Alaska
Alaska Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get a Domestic Violence Protective Order
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 17, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 17, 2026. · 2 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
In Alaska, a Domestic Violence Protective Order is available to household members and dating partners who have experienced or are threatened with domestic violence. A final order lasts up to one year and is renewable. Filing is free.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential help 24/7, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788).
Types of restraining orders in Alaska
Alaska offers three civil protective orders, split across two statutory tracks.
The Domestic Violence Protective Order is Alaska's primary civil order for victims within qualifying household or intimate-partner relationships. It is governed by AS 18.66.100 through .990 and Alaska Civil Rule 65.1. This order can prohibit contact, require the respondent to leave a shared residence, award temporary custody of children, and include other protective provisions.
Alaska's second track is AS 18.65.850, which authorizes protective orders for stalking and for sexual assault that is not a crime involving domestic violence. Although both rest on that single statute, the Alaska Court System treats them as two distinct order types with separate petitions: a Stalking Protective Order is filed on form CIV-752, and a Sexual Assault Protective Order on form CIV-750. There is no combined stalking-and-sexual-assault petition, so if both describe what happened to you, ask the court or a self-help center which petition fits your facts.
This track is meant for people outside the household-member and dating-partner categories. If the person who stalked or assaulted you is a household member as Alaska defines it, the court's own guidance is to request a Domestic Violence Protective Order instead.
Between them, these tracks give victims across a wide range of situations access to civil court protection, without limiting relief to the narrower household-relationship requirement.
Who can get a restraining order in Alaska?
To qualify for a Domestic Violence Protective Order in Alaska, you must be a household member of the respondent or a person in a current or former dating relationship with them. Alaska's statute defines household members broadly:
- Current or former spouses
- Persons who have lived together (whether or not romantically)
- Current or former dating partners
- Co-parents (persons who share a child in common)
- Blood relatives or relatives by marriage
If you do not have a household or dating relationship with the person who is threatening or harming you, Alaska still gives you options. Under AS 18.65.850 you can seek a Stalking Protective Order (petition form CIV-752) or a Sexual Assault Protective Order (petition form CIV-750). Each is filed on its own petition, and this track covers conduct that is not a crime involving domestic violence.
Adults may file on behalf of minor children who are protected under the same household or who are victims themselves. If you are unsure which order applies to your situation, the court self-help center can help you identify the correct petition form.
How to file for a restraining order in Alaska
You may file a petition for a protective order at any Alaska Superior Court or District Court. Alaska has courthouses in communities across the state, including remote areas. The Anchorage Boney Courthouse offers extended filing hours (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.) to help petitioners who cannot get to court during standard business hours.
There is no filing fee for a protective order in Alaska. Under the federal Violence Against Women Act, states cannot charge a filing or service fee for a domestic-violence protective order.
You describe your situation in the petition form and, if there is immediate danger, a judge can issue a short-term ex parte order the same day without the respondent being present. If no judge is available and there is an emergency, law enforcement officers are authorized to issue a 72-hour emergency order. Court self-help centers, domestic-violence advocates, and legal-aid organizations throughout Alaska can assist you in completing the paperwork at no cost.
After the short-term order is issued, the respondent is served, and both parties attend a full hearing where the judge decides whether to issue a long-term protective order.
Temporary vs. final orders: how long they last
Alaska uses a layered system with both police-issued emergency orders and court-issued civil orders:
| Order Type | Who Issues It | How Long It Lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Protective Order | Police officer | 72 hours |
| Short-term (ex parte) Protective Order | Court, without respondent present | Up to 20 days (extendable if service not completed) |
| Long-term (final) Protective Order | Court, after hearing with both parties | The provision barring further domestic violence, stalking, or harassment is effective until further order of the court; the order's remaining provisions run 1 year and are renewable |
The 72-hour emergency order is designed for situations where the courts are not immediately accessible and police need a way to provide fast protection. It bridges the gap until a court can issue a short-term order.
The short-term ex parte order lasts up to 20 days and is extendable if the respondent has not yet been served, ensuring the protection does not lapse due to evasion. Once the respondent is served, the court schedules a full hearing.
