Requesting a Protection Order for Survivors of Domestic or Intimate Partner Violence: Straightforward and Available Online

Children or adults experiencing domestic violence—whether physical assault, intimidation, or harassment by a family member, former spouse, partner, boyfriend/girlfriend, or relative living in the same household—all have the right to apply for a “Protection Order” from the court to ensure their physical and psychological safety.

What is a Protection Order?

An order issued by the Juvenile and Family Court to protect the safety of individuals who have suffered domestic or intimate partner violence.

Who has the right to apply for a Protection Order?

1. Individuals who have suffered violence from a family member.

2. Guardians of children who have suffered violence (in cases where the child is under 18 years of age).

3. Representatives acting on behalf of individuals in points 1 and 2 in cases where they are unable to apply themselves, including relatives, investigating officers, public prosecutors, officials, organisations with a duty to provide legal assistance to the public, and neighbours acting for the benefit of the survivor.

Where and when can an application be submitted?

• The court where the survivor actually resides or has their official registration domicile.

• The court with jurisdiction over the location where the incident of domestic violence occurred.

• Submitted via the online CIOS system (recommended)
  Instructional video clip available here

• Submitting at the court: During official government working hours.

• Submitting via the online system: 24 hours a day. If submitted after 16:30, officials will process it at 08:30 on the following day or the next official court opening day.

• Submitting at the court: During official government working hours.

• Submitting via the online system: 24 hours a day. If submitted after 16:30, officials will process it at 08:30 on the following day or the next official court opening day.

Documents or evidence required to support the application

1. A copy of the survivor’s identity card and house registration.

2. A copy of the applicant’s identity card and house registration (if the applicant is a different person from the survivor).

3. Other evidence that should be available to assist with legal proceedings, such as:

   • A copy of the perpetrator’s identity card and house registration.

   • Photographs of injuries, CCTV footage, or video clips of the physical assault.

   • The survivor’s medical certificate.

Drafting the application for a Protection Order

After detailing the circumstances of the incident, the applicant needs to specify various requests so that the court can issue an order ensuring the safety of the survivor or ordering the alleged perpetrator to undergo treatment, such as:

• Prohibiting the offender from approaching the survivor within a distance of 500 metres.

• Prohibiting the offender from entering the vicinity of the survivor’s home or workplace.

• Prohibiting the offender from provoking or carrying out any acts that cause violence.

• Ordering the offender to undergo drug addiction rehabilitation or consult a psychiatrist.

Submitting the application to the Juvenile and Family Court

The applicant may submit the application to the Juvenile and Family Court where the survivor:

1. Has a residence, OR

2. Has a domicile, OR

3. Where the cause of action occurred. (Pursuant to the Act on Juvenile and Family Courts and Juvenile and Family Court Procedure, B.E. 2553 (2010), Section 172)

For example, if a survivor’s domicile is in Chiang Rai Province, they currently reside in Nakhon Pathom Province, but were assaulted by their partner in Bangkok, the survivor may choose to file the application at the Juvenile and Family Court of Chiang Rai Province, the Juvenile and Family Court of Nakhon Pathom Province, or the Central Juvenile and Family Court in Bangkok, amongst others.

The steps for submitting an application at the court are as follows:

• File an application with the court in accordance with the President of the Supreme Court’s Regulations on Procedures for Protection Order Proceedings, B.E. 2554 (2011).

  • Fill out the application form Form Kor.Sor. 1 (or submit an emergency application form alongside it) and attach the application together with any available evidence to the court legal officer.

• Submit an oral application to the court.

  • Contact a court legal officer to proceed with filing an oral protection order application.

  • The legal officer will record the details onto Form Kor.Sor. 2.

Steps for submitting an application via the CIOS system

Applications through the system are divided into normal requests and emergency requests (specifically in cases where the alleged perpetrator (the offender) exhibits violent behaviour within the family or mistreats a child under their care and is likely to commit such acts again). In emergency cases, the court will consider and question only the survivor first, and issue an order on the same day the emergency application is filed.

The system will prompt the applicant or their representative to fill in information regarding the survivor, the offender, the circumstances of the act, and the survivor’s desired court orders by entering it into the system via the CIOS website.

1. Verify identity via ThaID or COJ Connect.
2. Once you have logged in, proceed with the following steps:
3. Once the application has been successfully submitted, officials will check whether the protection order application is correct and valid. The system will notify the application status under various scenarios: a cancelled list status due to an incorrect application or incomplete information; or, in cases where the court accepts the application, the system will notify the scheduled hearing date for normal or emergency cases, as well as notify if the court declines or dismisses the application.

Following a successful application, the court must conduct a hearing without delay and should schedule it for no later than 15 days, in accordance with the President of the Supreme Court’s Recommendations on Justice Processes for Children, Youths, and Families, B.E. 2567 (2024). In emergency cases, the court may issue an order on the very day the application is made.*

Furthermore, the court may employ methods to reduce confrontation between the applicant and the alleged perpetrator. Subsequently, the court will issue a protection order as requested, and notify the order to the officials or police officers where the alleged perpetrator resides for acknowledgement. The court may also order a social worker or other official to monitor and set a reporting schedule for the court’s information. Such an order must not exceed a duration of 6 months. If the alleged perpetrator breaches the order, the court may issue a warrant for arrest and detention until compliance is met, for a period not exceeding 1 month.

When the alleged perpetrator or the applicant has fully complied with the order, it comes to an end. Both the alleged perpetrator and the applicant have the right to request the court to issue an order terminating the protection prior to the expiry date.

Tips: Always keep a copy of your documents after obtaining the order.

• Video clip regarding protection orders

• Guidelines on requesting a protection order