How to File a Complaint for a Protection Order (If Representing Yourself)

In Person at the Courthouse

These links will download a packet of court forms that you can fill out, print, and file in person (or by U.S. mail) at the courthouse: 

For all other court forms in Protection from Abuse or Harassment cases, see the Court Forms page.

Paper forms are also available from any District Court clerk's office.

By Email

These links will download a packet of court forms that you can fill out and submit by email: 

List of email addresses by court region for use in Protection from Abuse & Harassment emailed filings (PDF)

FAQs

1. How do I ask for a protection order or an extension of my protection order IN PERSON?

Most district courts are open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. unless closed due to holidays, administrative weeks, storms and other emergencies, or a lack of staffing. Please check the court closings and alerts web page or call the clerk's office for the district court serving the town where you live to make sure that the courthouse is open before you go to the court and, if you are seeking a temporary order, find out when your request can be heard by a judge.

2. What do I do if I want to file a request for a protection order or a motion to extend a protection order in person at the courthouse, but my local court is closed?

If your local court is unexpectedly closed and you need to file a request for a protection order or a request for a motion to extend your protection order, you may go to another open district court to file your case. The open court will accept your filing, a judge in that court will review your complaint or motion to extend and issue a temporary order or extend your protection order, if appropriate. You will then be scheduled for a final hearing at your local court.

3. How do I ask for a protection order or an extension of my protection order BY MAIL?

You can mail your completed protection from abuse, protection from harassment, or motion to extend packet to the court. Please note that your signature will have to be notarized before you mail your complaint or motion to extend. This means that if you want to mail your filing to the court, you will need to sign some of the forms in the packet in front of a notary before mailing the packet to the court.

WARNING: Although you can mail your filing to the court, you will need to provide a safe phone number on your complaint or motion to extend so that the court can call you in case the court has questions. If you do not answer your phone, your request for a temporary protection order may be denied without you having a chance to speak to a judge.

4. How do I ask for a protection from abuse or harassment order or an extension of my protection order BY EMAIL?

PMO-SJC-3 governs the filing of documents by email in protection from abuse and protection from harassment cases.

The forms to ask for a protection from abuse or harassment order, or an extension are available on the court forms web page under the section titled "Form Packets."  If you do not have access to a computer, the forms are available at any district court. Call the district court clerk's office for the town where you live to make sure that the courthouse is open before you go to the court and, if you are seeking a temporary order, find out when your request can be heard by a judge. See the directory of district courts.

WARNING: A complaint for protection from harassment and a motion to extend a protection from harassment order can sometimes have a filing fee. If it has a filing fee, you CANNOT file this document by email. You must file it in person or by mail as explained above. If you do not know if your harassment filing will have a filing fee, please call your local court (See the directory of district courts).

WARNING: Filing a complaint or motion to extend by email does NOT mean you are automatically protected. After you have filed, a judge must review your filing and, if appropriate, decide whether to grant a temporary order or temporarily extend your existing protection order.

STEP 1: Complete the form packet.
Download and completed the form packet for the case (see above for the links to each packet).

Carefully read the instructions and warnings on form PA-027:

  • The form explains how to email your filing to the correct court.
  • The form also tells you the email address to use for submitting your protection from abuse complaint or motion to extend.
  • You will NOT have to notarize the forms before emailing them to the court, BUT you must check off the box on the form that says: "the party electronically signs the complaint or motion and checks the box on the form that says: "I swear under penalty of perjury that the above statements are true and correct. I understand that these statements are made for use as evidence in court and that I am subject to prosecution for perjury punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 if I give false information to the court."
  • You do NOT need a printer or scanner to file these forms by email. The forms can all be completed online without printing and do not need to be signed.
  • You MUST have access to a safe phone number and a safe email that you can check regularly. This is because the clerk will contact you by email to (1) tell you if the court granted you a temporary order for protection, or (2) if needed, to schedule a time for you to call the court so the judge can ask for additional information. If the court schedules you for a call with the judge and you do not call at that time, your case will not be dismissed but your request for a temporary order may be denied. Please note that the defendant will not be on that call.
  • If you file your complaint or motion before 3 p.m. on a day when the court is open, you will receive an email from the clerk that same day.

