To qualify for such an order, the parties must be in one of the following relationships:
- A spouse or ex-spouse
- Members of the opposite sex who are living or have lived, as if married
- Parties who have a child, or parties who are parents, grandparents or others acting in place of parents of a minor child
- Current or former household members
- Parties who are dating or have dated in the past
Once qualified the victim may ask the Court for an order which may:
- Order the offender to refrain from the acts
- Grant possession of the home and keep the offender from the home
- Require the offender to provide the victim and the victim's children a suitable place to stay away from the home
- Award temporary custody of minor children to the victim and establish visitation rights
- Order the eviction of the party from the home and order assistance to the victim in returning to the home
- Order child support payments by either party
- Order spousal support payments (if the law provides for it)
- Order that either party be given possession of personal property
The court may also order an offender to refrain from doing any or all of the following acts:
- Threatening, abusing or following the other party
- Harassing the other party by telephone, visiting the home or workplace or other means, or otherwise interfering with the other party
- Award costs and attorney's fees to either party
- Prohibit a party from purchasing a firearm for a specified period of time
- Order the party who is committing the domestic violence to attend an
- Abuser treatment program
- Order anything else the judge feels is necessary to assure the safety of a minor child or any party