FILING HOURS
All PFAs are processed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. If you are seeking a Protection from Abuse Order outside of those hours, you may contact your local Magisterial District Justice or the police.
The form links below are available in PDF or Word format. There is no difference in the content of the forms, you may choose the format you prefer to work in.
State and Local Court Rules Must Be Followed.
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A Protection from Abuse Petition is filed when a person is requesting a court order which protects victims of domestic violence from abuse, specifically physical injury or threats of physical threats.
You may file for protection in Lehigh County if you live or work here, the defendant lives, works, or can be served here, or the abuse occurred here.
A person may file a Protection From Abuse Petition against an intimate partner or family member. Here are some examples:
*If the abused person is a minor, then a parent, guardian ad litem, or adult household member can file on behalf of the child.
*The PFA act does not apply to disputes between strangers, neighbors, roommates, co-workers, or classmates.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Family Court staff member will contact Plaintiff to complete the intake process.
After the intake process is complete, you will be directed to go to the courthouse to have a hearing before the motions Judge. Hearings are generally conducted at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
The Protection Order will be emailed to Plaintiff at the email address they provide to the Court
An Indirect Criminal Complaint is filed when a Plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse case is alleging the Defendant has violated one or more of conditions placed on the Defendant in a Temporary or Final Protection From Abuse Order.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Rule to Show Cause will be prepared and taken to the Motions Judge during a PFA session at either 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Once the Indirect Criminal Contempt petition is ruled on, it will be filed with the Clerk of Judicial Records Office and the Plaintiff will be notified.
If the Rule to Show Cause is signed by the Judge, both parties will be ordered to appear in court at later date determined by the Court.
A Petition to Modify-Dismissal is filed when a Plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse case is requesting to withdraw their Protection from Abuse Petition and close the case.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Family Court staff member will contact you with further instructions.
A Petition to Modify- Amendment is filed when a Plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse case is requesting to make changes to the provisions of their current PFA Order.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Rule to Show Cause will be prepared and taken to the Motions Judge during a PFA session at either 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Once the Rule to Show Cause is ruled on, it will be filed with the Clerk of Judicial Records Office and the Plaintiff will be notified.
If the Rule to Show Cause is signed by the Judge, both parties will be ordered to appear in court at later date determined by the Court.
The Rule to Show Cause will be emailed to Plaintiff at the email address they provide to the Court.
A Petition to Modify- Extension is filed when a Plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse case is requesting to extend the expiration date of their Final PFA Order.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Rule to Show Cause will be prepared and taken to the Motions Judge during a PFA session at either 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Once the Rule to Show Cause is ruled on, it will be filed with the Clerk of Judicial Records Office and the Plaintiff will be notified.
If the Rule to Show Cause is signed by the Judge, both parties will be ordered to appear in court at later date determined by the Court.
The Rule to Show Cause will be emailed to Plaintiff at the email address they provide to the Court.
An Intimidation Protection Petition is filed by an adult on behalf of a minor against an offender whose age is 18 or older.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Family Court staff member will contact Plaintiff to complete the intake process.
After the intake process is complete, you will be directed to go to the courthouse to have a hearing before the motions Judge. Hearings are generally conducted at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
The Protection Order will be emailed to Plaintiff at the email address they provide to the Court
An Indirect Criminal Complaint is filed when a Plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse case is alleging the Defendant has violated one or more of conditions placed on the Defendant in a Temporary or Final Protection From Abuse Order.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Rule to Show Cause will be prepared and taken to the Motions Judge during a PFA session at either 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Once the Indirect Criminal Contempt petition is ruled on, it will be filed with the Clerk of Judicial Records Office and the Plaintiff will be notified.
If the Rule to Show Cause is signed by the Judge, both parties will be ordered to appear in court at later date determined by the Court.
A Petition to Modify- Dismissal is filed when a Plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse case is requesting to withdraw their Protection from Abuse Petition and close the case.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Family Court staff member will contact you with further instructions.
