The Pennsylvania Petition for Protection from Abuse in the Court of Common Pleas is a legal document that can be used to request a protection order from a court of law. The petition is used by victims of domestic violence to seek protection from an abuser. It is available through the court system in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. It is also possible to obtain a protection order by filing a petition in a different court or through a private attorney. There are two types of Pennsylvania Petition for Protection from Abuse in the Court of Common Pleas: an Ex Parte Petition and a Final Protection from Abuse Order. An Ex Parte Petition is a temporary protection order issued without the abuser present and is valid for up to 10 days. The Final Protection from Abuse Order is a more permanent order that is issued after a hearing with the abuser present. This type of protection order is valid for up to three years. Both types of petitions can include provisions to protect the victim from physical and emotional abuse, as well as orders for the abuser to stay away from the victim and their children.