Washington Form PO 040 is the Petition for Protection Order that any person in Washington State files in Superior or District Court to ask a judge for a civil protection order against another person who has committed domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, abuse of a vulnerable adult, or who poses a firearm-related risk under the state’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law. The form opens a civil case, triggers a same-day ex parte hearing, and—if signed by a judge—creates an enforceable order that police can act on across all 50 states.
The form is governed by Chapter 7.105 RCW, the unified Civil Protection Orders Act that took effect July 1, 2022, and replaced six older protection order chapters with one statute and one petition. According to the Administrative Office of the Courts 2024 caseload report, Washington courts processed more than 38,000 protection order petitions last year, and roughly one in four petitions were initially denied or returned for incomplete information on the very page you are about to read about.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📝 How to fill out every box, line, and signature block on the current PO 040 petition
- ⚖️ Which of the six protection order types fits your facts and how to check the right box
- 🧾 Three full named-person walkthroughs you can copy as templates for your own case
- 🚫 The ten most common field-level mistakes that get petitions rejected at the clerk’s window
- 📬 Every filing channel—online portal, in-person clerk, mail—with fees, timing, and proof of filing
What Form PO 040 Is and Who Must File It
Form PO 040 is the official statewide Petition for Protection Order published by the Washington Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and revised most recently in 2022 with minor pattern updates posted through the AOC’s Court Forms Committee. The form carries the form number PO 040 in the lower-left footer along with the revision date, and the version printed on your copy must match the version on the AOC website the day you file.
You must file PO 040 if you are an adult, an emancipated minor, or a parent or guardian filing on behalf of a child or vulnerable adult, and you want a court to order another person—called the respondent—to stop contacting, threatening, stalking, or harming you. The petition is also the right vehicle for a family member, household member, dating partner, or law enforcement officer who wants to seek an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) to temporarily remove firearms from a person in crisis.
Six protection order types share this single petition: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, Anti-Harassment, Vulnerable Adult, and Extreme Risk. The petitioner checks a single box on page 1 to tell the court which order to issue, and the legal definitions for each type live in RCW 7.105.010. Choosing the wrong order type does not end your case, but it usually triggers a continuance and a re-served petition, costing you one to two weeks of unprotected time.
You do not need to be a Washington resident to file. You may file in the Washington county where you live, where the respondent lives, or where the abuse, stalking, or threat happened, under the venue rules in RCW 7.105.075. Tribal members and survivors who recently fled to Washington can file the day they arrive.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Spend 30 minutes gathering the items below before you open the form. Missing details force the clerk to reject the petition or force the judge to deny the ex parte temporary order, and an incomplete petition often delays your protection by a full week.
- Your full legal name, current safe mailing address, and a working phone number. The court uses these only for service and notice; you may list a confidential address using the Address Confidentiality Program so the respondent never sees your home location.
- The respondent’s full legal name, date of birth, and last known address. Service will fail without a service address, and a failed service forces you to renew your temporary order at another hearing.
- A physical description of the respondent. Height, weight, hair color, eye color, race, and any tattoos or scars help the sheriff serve the right person and help police enforce the order.
- Vehicle information. License plate, make, model, year, and color let officers spot a respondent who violates the order on the road.
- Firearm information. Whether the respondent owns, possesses, or has access to firearms, plus types and locations if known, because the judge must order surrender under RCW 9.41.800 for most order types.
- A timeline of incidents. Dates, locations, and a short description of each act of abuse, threat, stalking, or harassment, in chronological order, with the most recent incident first.
- Police report numbers. Any 911 call, incident, or case number from local law enforcement, since the judge will look for corroboration.
- Names and birthdates of any minor children. If you want the order to protect children or to address temporary parenting arrangements, the form’s minors section needs each child’s full legal name, date of birth, and current school.
- Photos, texts, voicemails, emails, social media messages, and medical records. You will attach copies as numbered exhibits to a sworn declaration.
- Any prior or current court orders. Existing parenting plans, no-contact orders, divorce decrees, or criminal protection orders must be disclosed so the judge can avoid conflicting commands.
A pre-filing checklist printed by WashingtonLawHelp protection order guides lines up with this list and is worth printing and ticking off before you start typing.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The single authoritative source for PO 040 is the Washington Courts forms library, where you can download the petition as a fillable PDF or a Word document in English, and where the AOC also publishes Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, and Somali translations under the same form number. The translated copies are for the petitioner’s reference; the court still receives the English version unless your county provides a bilingual filing process.
