A civil harassment order is a restraining order available
to victims being harassed by someone they do not have
a domestic relationship with, such as a friend, neighbor
or even a stranger. (If the victim has a domestic
relationship with the person who is harassing them,
the victim should be applying for a domestic violence
restraining order instead.)
A civil harassment order can last up to three years
and may be renewed after that. There is a filing fee
to apply for a civil harassment order, however that
fee may be waived based on the victim's ability to
pay or if the abuser has caused physical harm to the
victim.
A victim can qualify for a civil harassment order
if the harasser has intentionally committed a series
of acts (more than one) which are frightening, annoying
or harassing, and which have caused the victim substantial
emotional distress. The harasser does not have to
be related to the victim in any way, but the victim
must be able to identify the person and find him or
her to serve the papers.
A civil harassment order can order the harasser:
