Free Guide to Colorado Restraining Orders and Protection

What Colorado Restraining Orders Are and How They Work

A restraining order is a court document that tells someone to stop certain behaviors or stay away from another person. In Colorado, restraining orders are legal tools designed to protect people from harassment, abuse, stalking, or threats. When a judge signs a restraining order, it becomes enforceable law in the state.

Colorado uses two main types of restraining orders. A "protection order" protects someone from an intimate partner or family member who has abused them. A "harassment restraining order" protects someone from harassment or stalking by someone who is not a family member or intimate partner. Both types work similarly but serve different situations.

When a restraining order is in place, the person it targets (called the "respondent") must follow specific rules. These rules typically include staying a certain distance away from the person being protected, not contacting them by phone or email, not going to their home or workplace, and sometimes surrendering firearms. Breaking a restraining order is a crime in Colorado and can result in arrest, fines, or jail time.

The process of getting a restraining order involves going to court and explaining to a judge why you need protection. The judge reviews the facts and decides whether to issue the order. If the judge agrees there is danger or harassment, they will sign the restraining order, making it official and enforceable by police.

Colorado courts handle thousands of restraining order cases each year. These orders are taken seriously by law enforcement. Police can arrest someone for violating a restraining order, and prosecutors can file criminal charges. Having a court order gives you legal protection and creates a record of the problem.

Practical takeaway: Understanding that a restraining order is a legal court order—not just a piece of paper—helps you see it as a real tool for protection with enforcement behind it.

Types of Restraining Orders Available in Colorado

Colorado law creates distinct categories of restraining orders based on the relationship between the person seeking protection and the person being restricted. This guide describes information about the two primary types: protection orders and harassment restraining orders.

A "protection order" is used when the threat comes from someone with whom you have or had an intimate relationship. This includes current or former spouses, dating partners, or people with whom you share a child. It also covers family members, including parents, siblings, grandparents, and adult children living in the same household. Protection orders can address domestic violence, which includes physical abuse, threats, harassment, and controlling behavior.

A "harassment restraining order" protects you from someone who is not a family member or intimate partner but who is harassing or stalking you. Harassment means a pattern of repeated, unwanted contact that would cause a reasonable person to feel afraid for their safety or suffer emotional distress. Stalking involves following someone, watching their home or workplace, making threats, or engaging in other behavior that causes fear.

Both types of orders can include similar protections, such as a requirement that the respondent stay away from your home, workplace, or school. Both can require the respondent to stop all contact with you. Both can also address issues like custody of children or possession of firearms. The main difference is who the order can be used against.

Colorado also recognizes "civil protection orders," which are similar to protection orders but may cover additional situations. Some jurisdictions also handle "stalking protection orders" as a specific category. The type of order you seek depends on your situation and your relationship to the person you need protection from.

It is important to note that getting a protection order does not change custody arrangements or remove someone from a home automatically. Those issues are handled separately through family court. However, a protection order can restrict when and how an ex-partner sees children, and it can require someone to move out temporarily.

Practical takeaway: Determine which type of restraining order fits your situation by identifying your relationship to the person causing harm—this determines where you file and what type of protection you can receive.

Steps for Obtaining a Restraining Order in Colorado

The process of obtaining a restraining order in Colorado begins with going to your local district court. You do not need a lawyer to file, though having one can be helpful. The court clerk can give you the forms you need and explain the process. Many courts have victim advocates available at no cost to answer questions.

The first step involves filing a petition with the court. Your petition is a written statement explaining why you need protection. You describe the specific incidents of abuse, harassment, or stalking. You include dates, times, and what happened. You explain why you fear for your safety or why the person's actions have caused you distress. The more specific details you provide, the better the judge can understand your situation.

After you file, the court can issue a "temporary restraining order" (also called an "ex parte order") the same day or within a few days. This temporary order lasts a short time—usually 10 to 14 days. It gives you immediate protection while the court schedules a full hearing. The respondent does not get to argue their side at this temporary stage, which is why it is called "ex parte" (one side only).

Next comes the full hearing, scheduled within two to three weeks of the temporary order. At this hearing, both you and the respondent can present evidence and tell your side of the story. You can bring witnesses, documents, photos, medical records, or police reports. The respondent can argue against the order. The judge listens to both sides and then decides whether to issue a "permanent" restraining order (which typically lasts one to five years, despite being called "permanent").

If you win at the hearing, the judge signs a final restraining order. This order is entered into the court system and shared with police. The respondent is notified of the order and told what they must and must not do. If the respondent violates the order, you can call police and report the violation.

Colorado law allows you to renew a restraining order before it expires if the threat still exists. When your order approaches its expiration date, you can file to extend it for another term.

Practical takeaway: Know that the process has two main stages—temporary protection first, then a full hearing—so you can prepare evidence and details before facing the respondent in court.

What Information and Evidence to Gather

Building a strong case for a restraining order requires gathering specific information about the incidents that led you to seek protection. The more details you collect, the easier it is for a judge to understand your situation and see why protection is necessary.

Start by writing down a detailed history of incidents. For each incident, note the date (or approximate date), time, location, and exactly what happened. What did the person say or do? How did it affect you? What were you doing when it occurred? Were there witnesses? Writing these down soon after they happen—rather than trying to remember later—creates a more accurate record. Some people keep a journal specifically for this purpose.

Documentation strengthens your case. Collect text messages, emails, social media posts, or voicemails from the respondent. Screenshots are helpful because they show the date and content. Save threatening letters or notes. Take photos of property damage or injuries. If the person has called repeatedly or left voicemails, save those messages. Medical records showing injuries are powerful evidence. Police reports from previous incidents provide official documentation.

Witness statements can be valuable. If someone saw what happened or heard about specific incidents, they can testify or provide a written statement. Police officers who responded to calls about the person can testify about what they observed. Counselors, therapists, or doctors who treated you for injuries or trauma can provide information about your condition.

In cases of stalking or harassment, patterns matter. If the person has repeatedly contacted you despite being asked to stop, document each contact. If they have followed you to multiple locations, note each instance. If they have sent numerous unwanted messages, gather examples. A single incident might not be enough, but a pattern shows ongoing, unwanted behavior.

For abuse cases, photographs of injuries are critical evidence. Take photos in good lighting, showing the full injury and close-ups. Date the photos if possible. Medical records from emergency rooms or doctors provide independent documentation of injuries. Medical professionals also create records of what you told them about how the injury occurred.

Bring all this documentation to the court. Organize it in a clear order—by date, by type, or however makes sense. Make copies for the judge