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What to do if…
you are notified that a protection order has been filed involving you

Short answer

Assume the paperwork is real and urgent: read every condition, and stop all contact with the applicant unless the order clearly allows a specific exception or method.

Do not do these things

  • Do not contact the applicant “to clear it up” (including via friends, family, social media, or indirect messages).
  • Do not go to their home, workplace, or usual places if the paperwork restricts you from doing so.
  • Do not assume it’s unenforceable because you disagree with it or a hearing is still pending.
  • Do not post about it online, or share screenshots of the order/papers.
  • Do not ignore court dates, deadlines, or instructions in the pack.
  • Do not “test” boundaries (for example, one short message) to see what happens.

What to do now

  1. Create an immediate no-contact buffer to avoid accidental breach. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb, mute/block the applicant’s number and social profiles (so you don’t reply impulsively), and tell one trusted person: “Please don’t pass messages between us.”
  2. Read the paperwork once, slowly, and write down the “must-know” items. On paper, note:
    • the type of order (for example: non-molestation order / occupation order / restraining order / other),
    • the exact restrictions (contact, distance, locations, third-party contact, social media, etc.),
    • the start/end date (and whether it says “until further order”),
    • the hearing date/time and how to attend (in person/remote).
  3. Treat the restrictions as active now. Many protective orders (including interim/without-notice orders) are intended to apply immediately once you’re served/notified. If anything is unclear, take the stricter interpretation until you get advice.
  4. Verify the case details using the court named on the papers. Contact the court office shown on the order (using official HM Courts & Tribunals Service contact details you find independently) and ask:
    • “Is there a hearing listed, and what is the date/time/location or remote link process?”
    • “Is there a deadline for filing a response or statement?”
    • “How do I provide documents to the court, and how should I serve the other party (if required)?”
  5. Get legal help quickly (even one urgent appointment helps). Ask for a solicitor experienced in protective injunctions (family law and/or criminal law depending on the order). If cost is a worry, ask about legal aid eligibility and free/low-cost court support services.
  6. Plan today to attend court and not miss deadlines. Put the hearing date in your calendar with multiple reminders. If you need an interpreter or disability adjustments, contact the court office as soon as you can.
  7. Stabilise daily-life logistics to prevent accidental violations.
    • If you share childcare/school runs/property: use only routes the order clearly allows. If the order is silent, avoid direct contact and route essentials via solicitors or another permitted channel.
    • If the order affects where you can live or go: arrange a temporary alternative and avoid “just popping in.”
  8. If you need to collect essential belongings, do it safely. Do not attend in person unless it’s clearly permitted by the order and properly arranged (for example, via solicitors, the court process, or an agreed/authorised method). Keep it calm, brief, and documented.
  9. Start a simple evidence folder (no detective work). Keep the papers, a short factual timeline (dates/times), and any existing documents that support your timeline (messages you already have, receipts, work logs). Do not contact the applicant or potential witnesses to “gather statements.”

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether to contest, accept, or negotiate longer-term arrangements.
  • You do not need to write a long statement tonight—focus on deadlines, attendance, and not breaching.
  • You do not need to contact mutual friends/employers or post online to “set the record straight.”
  • You do not need to fully understand every legal label right now—follow the exact conditions written on the order.

Important reassurance

Being served with a protection order is often shocking and can trigger panic, anger, or shame. The safest way to protect yourself right now is to slow down, avoid anything that could be interpreted as contact or intimidation, and follow the court process calmly. If you’re unsure, act more cautiously than you think you need to: breaches can have serious consequences and may lead to police action.

Scope note

This is first-steps-only guidance for the first hours and days after you’re notified. The right legal approach depends on the exact order type, wording, and stage (application, interim/without-notice, return hearing, etc.).

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Protective orders and injunctions vary across the UK and by order type; deadlines and consequences can be serious. If you are unsure about any condition, assume the stricter interpretation until you get qualified advice.

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