- Home
- Self-Help/Forms/Rules
- Domestic Abuse
Domestic Abuse/PFA/PFSSAHT
Caution
-
Shawnee County District Court is providing the following forms and self-help resources. Please note that these resources are presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
The court cannot provide you with legal advice and you will be held to the same standard as a licensed attorney.
File Protection Cases Electronically
Use the Protection Order Portal to file your protection cases electronically.
Protection From Abuse (PFA)
A Protection from Abuse (PFA) order is court issued relief to protect victims of domestic, dating, intimate partner, or any kind of relationship violence. A PFA is meant to help those in fear for their physical safety. To request an order of protection, a verified petition must be filed with the Clerk of the District Court and submitted to a judge. The judge will review the petition and, if warranted, will issue a temporary order of protection and set a date for a hearing. The hearing is to establish whether a final order of protection for one year should be issued. The petitioner, the person filing the request, must appear at that court date in order to obtain protection.
Protection from Stalking, Sexual Assault, or Human Trafficking (PFSSAHT)
A Protection from Stalking, Sexual Assault, or Human Trafficking (PFSSAHT) is court issued relief to protect victims from any of the acts outlined in the forms. It is not a requirement that the person you need protection from be a family or household member, an intimate partner, or that there be any relationship at all. To request an order of protection, a verified petition must be filed with the Clerk of the District Court and submitted to a judge. The judge will review the petition and, if warranted, will issue a temporary order of protection and set a date for a hearing. The hearing is to establish whether a final order of protection for one year should be issued. The petitioner, the person filing the request, must appear at that court date in order to obtain protection.
Forms Assistance
If you would like assistance with these forms, please contact the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment. They are a non-profit agency that helps victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking. The advocates there can help explain the forms in more detail, provide insight on what to expect when going to court, and provide support during this process.
Find their contact information here.
Legal Help
It is always recommended to have an attorney when you go to court. Kansas Legal Services (KLS) is a non-profit law firm that might be able to help you obtain your protection order. Going to court can be nerve racking and having an attorney that knows what to expect and what to say can help expedite the process and make it easier on you. Advocates at the YWCA can help you apply for their services. You can also apply on your own.
-
Domestic Relations
Physical Address
Shawnee County District Court
200 SE 7th St. Room 209
Topeka, KS 66603
Phone: (785) 251-6709