Domestic Violence

The Temporary Protection Order Office is located in Room 308 on the third floor of the Washoe County Family Courthouse at 1 South Sierra Street, Reno, NV, 89501.  Advocates are available  from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to assist victims of domestic abuse in applying for a Temporary Order for Protection Against Domestic Violence (T.P.O.).

Any person who believes she or he has been, or might become a victim of Domestic Violence may ask the Second Judicial District Court for a T.P.O.   For any questions you have about the process, please call the T.P.O. Office at (775) 328-3468.  An Advocate will return your call as soon as possible.

In order to be eligible for a T.P.O., the applicant must have a DOMESTIC RELATIONSHIP with the other party, as defined by statute (NRS 33.018).  A domestic relationship includes:

A relationship by BLOOD (father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, cousin, etc.)

A relationship by MARRIAGE (spouse, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepsister, stepbrother, etc.)

A relationship created by residing in, or having previously resided in, the SAME HOUSEHOLD (roommate, housemate, etc.).  This usually does not include a landlord/tenant situation.

A relationship created by having at least one CHILD IN COMMON, whether the parties have lived together or not.

A DATING RELATIONSHIP (either current or past).  A "dating relationship" means “frequent, intimate associations primarily characterized by the expectation of affectional or sexual involvement.  The term does not include a casual relationship or an ordinary association between person in a business or social context.  ((NRS 33.018(2)).  Therefore, an employer/employee relationship is excluded from the T.P.O. process.

If you are not sure if your relationship qualifies as a domestic relationship, please call the T.P.O. Office at (775) 328-3468 for information.

There must also have been an act of DOMESTIC ABUSE against the Applicant as defined by statute (NRS 33.018).  The act of abuse must have been perpetrated by a person against the Applicant or the minor child of the Applicant.  An act of domestic abuse includes:

1. A BATTERY
2. An ASSAULT
3. COMPELLING THE OTHER BY FORCE OR THREAT OF FORCE  to perform an act from which he has the right to refrain, or to refrain from  an act which he has the right to perform
4. A SEXUAL ASSAULT
5. A KNOWING, PURPOSEFUL, OR RECKLESS COURSE OF CONDUCT INTENDED TO HARASS THE OTHER.  Such conduct may include, but is not limited to:

1. Stalking
2. Arson  
3. Trespassing
4. Larceny
5. Destruction of private property
6. Carrying a concealed weapon without a permit
7. Injuring or Killing an Animal



6. A FALSE IMPRISONMENT
7. UNLAWFUL ENTRY of the other's residence, or forcible entry against the other's will, if there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of harm to the other from the entry