Kansas Protection Orders and Survivor Support

A protection order is a civil action, signed by a judge, that is intended to stop abuse, threats of abuse, harassment and/or stalking against you and/or your children.

Understand that submitting a protection order filing in person or via the Kansas Protection Order Portal does not mean that it is automatically granted. There are multiple steps to a protection order from choosing to file, selecting the which version best matches your circumstances, submitting your documentation, and court hearings prior to obtaining the protection order.

Once the protection order has been issued, it must then be served against the individual you identified in your filing. This is done by law enforcement.

In the legal process, a person who seeks an protection order is called a “Petitioner” and the person whom an order is sought against is called the “Respondent.”

• Protection from Abuse Order (PFA) 
• Protection from Stalking, Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking Order (PFSSAHT)

The differences in protection orders reflect differing circumstances for the victim/survivor. It is important that you review and understand which protection order option fits the specific needs of the situation you are responding to. For each type of protection order: PFA and PFSSAHT there are specific legal requirements that must be met. You can review the requirements for the different protection orders at KSCourts.gov “What to Know”

You can also review the Kansas Legal Services: “What You Need to Know About Protect from Abuse (PFA) Orders in Kansas”

If you have questions about which order best reflects your circumstances or the experiences of the victim/survivor you are working with, please contact a victim advocate service provider or Kansas Legal Services at 316-267-3975, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30pm.

You can file for a protection order on your own, without retaining an attorney. However, legal representation may be useful in this process.

There are no filing fees for protection orders in Kansas. Please understand that while there is no filing fee in Kansas Courts for filing a protection order, you may need to pay an attorney to assist you. If you engage an attorney for support, make sure that you are getting a clear understanding of any costs for preparing a protection order filing and/or any costs associated with representing you during a protection order hearing.

Low cost or no cost legal representation is difficult to secure. Please contact Kansas Legal Services or the Lawyer Referral Line to discuss options.

You can file a protection order in person at your local district court's office. 

Additionally, protection orders can be filed online through the Kansas Protection Order Portal.

To prepare for the process, review the requirements and planning your responses.

Reminder, take care because the information provided will be shared with the person the order is filed against.

Filing a protection order can be a complicated or intimidating process.

If you are supporting someone that is considering filing a protection order and has questions, you can also reach out to an advocate for support.

Kansas Protection Order Portal and Protection Orders as part of a Safety Plan

While protection orders can be a useful tool to provide some relief, they may not be the best for everyone. Protection orders often work best when they are part of a comprehensive safety plan.

Once final a protection order is granted its valid and legal in Kansas and every other state. Consider contacting the victim advocacy program in your state for guidance about having law enforcement enforce your protection order.

When the order is in effect, the respondent or defendant has been ordered to stay away from your home or workplace. They are legally ordered to stop abusing you, and cannot harass or stalk you.

If you are a sexual assault survivor, you are eligible for an Order of Protection even if you did not know or have a relationship with the perpetrator before the assault. For the purposes of getting an Order of Protection, any sexual act that occurred by force or without your consent is considered sexual assault.