You can also obtain the form for free at any Superior Court clerk’s office, at most District Court clerks, at domestic violence advocacy programs in your county, and through court facilitators who help pro se filers complete the petition. The Northwest Justice Project and the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence both maintain advocate directories that include free PO 040 help.
The newest channel is the statewide Protection Order Filing Portal, which lets you complete the petition online, e-sign it, and submit it directly to the clerk without printing. The portal walks you through PO 040 page by page, saves drafts for up to 30 days, and produces a confirmation receipt the moment your filing reaches the clerk’s queue. As of January 2026, the portal is live in every Washington county, although a handful of small District Courts still require paper filing for harassment cases.
Whichever channel you use, confirm the revision date in the lower-left footer of page 1. Older versions—especially anything dated before July 1, 2022—reference the repealed chapters (10.14, 26.50, 74.34) and will be rejected by the clerk on sight.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out PO 040 Line by Line
The petition runs roughly 12 to 18 pages depending on how many order types you check and how many minors you list. Work through it in the order printed on the form, page by page, and save the long incident description for last so you can write it without the pressure of unfilled boxes ahead of you.
Caption: Court, County, and Case Number
The caption sits at the top of page 1 and asks for the Superior Court of Washington, County of ____, plus a blank case number. Write the county where you are filing in capital letters, for example KING, and leave the case number blank because the clerk assigns it when the petition is accepted. Petitioner Maria Lopez writes KING on the county line and leaves the case number empty.
A nuance often missed by pro se filers is venue: if you fled to a new county within the last few weeks, you may file where you currently are, even if the abuse happened elsewhere, under RCW 7.105.075. The most common mistake is filling in a case number from a prior divorce or criminal case, which causes the clerk to consolidate filings or reject the petition outright. A frequent misconception is that the case number must come from the petitioner; it never does, and writing one in always slows the case.
Petitioner Information (Page 1)
This block asks for your full legal name, year of birth (not full date for confidentiality), and whether you are a protected person or filing on behalf of a protected person. Use your full legal name as it appears on your ID, capitalize the surname, and check the box that matches your role. Aisha Johnson writes Aisha Marie Johnson, year of birth 1991, and checks I am the person needing protection.
If you are filing for a child or vulnerable adult, check I am filing on behalf of and add the protected person’s name in the next blank. The most common mistake here is using a nickname or a married name that does not match your driver’s license, which creates a name-mismatch flag when law enforcement runs the order through the Washington Crime Information Center (WACIC). A widespread misconception is that listing your full date of birth is required; the form intentionally asks only for the year so the respondent never learns your full DOB.
Respondent Information (Page 1)
The respondent block needs the respondent’s full legal name, full date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, hair and eye color, and last known residence and employment addresses. Fill in every box you can and write unknown for boxes you cannot answer; unknown is acceptable, but a blank box can be read as a refusal to disclose. Carlos Rivera enters Daniel J. Rivera, DOB 07/14/1986, sex M, race Hispanic, 5‘10”, 180 lbs, brown/brown.
A nuance: if the respondent uses aliases or has a common name, list every alias you know in the also known as line because WACIC matches on aliases when officers stop the respondent. The most common mistake is leaving the date of birth blank when you actually know it, which makes service and law enforcement entry harder and can downgrade the order’s enforceability. A misconception is that you must hire a private investigator to find the address; the sheriff will attempt service at the last known address, and the court accepts honest unknown answers paired with a request for alternative service under RCW 7.105.150.
Type of Protection Order Requested (Page 2)
Page 2 lists the six order types as checkboxes: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, Anti-Harassment, Vulnerable Adult, Extreme Risk. Check the single box that best fits your relationship and facts; check more than one only if your facts truly support multiple types, such as DV plus stalking by an intimate partner. Janet Pham, who is seeking protection from her husband, checks only Domestic Violence.
A nuance: a Domestic Violence order requires a qualifying relationship under RCW 7.105.010(8)—spouse, ex-spouse, dating partner, co-parent, blood or in-law family, or current/former roommate. The most common mistake is checking Anti-Harassment when the parties are intimate partners; harassment orders carry weaker firearm provisions, so the wrong box can leave you less protected. A misconception is that you must pick the strongest order type; you must pick the correct one, and the judge can reclassify at the hearing under RCW 7.105.225.