At the final hearing, the court can issue a long-term protective order. AS 18.66.100(b) splits its lifespan automatically, and there is no special wording you need to ask for: the provision barring the respondent from threatening to commit or committing domestic violence, stalking, or harassment is effective until further order of the court, while the order's remaining provisions, including no-contact and no-communication, are effective for one year unless earlier dissolved by court order.
Those one-year provisions can be extended, but the statute sets a window. Under AS 18.66.100(f), you may petition for an extension only within the 30 days before the order expires or the 60 days after it expires, and an extension runs for one year. Put that window on your calendar when you receive the order, because missing it means starting over with a new petition. If you want protection to continue past the year, ask an Alaska family lawyer for a free case evaluation on filing the extension petition inside that window (attorney advertising).
Firearms and an Alaska protective order
When a court issues a long-term Domestic Violence Protective Order in Alaska, AS 18.66.100(c)(7) lets it direct the respondent to surrender any firearm owned or possessed by the respondent, if the court finds that the respondent was in actual possession of or used a firearm during the commission of the domestic violence. The finding is tied to the incident, but the surrender is not limited to the gun involved in it. Once the court makes that finding, the order can reach every firearm the respondent owns or has.
The court has a companion power under AS 18.66.100(c)(6). On a finding that the respondent was in actual possession of or used a weapon during the commission of domestic violence, the order may prohibit the respondent from using or possessing a deadly weapon at all.
In addition, any qualifying final protective order triggers the federal firearm prohibition under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8). This federal ban makes it a crime for the respondent to possess or purchase any firearm or ammunition for the duration of the order, regardless of whether the order itself includes a specific surrender provision.
If you know or believe the respondent has access to firearms, you should inform the court at the time of filing and at any hearing, including how many there are and where they are kept. The judge can include specific firearms-surrender language in the order. You can also speak with a domestic-violence advocate about safety planning that accounts for the presence of weapons.
What happens if someone violates the order?
Violating a protective order in Alaska is a criminal offense. Under AS 11.56.740, a violation is charged as a Class A misdemeanor. A Class A misdemeanor in Alaska carries penalties including up to one year in jail and a fine.
Arrest is not left to the officer's discretion. AS 18.65.530(a), titled mandatory arrest for crimes involving domestic violence and violation of protective orders, says a peace officer, with or without a warrant, shall arrest a person if the officer has probable cause to believe that person, within the previous 12 hours, committed the crime of violating a protective order under AS 11.56.740(a)(1) or (2). The statute carves out narrow exceptions: when more than one person complains about the same incident the officer first determines who the principal physical aggressor was, and a prosecuting attorney can authorize the officer not to arrest. Otherwise probable cause within that 12-hour window makes an arrest required, not merely permitted.
Repeated violations or violations that occur alongside assault, stalking, or weapon use can result in escalated charges beyond the baseline misdemeanor.
If the respondent contacts you, comes near locations covered by the order, or commits any act the order prohibits, you should call 911 right away and provide a copy of your order to the responding officer. You can also report violations directly to the court, which can hold the respondent in contempt in addition to criminal prosecution.
Keep a copy of your protective order accessible at all times. Give copies to your employer, your children's school or daycare, and any other location the order covers. Documenting violations, including saving messages or noting dates and times, can help law enforcement and prosecutors act effectively.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and it is not a safety plan. Protective-order rules vary by state and change. If you are in danger, call 911. For help with your specific situation, contact your local court's self-help center, a domestic-violence advocate, or a licensed attorney.
Related pages
For a nationwide overview of how civil protective orders work, visit the main Restraining Order Laws by State hub. If you are considering documenting harassment or threats as part of building your case, see the Alaska recording law page for information on what you may legally record in the state.
More Alaska Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a restraining order in Alaska?
File a petition for a Domestic Violence Protective Order at any Alaska Superior Court or District Court. If there is immediate danger, a judge can issue a short-term ex parte order the same day. If courts are closed, police can issue a 72-hour emergency order. There is no filing fee. The Anchorage Boney Courthouse offers extended hours including weekends.
