- Home
- Government
- Courts
- Circuit Court
- Civil Protective Order Court
Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
To aid us in getting information to you as quickly as possible, if you have business before the Civil Protective Order Court, please complete the contact form with your email address. Cause number and Hearing Date are not required, but are helpful. Thank you for helping us contact you more efficiently during this time of COVID.
Before 2013, Protective Orders could be filed in any court in St. Joseph County but were predominantly filed in small claims court. In 2013, the St. Joseph County Courts secured a grant from the Indiana Supreme Court Family Court Project to develop and implement a Civil Protective Order (CPO) Court to address domestic violence and stalking within our county. The CPO Court became fully operational on November 1, 2013.
When petitioning for a civil order of protection, please be prepared to answer the following questions:
1. What is the relationship between the parties? (e.g., spouse, child, parent, boy/girlfriend, stalking victim, etc.)
2. If stalking is involved, have there been 2 or more incidents?
3. Do the allegations involve domestic violence or sexual assault?
4. Are there other court cases involving these parties in another court?
You are also welcome to call or visit one of the community resources below for assistance with filling out the forms:
Special Victims Unit
533 North Niles Ave., South Bend
Phone 574-235-7818
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
Family Justice Center of St. Joseph County
533 North Niles Ave., South Bend
Phone: 574-234-6900
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday