offered by
Superior Court
District Court
Boston Municipal Court
Massachusetts Court System
related to
Abuse & Harassment Court Orders

Harassment Prevention Orders

The harassment prevention law, commonly called Chapter 258E , is there to protect you against someone who is harassing, stalking or sexually assaulting you, no matter what your relationship with them might be.

The harassment prevention law can be used to protect you against anyone. The law allows you to seek a court order, which is sometimes called a 258E order, harassment prevention order, restraining order, or protective order. In court, the plaintiff is the person who asks the court to issue the order. The defendant is the person the order is issued against.

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What qualifies as harassment?  Request a harassment prevention order 

Getting a harassment prevention order

Find out who can get an order, how to get one, and what happens if the defendant violates the order.

Resources if you’re being harassed

Harassment prevention order resources

Locations

A list of court locations where you can get a harassment prevention order

Find court locations

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