How long does a restraining order last in Alaska?
A police-issued emergency order lasts 72 hours. A court-issued short-term (ex parte) order lasts up to 20 days and can be extended if the respondent has not been served. In a final Domestic Violence Protective Order, AS 18.66.100(b) makes the provision prohibiting further domestic violence, stalking, or harassment effective until further order of the court automatically, with nothing extra to request; the order's other provisions, including no-contact, run one year unless dissolved sooner. You may petition to extend those within 30 days before or 60 days after the order expires.
How much does a restraining order cost in Alaska?
Filing for a protective order is free in Alaska. The federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) prohibits courts from charging a filing or service fee for domestic-violence protective orders.
Can I get a restraining order without a police report?
Yes. You do not need a police report to file for a protective order in Alaska. You describe the domestic violence or threat in your petition. A police report can be useful supporting evidence, but courts do not require one before issuing an order.
Does a restraining order take away gun rights in Alaska?
Yes. A qualifying final protective order triggers the federal firearm prohibition under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8), which bars the respondent from possessing or purchasing firearms or ammunition. Separately, under AS 18.66.100(c)(7), if the court finds the respondent was in actual possession of or used a firearm during the domestic violence, it may order the respondent to surrender any firearm they own or possess, not only the one used during the incident.
What happens if the abuser violates the order?
Violating a protective order is a Class A misdemeanor under AS 11.56.740, carrying up to one year in jail. Arrest is mandatory rather than optional: AS 18.65.530(a) says an officer shall arrest, with or without a warrant, on probable cause that the person violated a protective order under AS 11.56.740(a)(1) or (2) within the previous 12 hours. Call 911 immediately if the order is violated and show officers your copy of the order. You can also report violations to the court for contempt proceedings.
What is the difference between a Domestic Violence Protective Order and Alaska's stalking or sexual assault order?
A Domestic Violence Protective Order requires a qualifying household or dating relationship with the respondent. AS 18.65.850 covers stalking and sexual assault that is not a crime involving domestic violence, and although it is a single statute, it produces two separate orders with separate petition forms: a Stalking Protective Order on form CIV-752 and a Sexual Assault Protective Order on form CIV-750. There is no single combined petition. If the person harming you is a household member, the court directs you to the Domestic Violence Protective Order instead.
Updates
Corrected this page's description of Alaska's non-domestic-violence protective orders, which are two separate orders with separate petition forms rather than one combined order, and updated the sections on firearm surrender, arrest for a violation, and how long a final order lasts to match the statutory text.
Corrected Alaska's protective-order taxonomy: the state has two civil order tracks, not three. Stalking and sexual assault victims use a single combined order under AS 18.65.850, not two separate named instruments.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Corrected which provision of an Alaska protective order can last indefinitely: it is the prohibition on threatening or committing domestic violence, stalking, or harassment (AS 18.66.100(c)(1)), not the literal no-contact provision, which is capped at one year under (c)(2).
Corrected the FAQ so the indefinite duration applies to the anti-violence provision of a protective order, while the no-contact provision is capped at one year under AS 18.66.100.
