The Protective Order Unit of the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office represents victims of family violence who seek protective orders. The Unit is located on the third floor of the Tarrant County Family Law Center at 200 East Weatherford Street in downtown Fort Worth.

Anyone seeking assistance may call the Protective Order Unit at (817)884-1623 between 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday, or come to the office during intake hours which are 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday- Friday.

You or the abuser must live in Tarrant County, and you must provide a daytime address where the constable can serve the abuser with notice of the hearing date.

If the District Attorney's Office is prosecuting you for a family violence offense or has prosecuted you for a family violence offense in the past, then the Protective Order Unit cannot represent you in an application for a protective order. The Protective Order Unit cannot represent anyone who has any kind of criminal charge (DWI or hot checks, for example) pending in Tarrant County.

If you have a divorce or any kind of suit affecting the parent child relationship (child support, visitation, custody, paternity) pending in Tarrant County, you will need to talk to your attorney about filing your protective order as part of that lawsuit.

Before the Criminal District Attorney’s Office can represent you in a protective order application, you must complete a questionnaire and supply us with information about your situation. The questionnaire may be downloaded from this site.

Common Questions about Protective Orders

Q. Do I have to be married to the person I want an order against?
A. No. You also meet the relationship requirement if you and the abuser are divorced, lived together, had a child together (even if you weren't married), or had a dating relationship or if you and the abuser are related by blood or marriage. Foster parent and foster child also meet the relationship requirement.

Q. Do I have to go to court to get a protective order?
A. Yes. The person you want an order against must be served - receive personal notification of your application for a protective order - and be given the opportunity to show up for court on the hearing day and object to the order.

Q. Can I get a protective order because of mental abuse?
A. No. You must show that family violence -- physical abuse (pushing, shoving, slapping, hitting, kicking, choking, or any other act intended to cause physical harm) or the threat of imminent physical abuse (the person is able and likely to follow through) -- has occurred and is likely to occur in the future. Mental abuse and emotional abuse are not part of the definition of family violence in the Texas Family Code.

Q. How much will this cost me?
A. Our office does not charge any attorney’s fees to represent you. By law, the district clerk cannot charge a protective order applicant any filing fees, and the constable cannot charge the applicant for service of the papers.

Q. How long does it take to get a protective order?
A. Usually it takes at least two weeks to get a protective order that the police can enforce.

Q. What can a protective order do?
A. It can order the abuser to stay 200 yards away from where you live or work. It can also order the abuser not to commit family violence or threaten you or harass you or threaten you through someone else. The abuser can also be ordered not to possess any weapons.

Q. How long does a protective order last?
A. A protective order can be in effect for up to two years.

Q. What won't a protective order do?
A. It will not order the abuser to stay 200 yards away from you.
It will not change the terms of any court ordered visitation or custody. It will not guarantee that the abuser will leave you alone.

Q. What’s the difference between a protective order and a restraining order?
A. Both types of orders can direct a person to stay away from your home and place of employment and to not be violent with you. However, only a protective order is criminally enforceable, meaning that the abuser can be arrested and charged with a criminal offense for violating the order. The police cannot arrest someone for violating a restraining order; you must go back to the judge who issued the restraining order to enforce it.

Download the Protective Order Unit Questionnaire
PDF Format: Questionnaire Word Format: Questionnaire	Adobe Acrobat Reader
This questionnaire is in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.  Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view this questionnaire.  Most computers already have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed.  If your computer does not have it installed, you may download it by clicking the link below.