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Abuse Prevention Orders for Defendants

The abuse prevention law (Chapter 209A) is designed to protect victims from abuse.

The abuse prevention law allows victims to ask for a court order to protect them. This is sometimes called a 209A order, abuse prevention order, restraining order, or protective order. In court, the defendant is the person the order is issued against. Find out what happens if someone files an abuse prevention order against you.

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What happens if I've received an abuse prevention order?  Restraining order forms  Massachusetts law about domestic violence 

If you’ve received an abuse prevention order

Massachusetts law about abuse prevention orders

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