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.
Pennsylvania Petition for Protection from Abuse in the Court of Common Pleas
Description
How to fill out Pennsylvania Petition For Protection From Abuse In The Court Of Common Pleas?
If you’re looking for a way to appropriately prepare the Pennsylvania Petition for Protection from Abuse in the Court of Common Pleas without hiring a legal representative, then you’re just in the right place. US Legal Forms has proven itself as the most extensive and reliable library of official templates for every individual and business scenario. Every piece of paperwork you find on our web service is designed in accordance with federal and state laws, so you can be certain that your documents are in order.
Follow these simple guidelines on how to obtain the ready-to-use Pennsylvania Petition for Protection from Abuse in the Court of Common Pleas:
- Ensure the document you see on the page meets your legal situation and state laws by examining its text description or looking through the Preview mode.
- Type in the form title in the Search tab on the top of the page and choose your state from the dropdown to find another template if there are any inconsistencies.
- Repeat with the content verification and click Buy now when you are confident with the paperwork compliance with all the demands.
- ​Log in to your account and click Download. Create an account with the service and opt for the subscription plan if you still don’t have one.
- Use your credit card or the PayPal option to purchase your US Legal Forms subscription. The document will be available to download right after.
- Choose in what format you want to save your Pennsylvania Petition for Protection from Abuse in the Court of Common Pleas and download it by clicking the appropriate button.
- Import your template to an online editor to fill out and sign it rapidly or print it out to prepare your paper copy manually.
Another great advantage of US Legal Forms is that you never lose the paperwork you acquired - you can pick any of your downloaded blanks in the My Forms tab of your profile any time you need it.
Form popularity
FAQ
You will not be required to pay any fees when you file a petition for a protection from abuse order. If you are granted a PFA, the judge may require the defendant to pay all the fees of filing and service as well as an additional $100, which goes towards enforcement of domestic violence laws.
Q: How long can a PFA Order last? A: A PFA Order can last up to three years. The length of the PFA is determined by the Judge who presides over the Protection From Abuse action. If there has been a violation of the PFA Order by the defendant, the PFA Order can be extended for an additional three years.
First, the accuser will file an emergency or temporary PFA order against you, after which a hearing will be scheduled in less than 10 days. At this hearing, you may defend yourself against the order and bring evidence and witnesses. This ?final hearing? is your opportunity to contest your PFA.
An individual who is 18 years of age or more, or teens and children who are accompanied by a parent, an adult household member, or a guardian ad litem, can go to court and ask for a PFAOpens In A New Window. A PFA can make it illegal for the abuser to contact you or your children.
The police or anyone 18 and over can serve the PFA petitions and orders. The server must sign your affidavit of service so that you can bring it to the final hearing to prove the abuser was served.
The victim does not have to pay any fees to the court for anything related to the filing, serving, or enforcing of a PFA. Once the case is over, the judge will decide whether the abuser or the county has to pay the expenses.
PFA Orders are free for the person seeking protection. In most cases, the defendant will have to pay for all or part of the PFA process. Otherwise, the county must pay.
Standard of Proof at the PFA Hearing To grant a final PFA, the plaintiff must prove, and the judge must find, the following by a preponderance of the evidence: The parties have a qualifying domestic relationship and. An act of domestic violence occurred.