offered by
Superior Court
District Court
Boston Municipal Court
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.

What would you like to do?

Top tasks

Find out how harassment prevention orders work 
Request a harassment prevention order 

What you need to know

Find out what qualifies as harassment 
Find out what happens if the defendant violates a harassment prevention order 
Restraining order & harassment court forms 
Court resources for safety and support 
Massachusetts law about harassment, stalking, or intentional infliction of emotional distress 
Resources if you're being abused or harassed 
See all 7 of What you need to know 

Locations

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

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