." If an emergency makes it impossible for you to attend the hearing, you should call your advocate or the clerk at the court and explain the circumstances. S/he can figure out what to do.

At this hearing, both you and your dating partner will have the chance to tell your side of the story. The judge will then decide whether or not to continue the protective order. It can be continued for up to one year.

If you are worried about your safety while in court, talk to your advocate and/or someone from the court, such as a court officer, so they can take the steps to protect you while in court. (Note: The court officers have a uniform and a badge.)

You go not have to have any contact with your abuser while you are in court. If s/he approaches you, you can go to a court officer for help.

6. If a protective order is issued at the 10-day hearing, it will have an expiration date on it. The order should also have a date and time on it for when you can return to court and ask to have this order extended. Before you leave court, make sure you know when the order expires and when you need to return to court for an extension. You will receive another notice from the court about when you must return for the extension.

To get this extension, there do not need to have been any new acts of violence. But you will have to explain to the court why you still need the order- for example, that this protective order is what has kept you from being abused.

If you are thinking about getting an extension, talk to an advocate or court clerk before your order expires so you know exactly what you will need to do to get the extension.

To stop abusing you;

To have no contact whatsoever with you or your child (even through another person);

To stay a certain distance away from you, your home, your school and your workplace;

If you live together, to move out of your home;

To pay child support if you have a child together;

To pay you for any losses that were caused by the abuse (such as uninsured medical expenses or lost pay if you had to miss work);

To surrender all guns or firearms and any license to carry firearms (this must be done at the very first hearing).