Relationship Between Petitioner and Respondent (Page 2)
The relationship block asks how you know the respondent and offers checkboxes: spouse, former spouse, dating, former dating, parent of common child, family member, household member, stranger, or other. Check every box that has ever applied, since past relationships still qualify for DV protection. Maria Lopez checks former dating and parent of common child because she shares a four-year-old with the respondent.
A nuance: same-sex partners, non-married dating partners, and people who lived together briefly all qualify, and the statute does not require cohabitation for dating partners. The most common mistake is checking only current relationship when a former box also applies, which can shrink the judge’s view of the history. A misconception is that the relationship must be sexual; family or household member covers parents, adult siblings, in-laws, and roommates with no romantic component.
Minors Involved (Page 3)
If any children should be protected, or if you want temporary parenting provisions, list each child’s full legal name, date of birth, current address, and school. Use one row per child and check the box that says I want this child included as a protected person. Janet Pham lists Lily Pham, DOB 03/02/2019, address same as petitioner, school Maplewood Preschool and checks the protection box.
A nuance: under RCW 7.105.310, the judge can grant temporary residential time, restrict contact with children, and order the surrender of children’s passports, but only if the petition asks for those things. The most common mistake is leaving the minors block blank when children are present in the home; courts frequently deny child-related relief that was never requested in writing. A misconception is that an existing parenting plan blocks new protection-order terms; the protection order can override the parenting plan during its lifetime under RCW 7.105.305.
Other Protected Persons (Page 3)
This optional block lets you add adults who also need protection, such as a new partner, a sibling, or a parent who lives with you. Enter each person’s full name, year of birth, and relationship to you, and explain in one sentence why they need protection. Aisha Johnson lists her mother Brenda Johnson, 1962, mother, lives in petitioner’s home and was threatened by respondent on 02/14/2026.
A nuance: third-party protected persons must have a real connection to the threat; you cannot add a coworker simply because you fear the respondent might go to your job. The most common mistake is adding too many people without facts; judges strike unsupported names and may question the petition’s credibility. A misconception is that adding a roommate makes them a co-petitioner; they remain a protected person only, and they do not sign the petition.
Firearms and Dangerous Weapons (Page 4)
This page asks whether the respondent owns, possesses, or has access to firearms or other dangerous weapons, and asks you to describe each weapon and its location if known. Check yes, no, or unknown and add detail in the lines provided. Carlos Rivera checks yes, writes one black 9mm handgun, kept in respondent’s bedroom safe at 1422 Pine St, Tacoma.
A nuance: even unknown answers help, because the judge can still order a blanket firearm surrender under RCW 9.41.800 for DV, SA, stalking, and ERPO orders. The most common mistake is leaving the firearms block blank because you are unsure; unknown is far better than blank because blank reads as no to many judges. A misconception is that the respondent’s concealed pistol license shields the firearm; the Washington State Patrol firearms surrender database revokes the CPL automatically when the order issues.
Description of Most Recent Incident (Pages 5–6)
This is the heart of the petition. Describe the most recent act of abuse, stalking, or threat in chronological detail, in the first person, including the date, location, what was said, what was done, who witnessed it, and whether police were called. Use specific quotes when you can recall them. Maria Lopez writes: On 05/02/2026 at about 9:15 p.m., Daniel came to my apartment at 510 Rainier Ave, Seattle. He pounded on the door, yelled “I’ll kill you if you don’t let me in,” and broke the window next to the door. My neighbor, Sam Park, heard him and called 911. Seattle Police responded under report 2026-145882.
A nuance: judges grant ex parte temporary orders based almost entirely on this section, so vague phrases like he was abusive or I felt scared are far weaker than dated, quoted, witnessed events. The most common mistake is writing the narrative as a list of feelings instead of a list of facts; feelings belong at the end, after the facts. A misconception is that you must prove the incident beyond a reasonable doubt; the civil standard under RCW 7.105.225 is preponderance of the evidence, which simply means more likely than not.
Description of Past Incidents and Pattern of Behavior (Pages 6–7)
Use this block to list earlier incidents in reverse chronological order, with dates, locations, and a one- to three-sentence description of each. Two to six prior incidents is usually enough; more than ten can dilute the strongest events. Aisha Johnson lists four incidents from 2024 through 2026, each with a date, a city, and a one-line description ending with the police report number when one exists.
