ANTI-HARASSMENT
REQUIRED FORMS TO FILE AN ANTI-HARASSMENT ARE:
These forms can also be picked up at the District Court Clerk's window.
Petitions can now be filed electronically. See below for details.
WHAT TYPES OF ORDERS CAN BE FILED IN DISTRICT COURT?
Certain protection orders must be transferred to Superior Court. If one of the following conditions listed below applies, you should consider initiating your case in Superior Court as it will be transferred.
(a) A superior court has exercised or is exercising jurisdiction over a proceeding involving the parties;
(b) The action would have the effect of interfering with a respondent's care, control, or custody of the respondent's minor child;
(c) The action would affect the use or enjoyment of real property for which the respondent has a cognizable claim or would exclude a party from a shared dwelling;
(d) The petitioner, victim, or respondent to the petition is under 18 years of age; or
(e) The district court is unable to verify whether there are potentially conflicting or related orders involving the parties as required by RCW 7.105.105 or 7.105.555.
Vulnerable Adult Protection Orders and Extreme Risk Protection Orders cannot not be filed in District Court.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN FILING FOR A PROTECTION ORDER:
You will need to complete the forms as completely as possible and you must include a name, address and date of birth (or approximate age) for the Respondent.
The filing fee for an Anti-Harassment petition is $83.00.
Petitions will be heard the same day it is filed, provided a judge is available. If no judge is available, your petition will be heard the next judicial day.
Once you file your petition, the clerk will prepare your file and check for judicial availability. Please be prepared to wait or return to court at a later time if necessary. When a judge is available, you will be directed to a courtroom. The judge will then review the petition and make a decision. If the judge decides it is necessary, a Temporary Protection Order will be issued. If the court does not issue a temporary order, it may still schedule a hearing to determine if a long term order is appropriate. The order will include a court date, not more than two weeks ahead, for both parties to appear.
When both parties appear for hearing, the judge will speak to each party regarding the details of the alleged harassment. If the judge finds there is cause, a full Order for Protection will be entered.
FILING YOUR PETITION ELECTRONICALLY
You will need to complete the Law Enforcement and Confidential Info and Petition for Protection Order as completely as possible. You must include a name, address and date of birth (or approximate age) for the Respondent.
The filing fee for an Anti-Harassment petition is $83.00. Payment for electronic filing can be submitted here: https://client.pointandpay.net/web/LewisCountyDistrictCourtWA
When submitting the filing fee payment, you will enter CPO for the case number.
*The petition will not be provided to the judge for review until the filing fee has been paid. If you would like to request the filing fee to be waived, please contact the court at 360-740-1203 for more information.
Once the forms are completed and filing fee has been paid, the forms can be emailed to dccivilprotection@lewiscountywa.gov.
The court will notify you to confirm the filing has been received. You will be contacted again once the judge has reviewed your petition and made a decision.