Kentucky law has long allowed a person who is the victim of domestic violence to seek a protective order. This order can require the abuser to vacate a shared residence, to have no contact with the victim, to restrict the places the abuser can visit and place the offender on a global positioning device.
This protection has been available for many years to family members, members or a married or formerly married couple, members of an unmarried couple who currently live together or formerly lived together or have children in common. These protective orders, called Emergency Protective Orders (EPO) or Domestic Violence Orders (DVO), are issued by the Warren Circuit Family Court. A victim of domestic violence who is a member of an unmarried couple or in a dating relationship may be eligible for an Interpersonal Protective Order, which is issued by the Warren District Court.
A petition for an Emergency Protective Order or Interpersonal Protective Order are filed at the Warren Circuit Clerk’s Office on the first floor of the Warren County Justice Center.
Get more information about EPO/IPO qualifications.
If you need to file for a protective order or have questions about the status of your EPO/DVO, please call the Warren Circuit Clerk’s Office at 270-746-7400 or go to their office at the Warren County Justice Center, 1st floor, and go to the domestic violence window.
If you need assistance from an attorney with filing a protective order, you may need to reach out to a private attorney or contact Kentucky Legal Aid at 270-782-1924.
The Warren County Attorney’s Office prosecutes violations of protective orders. This type of offense is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to twelve (12) months in jail and/or a $500.00 fine.