A nuance: a single incident is enough for a stalking, DV, or sexual assault order, but a pattern strengthens the request and supports a longer order term. The most common mistake is mixing incidents out of order, which makes the timeline hard to follow and can cost you credibility. A misconception is that incidents older than two years cannot be considered; the statute places no cap, and a judge may consider history going back many years to assess current risk.
Specific Relief Requested (Pages 8–10)
This block is a long checklist of remedies: no contact, stay-away distances, exclusive use of the home, surrender of firearms, surrender of children’s passports, no surveillance, no third-party contact, and more. Check every remedy you want, and write in distances and addresses where the form provides blanks. Carlos Rivera checks no contact, stay 1,000 feet from petitioner’s home and workplace, surrender all firearms within 24 hours, no third-party contact through social media.
A nuance: judges almost never grant relief that was not asked for, so check liberally rather than narrowly, and write in any tailored relief under the other line. The most common mistake is leaving the stay-away distance blank, which results in a default 1,000-foot order or no distance at all. A misconception is that you must justify each remedy in writing; the facts section already justifies them, and the relief section is meant to be a checklist.
Ex Parte Temporary Order Request (Page 11)
This box tells the court you want a same-day temporary protection order that lasts until the full hearing 14 days later. Check the box, sign, and date. Janet Pham checks yes, writes 05/22/2026 on the date line, and signs above her printed name.
A nuance: under RCW 7.105.305, the court must rule on ex parte relief by the end of the judicial day the petition is filed, even on busy Friday calendars. The most common mistake is forgetting to check the box, leaving you unprotected for two weeks until the full hearing. A misconception is that the temporary order requires the respondent’s notice; ex parte means without the other side, and the respondent learns of the order when the sheriff serves it.
Petitioner’s Declaration and Signature (Final Page)
The final page contains a sworn declaration under penalty of perjury, your signature, the date, and the city and state where you signed. Read the declaration line, sign in ink (or e-sign through the portal), and write the date and city. Maria Lopez signs Maria Lopez, dates it 05/22/2026, and writes Seattle, WA.
A nuance: the declaration is sworn under RCW 9A.72.085, making any false statement a Class B felony, so re-read every page before signing. The most common mistake is signing on the wrong line or printing the name where the signature belongs, which forces the clerk to return the petition. A misconception is that a notary is required; an unsworn declaration with the perjury language at the top of the signature block satisfies Washington law.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
The three named filers below show how the same form serves very different facts. Each table mirrors the petition’s order, so you can use it as a template.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez — Domestic Violence Order with a Shared Child
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption – County | KING |
| Petitioner Name and Year of Birth | Maria Elena Lopez, 1990 |
| Respondent Name and DOB | Daniel J. Rivera, 07/14/1986 |
| Type of Order Requested | Domestic Violence |
| Relationship | Former dating, parent of common child |
| Minors | Mateo Lopez-Rivera, DOB 09/12/2021, included as protected |
| Firearms | Yes — one 9mm handgun, location unknown |
| Most Recent Incident | 05/02/2026, Seattle — pounded door, threatened to kill, broke window, SPD report 2026-145882 |
| Relief Requested | No contact, 1,000 ft stay-away, firearm surrender, temporary custody of Mateo |
| Ex Parte Box | Checked |
Scenario 2: Aisha Johnson — Stalking Order Against a Former Classmate
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption – County | PIERCE |
| Petitioner Name and Year of Birth | Aisha Marie Johnson, 2003 |
| Respondent Name and DOB | Tyler Brooks, 12/01/2002 |
| Type of Order Requested | Stalking |
| Relationship | Other — former classmate at UW Tacoma |
| Minors | None |
| Firearms | Unknown |
| Most Recent Incident | 05/18/2026, Tacoma — followed petitioner from campus to home, took photos, sent 14 Instagram DMs in one hour |
| Relief Requested | No contact, no surveillance, stay 1,000 ft from petitioner’s home and UW Tacoma campus, no third-party contact |
| Ex Parte Box | Checked |
Scenario 3: Robert Chen — Vulnerable Adult Order for an Elderly Parent
| Form Section | What Robert Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption – County | SNOHOMISH |
| Petitioner Name and Year of Birth | Robert Chen, 1975 (filing on behalf of Helen Chen, 1942) |
| Respondent Name and DOB | Kevin Chen, 03/22/1980 |
| Type of Order Requested | Vulnerable Adult |
| Relationship | Family — respondent is petitioner’s brother and protected person’s son |
| Minors | None |
| Firearms | Yes — two long guns at respondent’s home |
| Most Recent Incident | 05/10/2026, Lynnwood — respondent withdrew $14,000 from Helen’s account without consent and yelled at her when confronted |
| Relief Requested | No contact, financial no-contact, return of funds, surrender of POA, firearm surrender |
| Ex Parte Box | Checked |
How to File the Completed Form
Washington offers three filing channels for PO 040, and you may pick whichever fits your safety, technology access, and county practice. There is no filing fee for any protection order petition under RCW 7.105.100(4), and sheriff service is free for protection orders under RCW 7.105.155.