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Alaska Statutes, Title 18. Health, Safety, Housing, Human Rights, and Public Defender, Chapter 66. Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
§ 18.66.100Protective orders: eligible petitioners; reliefIn force
(a) A person who is or has been a victim of a crime involving domestic violence may file a petition in the district or superior court for a protective order against a household member. A parent, guardian, or other representative appointed by the court under this section may file a petition for a protective order on behalf of a minor. The court may appoint a guardian ad litem or attorney to represent the minor. Notwithstanding AS 25.24.310 or this section, the office of public advocacy may not be appointed as a guardian ad litem or attorney for a minor in a petition filed under this section unless the petition has been filed on behalf of the minor. (b) When a petition for a protective order is filed, the court shall schedule a hearing and provide at least 10 days' notice to the respondent of the hearing and of the respondent's right to appear and be heard, either in person or by an attorney. If the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that the respondent has committed a crime involving domestic violence against the petitioner, regardless of whether the respondent appears at the hearing, the court may order any relief available under (c) of this section.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-08 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at akleg.gov
Cited in 59 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Lashbrook v. Lashbrook (Alaska Supreme Court 1998, 957 P.2d 326)“…lence committed between two intoxicated adults. Pursuant to AS 18.66.100(c)(9), a domestic violence protective o…”
- Cooper v. Cooper (Alaska Supreme Court 2006, 144 P.3d 451)“…t with the statutory language since the applicable statute, AS 18.66.100(c)(2), “does not list precluding a resp…”
- Morris v. Horn (Alaska Supreme Court 2009, 219 P.3d 198)“…rm protective orders under AS 25.24.140 12 and AS 18.66.100, submitting another affidavit alleging…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Alaska Statutes, Title 11. Criminal Law, Chapter 56. Offenses Against Public Administration
§ 11.56.740Violating a protective orderIn force
(a) A person commits the crime of violating a protective order if the person is subject to a protective order (1) issued, filed, or recognized under AS 18.66 and containing a provision listed in AS 18.66.100(c)(1) (7) and knowingly commits or attempts to commit an act with reckless disregard that the act violates or would violate a provision of the protective order; (2) issued or recognized under AS 18.65.850, 18.65.855, 18.65.860, or 18.65.867 and knowingly commits or attempts to commit an act that violates or would violate a provision listed in AS 18.65.850(c)(1) (3); or (3) issued under AS 13.26.450 13.26.460 and knowingly commits or attempts to commit an act with reckless disregard that the act violates or would violate a provision of the protective order. (b) Violation of this section is a class A misdemeanor. (c) In this section, protective order means an order issued, filed, or recognized under AS 13.26.450 13.26.460, AS 18.65.850 18.65.870, or AS 18.66.100 18.66.180.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at akleg.gov
Cited in 31 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Limeres v. Limeres (Alaska Supreme Court 2014, 320 P.3d 291)“…tive order,” as required for it to constitute a crime under AS 11.56.740(a)(1). The court had also, in earlier o…”
- Cooper v. Cooper (Alaska Supreme Court 2006, 144 P.3d 451)“…ude stalking and “violating a domestic violence order under AS 11.56.740.” 7 The crime of violating…”
- State v. Strane (Alaska Supreme Court 2003, 61 P.3d 1284)“…charged with violating the protective order in violation of AS 11.56.740(a). On the morning of trial, the…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Alaska Statutes, Title 18. Health, Safety, Housing, Human Rights, and Public Defender, Chapter 65. Police Protection
§ 18.65.850Protective orders for stalking and sexual assaultIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
(a) A person who reasonably believes that the person is a victim of stalking or sexual assault that is not a crime involving domestic violence may file a petition in the district or superior court for a protective order against a respondent who is alleged to have committed the stalking or sexual assault. A parent or guardian may file a petition on behalf of a minor. (b) When a petition for a protective order is filed, the court shall schedule a hearing and provide at least 10 days' notice to the respondent of the hearing and of the respondent's right to appear and be heard, either in person or through an attorney. If the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that the respondent has committed stalking or sexual assault against the petitioner, regardless of whether the respondent appears at the hearing, the court may order any relief available under (c) of this section. The provisions of a protective order issued under this section are effective for one year unless earlier dissolved by the court.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at akleg.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2007
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Pastos v. State (Court of Appeals of Alaska 2007, 157 P.3d 1066)“…efense to a prosecution for burglary or criminal trespass); AS 18.65.850 (defining the authorized protective ord…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Alaska GPS Tracking Laws: Is It Legal to Put a Tracker on a Car? (2026)
