Civil Protective Order Court


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.
Civil Protective Order Court is for petitions involving domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

Neighborhood disputes are  generally NOT eligible for civil orders of protection.   
 

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? 

State site with the Petition for Civil Order of Protection forms
 
After filling out the Petition, please take it to:

1896 Courthouse, Room 151
101 S. Main Street.
Phone: 574-235-9661
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday

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