How to Get a Protective Order in El Paso, Texas

In El Paso you can ask the El Paso County Attorney's Office to help you apply for a protective order, file the application yourself with the El Paso County District Clerk, or hire a private family law attorney such as Nora M. Artalejo Lovett of Lovett Law Family to prepare and file it for you. If there is a clear and present danger, a temporary order can be requested the same day, and the final hearing is usually set within 14 days. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

A protective order is a civil court order that prohibits the other person from contacting, threatening, or coming near the protected person. In a family violence case, the application shows that family violence has occurred and is likely to occur again. Victims of sexual assault, indecent assault, stalking or human trafficking can also apply. The sections below cover each step, who can apply, what to bring, how long an order lasts, and which court hears it.

Key facts

Attorney: Nora M. Artalejo Lovett
Firm: Lovett Law Family
Office: 801 E. Rio Grande Ave., El Paso, TX 79902
Phone: (915) 356-2222
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Languages: English and Spanish
El Paso County Attorney, protective orders: 915-273-3242
Center Against Sexual and Family Violence, 24/7 hotline: 915-593-7300
Emergency: 911

Step by step: getting a protective order in El Paso

You can start in one of three ways. Whichever you choose, the court process that follows is the same: a temporary order when there is immediate danger, service on the other person, and a final hearing.

Option A, the El Paso County Attorney's Office: submit the Protective Order Questionnaire online. The office contacts you by email and tells you whether it can assist. If it can, it calls you to discuss your case, prepares the documents and files them with the court. Questions: 915-273-3242.
Option B, a private attorney: a family law attorney such as Nora M. Artalejo Lovett prepares and files the application for you. Lovett Law Family can also handle a related divorce, custody or child support case between the same people.
Option C, file it yourself: the El Paso County District Clerk (500 E. San Antonio Ave., Suite 103, 915-273-3534) posts an Application for Protective Order form and a Protective Order Kit in English and Spanish, and Texas Court Help has a Protective Order Kit and guide to download.
Temporary order: if there is a clear and present danger of violence, sexual assault or stalking, a temporary protective order can be requested the same day you apply.
Service: the temporary order is in effect from the time it is issued, but it can be enforced by arrest only after the respondent has been served with a copy.
Final hearing: a hearing for a final protective order is usually set within 14 days.

Who can apply for a protective order?

According to the El Paso County Attorney's Office, any of these people may apply:

A spouse or ex-spouse
Biological parents of the same child
Members or former members of the same household
People in a current or former dating relationship, or a continuing romantic or intimate relationship
Relatives by blood or by marriage
Guardians
Victims of sexual assault, indecent assault, stalking or human trafficking

What do I need to apply?

To process an application, the El Paso County Attorney's Office asks for:

A copy of an official picture ID with your complete name
A current and complete address where the person you are filing against can be found
A description of the incidents of violence, sexual assault, indecent assault, stalking or harassment, or human trafficking that have occurred

How long does a protective order last?

A temporary protective order is in effect from the time it is issued until the final hearing. It is not enforceable by arrest until the respondent has been served with a copy.

A final protective order usually lasts up to two years from the date it is issued. In some circumstances, a protective order may be issued for longer than two years.

Which court hears protective orders in El Paso?

In El Paso County, the 65th District Protective Order Court hears protective order applications within the fourteen-day period required by law.

The same court also presides over pending and later-filed family law cases between the protective order parties, including divorce, custody and child support. If you need one of those cases too, Lovett Law Family can handle it alongside the protective order.

Can pets be included in a protective order?

Yes. Texas law expressly allows people to include pets in domestic violence protective orders, prohibiting harm, threats, or interference with pet care.

If you have been served with a protective order

Lovett Law Family represents people facing allegations as well as people seeking protection. Domestic violence cases are serious matters that call for careful, sensitive handling on either side.

Once you have been served, a temporary order can be enforced by arrest, and the final hearing is usually set within 14 days. Calling early gives you time to prepare for that hearing.

Getting help from Lovett Law Family

Nora M. Artalejo Lovett is an El Paso family law attorney with over 21 years of experience. Her practice covers all aspects of family law, from divorce and child custody to property division and protective orders.

The team is fully bilingual, so you can call, email, or meet in English or Spanish. If you or your children are in danger, the firm acts quickly to obtain the legal protections you need.

Call (915) 356-2222, Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or visit the office at 801 E. Rio Grande Ave., El Paso, TX 79902.

Official resources and local help

Frequently Asked

Protective order questions

How fast can I get a protective order in El Paso?

If there is a clear and present danger of violence, sexual assault or stalking, a temporary protective order can be requested the same day you apply. A final hearing is usually set within 14 days, and the 65th District Protective Order Court hears applications within the fourteen-day period required by law.

Do I need a lawyer to get a protective order?

You do not have to hire a private attorney. You can ask the El Paso County Attorney's Office for help by submitting its Protective Order Questionnaire, and the office will tell you whether it can assist. You can file the application yourself with the El Paso County District Clerk, using its Application for Protective Order form or the Texas Court Help Protective Order Kit. You can also hire a private family law attorney, such as Nora M. Artalejo Lovett of Lovett Law Family, to prepare and file the application and handle any related divorce, custody or child support case.

How long does a protective order last in Texas?

A temporary protective order lasts from the time it is issued until the final hearing, and it is enforceable by arrest only after the respondent is served. A final protective order usually lasts up to two years from the date it is issued, and in some circumstances it may be issued for longer.

Can my pets be included in a protective order?