Can I Get a Protection Order for My Children?

Yes. Washington law allows a parent to seek a protection order that shields a child, and in many situations you can protect yourself and your minor children in the same case. Here is how that works.

Protecting a Child Through a Protection Order

When a parent worries about a child's safety, the natural question is whether the law lets them step in on the child's behalf. It does. Washington's protection order statute is built around the idea that the person filing does not have to be the only person protected. Under RCW 7.105.100, a petitioner may seek relief on behalf of themselves and on behalf of family or household members who are minors. So a parent can ask the court to protect both the parent and the children through one petition rather than forcing children to navigate the court system on their own.

This principle runs through the different order types. Under RCW 7.105.100, the petition for a domestic violence protection order expressly allows a petitioner to seek relief on behalf of himself or herself and on behalf of family or household members who are minors or vulnerable adults. For sexual assault, stalking, and antiharassment protection orders, the statute allows a petitioner to file on behalf of a minor child where the petitioner is the parent, legal guardian, or custodian. The common thread is that a protective adult can bring a child's need for safety before the court.

Which Order Fits the Situation

Washington offers six civil protection orders under chapter 7.105 RCW: domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, antiharassment, vulnerable adult, and extreme risk protection orders. The right one depends on what is happening. If the conduct involves an intimate partner or a family or household member, a domestic violence protection order is often the natural fit, and under RCW 7.105.100 that order type specifically contemplates protecting minors. If a child has been stalked or harassed by someone, the stalking or antiharassment order may be the appropriate route, with the parent filing on the child's behalf.

Importantly, choosing the label is not a trap. Under RCW 7.105.100, a petition must not be dismissed or denied simply because the conduct alleged would meet the criteria for a different type of order. If your petition fits a different category than the one you selected, the court is directed to consider your preference and either enter a temporary order or set a hearing as appropriate. That protects families from losing their day in court over a technical mislabeling.

Children as Protected Parties in an Emergency Order

The law also builds in an extra layer of protection for children during the most dangerous moments. Under RCW 7.105.100, when a petitioner requests an ex parte temporary protection order and an order to surrender weapons, there is a rebuttable presumption that the petitioner's minor children will be included as protected parties in the ex parte temporary domestic violence protection order until the full hearing, unless there is good cause not to include them. If a court decides not to include the children, it must put its reasons in writing. This presumption reflects a recognition that periods of heightened risk are exactly when children need protection most.

That same emergency order is temporary by design. Under RCW 7.105.305, an ex parte temporary protection order is issued for a fixed period not to exceed 14 days initially, which may be extended for good cause, with the full hearing to follow.

When Older Minors Can Act on Their Own

Washington law also recognizes that older children sometimes need to act for themselves. Under RCW 7.105.100, with the exception of vulnerable adult protection orders, a person who is 15, 16, or 17 years old may seek relief under the chapter as a petitioner without needing an adult to file on their behalf, and may even petition on behalf of a minor family or household member if chosen by that minor and capable of pursuing the minor's stated interest. A person under 15 who is seeking relief must do so through an authorized adult petitioner. Knowing where a child falls on that line can shape how a family approaches a case.

What the Order Can Address

A protection order is not limited to a simple no-contact command. Under RCW 7.105.100, the petition includes a section where the petitioner can request specific forms of relief for themselves or for minor family or household members, and the court is directed to consider that requested relief, along with any other relief it deems appropriate, both when it enters a temporary order and when it enters a full order. That flexibility lets the court tailor protection to what a particular child actually needs.

A Word for Snohomish County Families

For parents in Snohomish County, protecting a child through the court often overlaps with family law concerns like custody and parenting time. Because a protection order can shape contact between a child and another person, and because these cases can intersect with divorce or parenting plan disputes, it helps to think through the whole picture rather than looking at the protection order in isolation. The statute gives parents real tools, but choosing the right order, framing the request well, and understanding how children are included takes care.

If you are worried about your child's safety and wondering whether a protection order is the right step, the Law Office of Chad Foster is here to help you understand your options and how the process would work for your family.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.