Online through the Protection Order Filing Portal. Visit the Protection Order Filing Portal, create a free account, complete PO 040 inside the guided interview, e-sign, and submit. Filing is free, the portal accepts no payment because no fee exists, and you receive a PDF receipt and case number by email within minutes; expected ex parte review time is the same business day if filed before 2 p.m. Keep the email receipt and the stamped PDF as your proof of filing.
In person at the Superior or District Court clerk’s office. Bring three copies of the signed petition (original for the court, one for you, one for the sheriff to serve). Clerk hours are typically 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and addresses for every county are listed on the Washington Courts directory. The clerk stamps your copy as proof of filing, and the judge usually signs the ex parte order the same afternoon.
By mail. A small number of rural District Courts allow mailed petitions; call the clerk first, then mail three signed copies plus a self-addressed stamped envelope to the courthouse address. Mail filing typically delays ex parte review by two to five days, so use it only if online and in-person options are not safe for you. The returned stamped copy serves as proof of filing.
After the judge signs the temporary order, the clerk transmits it to the Washington Crime Information Center and to the sheriff for service. You should receive certified copies the same day; carry one with you and leave one at home and at work.
What Happens After You File
Within hours of filing, a judge or commissioner reviews your petition and decides whether to issue an ex parte temporary protection order that lasts up to 14 days. If granted, the order is enforceable the moment the respondent is served by the sheriff, and the order applies in every state under the federal Violence Against Women Act full faith and credit provision.
The court schedules a full hearing within 14 days—or 21 days if the respondent has not yet been served—where both sides may testify, present witnesses, and submit exhibits. The judge applies a preponderance of the evidence standard under RCW 7.105.225 and may issue a final order lasting one year, multiple years, or permanently depending on the order type and facts. Bring every text, photo, and witness you referenced in the petition, because the temporary order does not automatically convert into a final order without testimony.
If the respondent is not served before the hearing, ask the court to reissue the temporary order and extend the hearing date. You may also request alternative service—mail, posting, or social media—under RCW 7.105.150 when traditional service has failed.
Violations of any signed protection order are arrestable on probable cause under RCW 7.105.450, and a knowing violation is a gross misdemeanor or a Class C felony depending on the conduct. Save every violation: screenshot messages, keep voicemails, and call 911 each time so a paper trail builds for renewal or for a criminal referral.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Listing your full date of birth. The form asks only for your year of birth; writing the full DOB exposes confidential information to the respondent.
- Leaving the respondent’s DOB blank when known. Missing DOBs delay WACIC entry and weaken law enforcement enforcement.
- Checking the wrong order type. Selecting Anti-Harassment between intimate partners weakens firearm relief and may be reclassified later.
- Describing the incident in feelings instead of facts. Judges need quoted words, dates, and witnesses, not adjectives.
- Forgetting to check the ex parte temporary order box. Without that box, you wait two weeks for protection.
- Leaving the firearms block blank. Blank reads as no; unknown preserves the right to a surrender order.
- Skipping the minors section when children are at risk. Unrequested child-related relief is almost never granted.
- Writing a case number from another case. It causes consolidation or rejection at the clerk’s window.
- Signing on the printed-name line. A misplaced signature forces the clerk to return the petition.
- Filing an outdated form. Anything pre-July 2022 is rejected because it cites repealed statutes.
- Forgetting to attach exhibits referenced in the narrative. A missing screenshot can undercut a key incident at the hearing.
- Disclosing your home address when you have an ACP card. Use the Address Confidentiality Program substitute address instead.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do read the entire form once before writing anything, so you understand how each section fits.
- Do use the Protection Order Filing Portal when you can, because it catches missing fields automatically.
- Do attach a separate, numbered exhibit list with every screenshot, photo, and report referenced.
- Do request firearm surrender even when the respondent’s gun ownership is unknown.
- Do ask for child-related and pet-related relief if either applies; both are available under RCW 7.105.310.
- Do call a local advocate through the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence before filing if you have any safety questions.
Don’t:
- Don’t exaggerate or guess at facts; perjury is a Class B felony under RCW 9A.72.085.
- Don’t list your full street address if the respondent does not already know it.
- Don’t skip the unknown boxes in favor of blanks.
- Don’t sign before re-reading the declaration paragraph.
- Don’t forget to bring a photo ID to the clerk’s window or to upload one in the portal.
- Don’t leave the courthouse without certified copies of any signed temporary order.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing pro se:
- Filing is free with no attorney costs.
- The PO 040 form is designed for self-filers with plain-language prompts.
- The Protection Order Filing Portal guides you field by field.
- Court facilitators in every county offer free help reviewing the form.
- You keep complete control over the narrative and the relief requested.
Cons of filing pro se:
- Drafting the incident description without practice can produce a weaker petition.
- You must learn the hearing process and the rules of evidence on your own.
- Cross-examining a respondent who hires counsel is stressful and procedurally risky.
- Mistakes in the relief checklist can cost you remedies you cannot easily add later.
- Without an advocate, you may miss confidentiality tools like the Address Confidentiality Program.
Pro Se vs. Advocate-Assisted Filing
| Feature | What Changes With Help |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free vs. free with an advocate; attorney fees only if you hire one |
| Petition quality | Self-drafted vs. advocate-reviewed for clarity and completeness |
| Ex parte success rate | Higher with advocate review per WSCADV program data |
| Hearing preparation | Self-prepared vs. coached on testimony and exhibits |
| Confidentiality tools | Often missed pro se vs. routinely used with advocates |
| Renewal and modification | Self-tracked vs. calendared by the advocate |
FAQs
Do I have to pay a filing fee for PO 040?
No. Protection order petitions are free under RCW 7.105.100(4), and sheriff service is also free for protection orders, regardless of which of the six order types you select.
Do I have to be a Washington resident to file?
No. You may file in any Washington county where you live, where the respondent lives, or where the abuse, stalking, or threat happened, under the venue rules in RCW 7.105.075.
Do I list my full date of birth on the petition?
No. Page 1 asks only for your year of birth, which protects your full DOB from being disclosed to the respondent in the petition itself.
Do I need to know the respondent’s date of birth?
No, but provide it if you do, because a known DOB speeds up WACIC entry and makes the order easier for police to enforce when they encounter the respondent.
Do I check more than one order type box?
Yes, but only when your facts truly support more than one type, such as domestic violence by an intimate partner who also stalks you after the relationship ends.
Do I have to write my home address on the form?
No, if you use a substitute address through the Address Confidentiality Program; otherwise list a safe mailing address rather than your physical home if the respondent does not know it.
Do I need a notary for my signature?
No. PO 040 uses an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury per RCW 9A.72.085, so your signature, the date, and the city are enough.
Do I leave the case number blank at the top?
Yes. The clerk assigns the case number when the petition is accepted, and writing in any number from a prior case usually causes the petition to be returned.
Do I have to list every past incident I can remember?
No. Two to six well-dated incidents in reverse chronological order are usually stronger than a long, vague list, and judges read the most recent incident most carefully.
Do I check the firearms box if I am unsure whether the respondent has guns?
Yes, check unknown rather than leaving the box blank, because unknown preserves the judge’s authority to order a blanket firearm surrender under RCW 9.41.800.
Do I have to check the ex parte temporary order box to be protected today?
Yes. Without that box, the court schedules only a full hearing 14 days out, leaving you unprotected during the wait; checking the box triggers same-day judicial review.
Do I need to bring witnesses to the ex parte review?
No. Ex parte review is on the papers only, but you should bring witnesses, photos, texts, and police reports to the full hearing 14 days later where the standard is preponderance of the evidence.
Do I have to serve the respondent myself?
No. The county sheriff serves protection order petitions and temporary orders for free, and you should never attempt personal service yourself in a protection case.
Do I file in the county where the abuse happened or where I live now?
Yes to either; venue under RCW 7.105.075 lets you file where you live, where the respondent lives, or where the abuse, stalking, or threat occurred, whichever is safest.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Washington Form PO 001 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Form PO 020 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Form PO 030 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Form PRO 03 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Form PRO 04 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out a Maryland Peace Order Petition (w/ Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form DV-100 (w/Examples) + FAQs