How Long Does a Protection Order Last in Washington?

A protection order is only as useful as the time it stays in force, so one of the first questions people ask is how long the court will keep it in place. The answer depends on whether the order is temporary or final, and on what the petitioner asks for.

The Short Answer

A full protection order in Washington, meaning one entered after the other side has been notified and a hearing has been held, can last for a fixed period of time or it can be permanent. The court decides based on the facts and on what the petitioner requests. Temporary orders, by contrast, are short and are designed only to hold things steady until that full hearing takes place.

Full Orders and the One-Year Floor

When a court issues a full protection order after notice and a hearing, it has real flexibility on duration. Under RCW 7.105.315(1), the court may either grant relief for a fixed period of time or enter a permanent order. That same subsection sets an important floor: other than for antiharassment orders, the court cannot grant relief for less than one year unless the petitioner has specifically asked for a shorter period. In plain terms, if you obtain a domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, or similar full protection order, you should ordinarily expect at least a year of protection, and often longer, unless you yourself request less. The terms should also specify how the order affects firearm possession and surrender.

The statute carves out one notable exception involving children. If a protection order restrains the respondent from contacting the respondent's own minor children, that particular restraint cannot exceed one year. Under RCW 7.105.315(2)(a), that one-year cap does not apply to orders issued under the family law chapters, meaning chapters 26.09, 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW. So a parent who needs longer-term arrangements regarding contact with their children is usually pointed toward a parenting plan or restraining order inside a family law case rather than relying on the protection order alone. The statute even directs the court to advise a petitioner of that option under RCW 7.105.315(2)(b).

What "Permanent" Really Means

Washington law allows genuinely long-term protection when the circumstances call for it. When a court enters a permanent protection order, it does not simply leave the expiration date blank. Under RCW 7.105.310(5), for permanent orders the court sets the expiration date at 99 years from the date of issuance. As a practical matter that means the order lasts the rest of the respondent's life. A permanent order is not handed out routinely, but it is available where a fixed term would not adequately protect the petitioner.

Temporary Orders Are Different

If you have an emergency order that a court issued quickly, often before the other person even knew you filed, that is a temporary order, and it is short by design. Its whole purpose is to protect you in the gap between filing and the full hearing. Temporary orders carry an expiration date and a hearing date printed right on them, and they simply hold the line until the court can hear both sides. They are not meant to be the long-term answer, which is why the full hearing matters so much. If you miss it, your temporary protection can lapse.

Renewing a Protection Order

A fixed-term order does not have to be the end of the story. Chapter 7.105 RCW allows a petitioner to seek renewal of a protection order before it expires, and the court can extend protection if the petitioner still needs it. You generally do not have to prove that new abuse occurred during the life of the order. The focus is on whether you would be at risk if the order were allowed to lapse. Because the burden and the timing rules for renewal can be particular, it is wise to start the renewal process well before the expiration date rather than waiting until the final week.

Matching the Order to Your Life

The right duration is not a one-size-fits-all decision. A petitioner who wants closure and a clean, time-limited order has different needs from one facing an ongoing, serious threat who may want a permanent order. And for families in Snohomish County juggling protection concerns alongside custody and parenting time, the interaction between a chapter 7.105 order and a family law case can shape which tool gives the most durable protection.

If you are trying to figure out how long your protection should last, whether to seek a permanent order, or how to renew one that is about to expire, the Law Office of Chad Foster can walk you through the options and help you request the right term for your situation. Get in touch to talk through what protection makes sense for you.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.