Follow the order as written
Read every page. Do not assume a stay-away, contact, residence, child, property, firearm, or other term from a label or conversation.
Orders of Protection / New York City
Order of Protection in NYC: Start with the Signed Order
Family Court and criminal court orders arise in different proceedings. The signed order, caption, court name, and related papers are the starting record. Do not guess at the terms or rely on a verbal understanding.
Immediate danger: Call 911. This website does not provide emergency services or monitor this page for safety requests.
Direct answer
Which court issued the order?
A Family Court order of protection is part of a civil proceeding. A criminal court order of protection is issued in a criminal case against a person charged with a crime. Under Family Court Act section 812, concurrent Family Court and criminal court jurisdiction depends on conduct and relationship categories listed in the statute, subject to its specific age-related provision.
In a criminal case, the district attorney may request an order of protection, and the judge decides whether to issue it and what terms to include. If the order is against you, do not test what contact is permitted, directly or through another person. Read and follow the complete signed order, and seek advice about unclear terms before acting. A protected party's consent does not modify an order issued under Criminal Procedure Law section 530.12; only the court can modify or terminate it.
Court Paper Map
Follow the caption, not an assumption
This visual does not decide which court should be used or interpret an order. It helps identify what the papers already say.
Start
Read the court name and caption on the signed order
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01 / Family Court
Petitioner and respondent
The papers may include a Family Offense Petition, summons, temporary or final order, and appearance notice. Family Court proceedings are civil.
Family law overview -
02 / Criminal Court
People and defendant
The papers may include an accusatory instrument, release or bail papers, and a temporary or final order. The order is part of a criminal case after a person is charged.
Criminal defense overview -
03 / Not Sure
Keep the complete packet together
Use the court name, caption, docket or case number, and signed order. Do not infer the court from who handed you the papers or from a shorthand description.
Organize the papers
A Family Court matter, criminal case, divorce, custody matter, or related proceeding can overlap with another record. This map does not determine jurisdiction, eligibility, strategy, the meaning of a term, or whether contact is permitted.
Read before acting
The signed language matters
Do not use another person to test a term
If the order is against you, do not ask the protected party, a child, a friend, or a relative to carry a message or test what the order permits. Obtain advice about the signed language before acting.
Use official papers for court information
This page does not calculate, confirm, extend, or stop any court, filing, response, hearing, or other deadline. Use the actual court papers and official court instructions.
Private on-page organizer
Mark the papers already in hand
No item is required before calling. Do not enter names, facts, dates, or documents here. The check marks are separate from the contact form.
General information only. This organizer does not give legal advice, interpret an order, decide which court or procedure applies, confirm whether contact is permitted, calculate or confirm a date, evaluate readiness or case strength, predict a result, or schedule an appointment. The count is only an on-page paper count. Check marks stay only in the open page. They are not saved, sent, placed in a URL, included in measurement, or added to the separate contact form. Do not enter case facts or highly sensitive information on this page.
Limits
What this page cannot decide
- Whether an order should be requested, opposed, modified, extended, dismissed, or enforced
- Whether Family Court, criminal court, Supreme Court, or another proceeding is available or appropriate
- What a particular term means, whether contact is permitted, or whether conduct violated an order
- Any appearance, filing, service, response, hearing, motion, or appeal date
- How an order may affect custody, housing, firearms, immigration, employment, licensing, or another matter
This page provides general legal information, not legal advice. Using this website alone does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not delay action while using this page.
Contact
Request an initial case review
Send only basic contact information and select a broad matter type. Do not send a narrative, names of other people, documents, order terms, allegations, or highly sensitive facts through this form.
How this works
- You provide your name and a phone number or email address.
- The office reviews conflicts, availability, fit, and possible scope.
- If the office may be able to assist, it may contact you about possible next steps.
Submitting this form alone does not schedule an appointment, guarantee a response or consultation, waive a fee, create an attorney-client relationship, protect or stop any deadline, or obligate the firm to accept the matter.
Prefer to call?
(917) 382-4472
Request received
The office will review the request and may contact you if it can assist, subject to conflicts and availability.
Submission alone does not confirm an appointment, stop any deadline, or create an attorney-client relationship. Do not assume the office represents you based only on this submission or a preliminary communication.