Connecticut Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get a Civil Restraining Order
Connecticut Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get a Civil Restraining Order
In Connecticut, a Civil Restraining Order under CGS 46b-15 protects family and household members from abuse or threats. Courts issue an emergency ex parte order the same day; a final order can last up to one year and is extendable.
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 Connecticut
Connecticut operates two separate civil tracks depending on your relationship with the person you need protection from.
The first track is the Civil Restraining Order under CGS 46b-15. This order is available to family or household members who face continuous threats of physical pain or injury, physical abuse, or harassment. Because it requires a qualifying family or household relationship, it is sometimes called the domestic-violence civil track. It is filed in the Superior Court Family Part.
The second track is the Civil Protection Order under CGS 46b-16a. This order is for victims of stalking, sexual assault, or harassment who do not have a family or household relationship with the person harming them. Any person who qualifies as a victim of those offenses can seek a Civil Protection Order regardless of whether they know the respondent personally.
Connecticut courts can also issue a Criminal Protective Order under CGS 54-1k when a criminal case is pending, but that order is initiated by the prosecutor, not the victim. This article focuses on the two civil orders a petitioner can request independently.
Who can get a restraining order in Connecticut?
For a Civil Restraining Order (CGS 46b-15), you must have a qualifying family or household relationship with the respondent. Connecticut's statute covers a broad range of relationships:
- Current or former spouses
- Persons who share or have shared a residence (household members)
- Co-parents (persons who have a child together)
- Persons in a current or past dating relationship
- Other family members who continuously reside or have resided together
The law requires that the respondent has continuously threatened physical pain, caused physical injury, or committed harassment against the petitioner.
For a Civil Protection Order (CGS 46b-16a), no relationship is required. Any person who is a victim of stalking, sexual assault, or harassment can apply. This track exists precisely because many victims of those offenses do not have a domestic relationship with the person who harmed them.
If you are unsure which order applies to your situation, the Superior Court Family Part self-help center can help you identify the right form and track.
How to file for a restraining order in Connecticut
Both civil orders are filed in the Superior Court. For a Civil Restraining Order (CGS 46b-15), you file in the Superior Court Family Part in the judicial district where you or the respondent resides. For a Civil Protection Order (CGS 46b-16a), you also file in Superior Court.
Under the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), courts cannot charge the petitioner a filing fee or service fee for a domestic-violence protective order. In Connecticut, the Judicial Branch covers the cost of service, and there is no filing fee for the petitioner.
To begin, you complete a petition form describing the abuse, threats, or stalking. Court self-help centers, located in most Superior Court facilities, provide forms and staff who can assist you in completing the paperwork without giving you legal advice. Connecticut also has domestic-violence advocates embedded in many courthouses through organizations like Safe Connect (the Connecticut statewide DV hotline at 1-888-774-2900) who can accompany you to court and help you through the process.
If you face an immediate threat and cannot wait for regular court hours, contact local law enforcement. A police officer can also refer the matter for an emergency Criminal Protective Order.
Temporary vs. final orders: how long they last
When you file a petition and the judge finds immediate danger or a credible threat, the court issues an emergency ex parte order the same day or the next day, without the respondent being present. This temporary order goes into effect immediately and protects you until a full hearing can be held.
Connecticut law requires that a hearing be held within 14 days of the ex parte order being issued. At that hearing, both you and the respondent have the opportunity to present evidence. If the court finds sufficient grounds, it issues a final order.
| Order stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Emergency ex parte (temporary) | Same day or next day; lasts until the hearing (up to 14 days) |
| Final Civil Restraining or Protection Order | Up to 1 year; extendable by court on motion for additional time |
If the respondent does not appear at the hearing and was properly served, the court can still issue the final order. If you need the order extended beyond one year, you can file a motion before it expires and the court can extend it for additional time as it deems necessary.
Firearms and a Connecticut protective order
When a Civil Restraining Order or Civil Protection Order is granted in Connecticut, the court may order the respondent to surrender any firearms, pistol permits, or eligibility certificates. The petition form asks whether the respondent possesses firearms or holds a pistol permit or a Firearms Eligibility Certificate. If firearms are present, the court notifies the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), which administers Connecticut's firearm licensing system.
A qualifying final protective order also triggers the federal prohibition under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8). Under that federal law, a person subject to a qualifying final order may not possess, purchase, or transfer any firearm or ammunition for the duration of the order. This federal ban applies regardless of whether the state court specifically ordered a firearm surrender.
Respondents who possess firearms after a qualifying order is issued face both state and federal criminal exposure. If you believe the respondent has not surrendered firearms as ordered, notify your local law enforcement agency or contact the court.
What happens if someone violates the order?
Violating a Civil Restraining Order or Civil Protection Order is a serious criminal offense in Connecticut. Under CGS 53a-223b, a first violation is a class D felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison, not merely a misdemeanor. This makes Connecticut's penalty structure among the more serious in the country.
The charge is elevated to a class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, when the violation involves (a) restraining the person or liberty of the protected person, or (b) threatening, harassing, assaulting, molesting, sexually assaulting, or attacking the protected person. The class C upgrade tracks the most serious forms of direct contact and physical domination; it does not require a separate finding of physical injury or weapon use.
Any violation of the order can also be treated as contempt of court, which carries its own separate penalties.
If the respondent violates your order, call 911 immediately. Police in Connecticut can arrest a respondent on probable cause that they violated the order, without needing to witness the violation themselves. Report every violation, even if it seems minor. A documented pattern of violations strengthens enforcement and supports any future motion to extend or modify the order.
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.
More Connecticut Laws
- Connecticut AI Meeting Recording Laws
- Connecticut Alimony Laws
- Connecticut At-Will Employment Laws
- Connecticut Car Accident Laws
- Connecticut Car Seat Laws
- Connecticut Child Custody Laws
- Connecticut Child Support Laws
- Connecticut Common Law Marriage Laws
- Connecticut Data Privacy Laws
- Connecticut Divorce Laws
- Connecticut Dog Bite Laws
- Connecticut Emancipation Laws
- Connecticut Expungement Laws
- Connecticut Hit and Run Laws
- Connecticut Landlord-Tenant Laws
- Connecticut Lemon Laws
Sources
- CGS Chapter 815a (Protective Orders, Restraining Orders and Stalking), Connecticut General Assembly (Official)
- Connecticut Judicial Branch: Restraining Orders, Connecticut Judicial Branch
Related
For more context on Connecticut's broader legal framework, see the main Restraining Order Laws by State hub for a full 50-state comparison. If you are documenting threatening communications as evidence, Connecticut's recording law page explains when you may record calls or conversations in the state.
