Obtaining a Permanent Protective Order
To obtain a permanent protective order (VA State § 16.1-279.1) a person must first file a preliminary protective order or an emergency protective order. Once either one is filed, a hearing date will be provided for the Judge to decide where a permanent protective order is necessary. A permanent protective order cannot exceed more than two years, and once the two years is up the Judge will have another hearing to see if there is still enough evidence to have upheld the order.