WHO CAN FILE A PETITION IN Family Court?
1) you are related to the respondent by blood or marriage; 2) you are or were legally married to the respondent; 3) you have a child with the respondent; or 4) you are or were in an intimate relationship with the respondent. Factors the court may consider in determining whether a relationship is an “intimate relationship” include but are not limited to: the nature or type of relationship, regardless of whether the relationship is sexual in nature; the frequency of interaction between the persons; and the duration of the relationship. Neither a casual acquaintance nor ordinary fraternization between two individuals in business or social contexts shall be deemed to constitute an “intimate relationship”. You may proceed for orders of protection in Family or Criminal Court or both. If you need an order of protection against someone else, you can only get one through Criminal Court. To get a criminal court order of protection, the police must arrest the person or you may go to the Court Dis
