Skip to main content

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.

Information about abuse prevention orders

If you’ve received an abuse prevention order

What happens if I've received an abuse prevention order?  What happens if I violate an abuse prevention order? 

Massachusetts law about abuse prevention orders

Law about domestic violence (209A)  Law about defending against an abuse prevention order  Ask a Law Librarian 

Additional resources for defendants

Restraining order/abuse prevention order court forms  Resources & support for stopping intimate partner abuse 

Locations

Courts that issue abuse prevention orders

Find court locations

Related Services

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback