Pierce County District Court

Individuals can seek an order of protection to prevent harassment, stalking, and unwanted contact, as well as to restrict a person's proximity to their workplace, school, or home. Other protection orders are handled by the Superior Court.

Intake Procedure: To initiate a protection order, the Court requires the harasser's full name, address, and additional details such as date of birth or driver's license number. Completing the necessary forms takes approximately one hour, and these can also be submitted online. After online submission, a confirmation number is provided, and the filer has 72 hours to visit the courthouse to pay the filing fees. Anti-harassment petitions are processed daily if filed before 11 am; those submitted after will be addressed the next business day. No filings are accepted after 3 pm.

Fees: The total cost for filing is $98, which includes an $83 filing fee and $15 for three certified copies. There are no fees for Anti-Stalking orders, and the filing fee is non-refundable if the petition is denied. Personal checks are not accepted, but filing fees may be waived based on income information provided by the filer, although there is no guarantee of a waiver.