§ 18.65.530Mandatory arrest for crimes involving domestic violence, violation of protective orders, and violation of conditions of releaseIn force
(a) Except as provided in (b) or (c) of this section, a peace officer, with or without a warrant, shall arrest a person if the officer has probable cause to believe the person has, either in or outside the presence of the officer, within the previous 12 hours, (1) committed domestic violence, except an offense under AS 11.41.100 11.41.130, whether the crime is a felony or a misdemeanor; (2) committed the crime of violating a protective order in violation of AS 11.56.740(a)(1) or (2); (3) violated a condition of release imposed under AS 12.30.016(e) or (f) or 12.30.027. (b) If a peace officer receives complaints of domestic violence from more than one person arising from the same incident, the officer shall evaluate the conduct of each person to determine who was the principal physical aggressor. If the officer determines that one person was the principal physical aggressor, the other person or persons need not be arrested.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at akleg.gov
Cited in 10 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Wee v. Eggener (Alaska Supreme Court 2010, 225 P.3d 1120)“…(Alaska 1992)). 22 . AS 18.66.130(b). AS 18.65.530 expresses a similar policy by discourag…”
- Wongittilin v. State (Alaska Supreme Court 2001, 36 P.3d 678)“…rguing that the mandatory-arrest domestic-violence statute, AS 18.65.530, does not permit a civil action for all…”
- McComas v. Kirn (Alaska Supreme Court 2005, 105 P.3d 1130)“…f AS 11.56.740(a)(1), and subject to mandatory arrest under AS 18.65.530(a)(2). 10 McComas’s appeal…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
United States Code Title 18
§ 922Unlawful actsIn forcecited in 72 of our articles
It shall be unlawful— for any person— except a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer, to engage in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms, or in the course of such business to ship, transport, or receive any firearm in interstate or foreign commerce; or except a licensed importer or licensed manufacturer, to engage in the business of importing or manufacturing ammunition, or in the course of such business, to ship, transport, or receive any ammunition in interstate or foreign commerce; for any importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector licensed under the provisions of this chapter to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce any firearm to any person other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector, except that— this paragraph and subsection (b)(3) shall not be held to preclude a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector from returning a firearm or replacement firearm of the same kind and type to a person from whom it was received; and this paragraph shall not be held to preclude an individual from mailing a firearm owned in compliance…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-16 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 40,024 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Section 922(g)(1) bars a felon from possessing a firearm, and the Supreme Court cases in this line turn on sentencing, not on the ban. Taylor v. United States (1990) and Shepard v. United States (2005) held that whether prior convictions enhance a 922(g) sentence under 924(e) is decided from offense elements and limited plea records.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- United States v. Booker (Supreme Court of the United States 2004, 543 U.S. 220)“…e Johnson with one crime (say, illegal gun possession, see 18 U. S. C. § 922 (g)) and Jackson with another (say, ban…”
- Almendarez-Torres v. United States (Supreme Court of the United States 1998, 523 U.S. 224)“…cidivism an offense element in such circumstances. But cf. 18 U. S. C. § 922 (g)(1) (prior felony conviction an elem…”
- Taylor v. United States (Supreme Court of the United States 1990, 495 U.S. 575)✓Taylor pleaded guilty to felon-in-possession under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and had two Missouri burglary convictions; the Court held that 'burglary' in the § 924(e) enhancement attached to a § 922(g) conviction means generic burglary judged by the prior statute's elements.
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Can You Become an ICE Agent with a Criminal Record? (2026 Guide), How Long Does a Felony Stay on Your Record? (2026), Supreme Court Limits the Federal Gun Ban on Marijuana Users (Hemani, 2026)
Search our full record of US law — 2.1 million sections, every state + federal →
Sources and References
- AS 18.66.100 through .990 (Domestic Violence Protective Orders); Civil Rule 65.1(courts.alaska.gov).gov
- AS 11.56.740 (violation of a protective order)(courts.alaska.gov).gov
- AS 18.66.100 (protective orders: eligible petitioners; relief) and AS 18.66.110 (ex parte and emergency protective orders), Alaska State Legislature(akleg.gov)
- AS 18.65.530, mandatory arrest for crimes involving domestic violence, violation of protective orders, and violation of conditions of release(akleg.gov)
- AS 18.65.850 through 18.65.870, protective orders for stalking and sexual assault(akleg.gov)
- Alaska Court System, Quick Reference: Domestic Violence, Stalking and Sexual Assault Protective Orders(courts.alaska.gov)