STEP 2: Sign your document.

  • To avoid having to print the forms, you can electronically sign your document by either typing your name after "/s/" (For example, "/s/ John Smith"), or inserting a captured image of your signature into the document.
  • You can print the document, sign it, and then scan it to save it as a PDF.
  • If the form requires that it be notarized, you can still file it by email if you check off the box on the form that says, "I swear under penalty of perjury that the above statements are true and correct. I understand that these statements are made for use as evidence in court and that I am subject to prosecution for perjury punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 if I give false information to the court."

STEP 3: Attach documents to your email.
Attach the document you want to file with the court as a Word document or a PDF. 

STEP 4: Complete the required email forms. 
Complete one of the following packets and attach it to your email:

STEP 5: Subject line of your email. 
In the subject line of the email, write the docket number of your case (for example, PORDC-PA-2020-123. The docket number can usually be found at the top of any notices you have received from the court).
If it is a new case or you do not have a docket number (for example, PORDC-PA-2020-123), please write the names of the parties in the subject line (for example, John Smith v. Mary Smith).

STEP 6: Service of Complaints and Motions to Extend that Are Filed by Email. The court will arrange for the service by law enforcement of:

  • Complaints for Protection from Abuse,
  • Motions to Extend Protection from Abuse Orders,
  • Complaints for Protection from Harassment that do not require a filing fee, and
  • Motions to Extend Protection from Harassment Orders that do not require a filing fee that are filed by email; and/or
  • Entries of appearance by counsel for the cases related to the complaints or post-judgment motions described above that are filed at the same time as those complaints or post-judgment motions.

STEP 7: Find the email address of the court.
The courts have different email addresses depending on the document you are filing and where you are filing it. See list of court email addresses.

STEP 8: Send the email.
Sending the email to the court is enough to file your document. Do NOT send a paper original to the court after filing your document by email.

5. What do I do if I do not have access to a computer and need the court forms to ask for a protection order?

If you do not have access to a computer, the forms are available at any district court. Call the district court clerk's office for the town where you live to make sure that the courthouse is open before you go to the court and, if you are seeking a temporary order, find out when your request can be heard by a judge.

6. Can I get help completing the forms to ask for a protection order?

If you need help completing the court forms, call the domestic violence or sexual assault agency in your region to be connected to a local advocate:

  • Statewide Domestic Abuse Helpline: 1-866-834-HELP (free and confidential). Individuals who are deaf, late-deafened, or hard of hearing: 1-800-437-1220.
  • Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline: 1-800-871-7741 (free and confidential) 
  • Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence
  • Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault
  • Wabanaki Women's Coalition:
    • Micmac Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocacy Center: 207-551-3639
    • Maliseet Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocacy Center: 207-532-6401
    • Indian Township Passamaquoddy Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocacy Center:
      207-214-1917
    • Passamaquoddy Peaceful Relations Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocacy Center:
      1-877-853-2613
    • Penobscot Nation Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocacy Center: 207-631-4886

7. Do I have to go to the courthouse for my protection order hearing, or can the court hold the hearing by video or telephone?

All hearings in protection from abuse and protection from harassment cases are scheduled in person at the courthouse, unless the court allows you to participate by video or telephone. If you think the court should hold your hearing or allow you to participate by video or phone, you must file a written request (a motion) that explains the special reasons in your case that justify a hearing by video or phone. When deciding whether to allow you to participate by telephone or video, the court will consider many factors, including the health and safety of the court staff, parties, and witnesses; the ability of parties to participate remotely; and the effect its decision will have on the availability to other parties of limited Judicial Branch resources, including courtroom space, technology assistance, and clerical assistance.

WARNING:  If the court has issued a temporary order of protection, the defendant cannot have contact with the plaintiff to negotiate an agreement. If parties need assistance in attempting to reach an agreement, the parties should hire attorneys or the plaintiff should contact a domestic violence or sexual assault advocate (see statewide helpline phone numbers provided in question 7).