A Petition to Modify- Amendment is filed when a Plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse case is requesting to make changes to the provisions of their current PFA Order.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Rule to Show Cause will be prepared and taken to the Motions Judge during a PFA session at either 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Once the Rule to Show Cause is ruled on, it will be filed with the Clerk of Judicial Records Office and the Plaintiff will be notified.
If the Rule to Show Cause is signed by the Judge, both parties will be ordered to appear in court at later date determined by the Court.
The Rule to Show Cause will be emailed to Plaintiff at the email address they provide to the Court.
A Petition to Modify- Extension is filed when a Plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse case is requesting to extend the expiration date of their Final PFA Order.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Rule to Show Cause will be prepared and taken to the Motions Judge during a PFA session at either 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Once the Rule to Show Cause is ruled on, it will be filed with the Clerk of Judicial Records Office and the Plaintiff will be notified.
If the Rule to Show Cause is signed by the Judge, both parties will be ordered to appear in court at later date determined by the Court.
The Rule to Show Cause will be emailed to Plaintiff at the email address they provide to the Court.
A Sexual Violence Protection Petition is filed when a person, who does not have a relationship defined by the PFA Act for a Protection from Abuse Order, is requesting a court order which protects victims of sexual violence.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Family Court staff member will contact Plaintiff to complete the intake process.
After the intake process is complete, you will be directed to go to the courthouse to have a hearing before the motions Judge. Hearings are generally conducted at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
The Protection Order will be emailed to Plaintiff at the email address they provide to the Court
An Indirect Criminal Complaint is filed when a Plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse case is alleging the Defendant has violated one or more of conditions placed on the Defendant in a Temporary or Final Protection From Abuse Order.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Rule to Show Cause will be prepared and taken to the Motions Judge during a PFA session at either 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Once the Indirect Criminal Contempt petition is ruled on, it will be filed with the Clerk of Judicial Records Office and the Plaintiff will be notified.
If the Rule to Show Cause is signed by the Judge, both parties will be ordered to appear in court at later date determined by the Court.
A Petition to Modify- Dismissal is filed when a Plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse case is requesting to withdraw their Protection from Abuse Petition and close the case.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Family Court staff member will contact you with further instructions.
A Petition to Modify- Amendment is filed when a Plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse case is requesting to make changes to the provisions of their current PFA Order.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Rule to Show Cause will be prepared and taken to the Motions Judge during a PFA session at either 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Once the Rule to Show Cause is ruled on, it will be filed with the Clerk of Judicial Records Office and the Plaintiff will be notified.
If the Rule to Show Cause is signed by the Judge, both parties will be ordered to appear in court at later date determined by the Court.
The Rule to Show Cause will be emailed to Plaintiff at the email address they provide to the Court.
A Petition to Modify- Extension is filed when a Plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse case is requesting to extend the expiration date of their Final PFA Order.
OR
Once the Family Court Office has received the documents, a Rule to Show Cause will be prepared and taken to the Motions Judge during a PFA session at either 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Once the Rule to Show Cause is ruled on, it will be filed with the Clerk of Judicial Records Office and the Plaintiff will be notified.
If the Rule to Show Cause is signed by the Judge, both parties will be ordered to appear in court at later date determined by the Court.
The Rule to Show Cause will be emailed to Plaintiff at the email address they provide to the Court.
Disclaimer
The forms and instructions that are available from this website are not a substitute for professional legal advice. Court employees cannot give you legal advice or help you fill out /complete the forms. It is your responsibility to read and complete the forms and to take required steps to file and serve the documents. If you decide to use these forms in an actual action, be prepared to spend appropriate time gathering information, completing forms and following the Rules of Court. The Court assumes no responsibility for the use of these forms and accepts no liability for actions taken by using these documents, including reliance on the instructions and/or contents. To obtain legal advice and to insure the proper use of this material, you should contact a lawyer.
If you want to obtain the service of an attorney, but do not know whom to contact, you should visit the Lehigh Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service website.
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