Apply for a domestic abuse protection order in a county court

Domestic abuse protection orders

A domestic abuse protection order (DAPO) can:

• stop someone coming to or near your home
• decide who can stay or return to your home
• order the person to attend a behavioural change programme
• order the person to wear an electronic tag to check they’re keeping to the conditions of the order

There are not court fees for applying.

Who can apply

You can only apply for a DAPO if the person you need protection from either lives in:

• Greater Manchester
• the London boroughs of Croydon, Bromley or Sutton
• Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees
• north Wales (Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham)

If the person you need protection from does not live in one of these areas, you can apply for a non-molestation or occupation order instead.

Where to apply

You can only apply in the following county courts:

• Manchester
• Stockport
• Wigan
• Croydon
• Bromley
• Teesside
• Caernarfon
• Prestatyn
• Wrexham

If the person you need protection from lives in Sutton, you can apply either in Croydon or Bromley.

You may have to travel to one of these areas to attend a hearing, even if you do not live there.

If you cannot travel to one of these areas, you can apply for a non-molestation or occupation order at your local court instead.

How to apply

You’ll need to complete:

• form N244
• a supporting witness statement

You can apply for a DAPO at any time during your civil court case. For example, if you have a dispute about money or property with the person you need protection from that a county court is already dealing with.

Completing a supporting witness statement

You must say in your supporting witness statement why you want to apply for a DAPO. This could include things the person you need protection from has said or done.

You must include:

• the date of birth for the person you need protection from (if known)
• an address for the person you need protection from
• what you would like the court to order
• anything else you would like the court to know

You can ask the court to order the person you need protection from to:

• stop doing something
• do something specific
• wear an electronic tag
• attend a program, for example a behaviour change programme, substance misuse or mental health programme

You can use the supporting witness statement template available on form DA1.

Keeping your information confidential

If you do not want yours or your child’s details shared with the person you need protection from, you must not put them in the form.

You’ll need to complete form C8 and send it to the court with your application.

Serve the application

After the court has accepted your application, a copy must be given to the person you need protection from (unless the court has agreed to hear your case without them being told). This is called “serving the application”.

If the court grants an order, the order must be served on the person you need protection from.

You must not serve the application or order yourself. If you do not have legal representation, you must also complete form D89 to ask for a court official to serve the application or order. You must send it to the court with your application.

Once the application or order has been served, you must complete form N215 to tell the court:

• who has been served
• what they have been served with

Vary or discharge an order

You can only apply to vary or discharge a DAPO if it is still in force.

You must complete a new N244 form and send it to the county court that made the order.

There are no court fees for applying.

Where to send the forms

Send by email

You can send your completed forms and any supporting documents by email to the county court dealing with your ongoing civil case.

You must email one copy of each form you send.

Find the county court’s contact details

Send by post or deliver in person

You can send your completed forms and any supporting documents to the court by post or deliver them in person.

If you do not have legal representation, you must post or deliver one copy of each form you send.

If you do have legal representation, you must post or deliver 3 copies of each form you send. If you’re asking the court to order something to do with a property, then you must post or deliver 4 copies. You can ask your legal representative to make copies.

Find the county court’s contact details

Get help

Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ) Advice offers support for victims of domestic abuse. They can help you find legal advisors to:

• discuss your options with you
• help you with your application

Find out more about how RCJ Advice can help you