Skip to main content

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.

Get help with harassment prevention orders

COVID-19 resources

COVID-19 resources for Harassment Prevention Orders (258E)  Protection orders during COVID-19 

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.

Request a harassment prevention order  What qualifies as harassment?  How harassment prevention orders work  Harassment prevention order court forms  What happens if someone violates a harassment prevention order? 

Resources if you’re being harassed

Resources available regarding abuse or harassment  Court resources for safety & support  Chat or text with a law librarian  Massachusetts law about harassment 

Locations

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

Find court locations

Related Services

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback