Injunctions for Protection

An Injunction for Protection, often referred to as a restraining order, is a court order that prohibits certain actions by another person.

You may be eligible for an Injunction for Protection if you currently are, have been, or believe you are in imminent danger of becoming, among other things, a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, repeat violence, or stalking.

Certain eligibility requirements must be met pursuant to Florida Statutes. Clerk’s office personnel will assist the petitioner by aiding them in completing the required forms for the type of injunction requested by the petitioner. No fee is assessed for filing an injunction.

Petitions for an Injunction for Protection may be obtained from the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s office by applying in-person at the Lake County Courthouse, 550 W. Main St., East Wing, Third Floor, Tavares, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you feel that you are in imminent danger, call 9-1-1 to reach local law enforcement.

A judge may grant or deny a petition for an injunction.

Types of Injunctions for Protections:

Domestic Violence:

Domestic violence means any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another family or household member.

Dating Violence:

Dating Violence means violence between individuals who have or have had a continuing and significant relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.

Sexual Violence:

Sexual Violence means any one incident of:

• Sexual battery as defined in Chapter 794, Florida Statutes;
• A lewd or lascivious act, as defined in Chapter 800, Florida Statutes committed upon or in the presence of a person younger than 16 years of age;
• Luring or enticing a child, as described in Chapter 787, Florida Statutes;
• Sexual performance by a child, as described in Chapter 827, Florida Statutes; or,
• Any other forcible felony wherein a sexual act is committed or attempted, regardless of whether criminal charges based on the incident were filed, reduced, or dismissed by the state attorney.

Repeat Violence:

Repeat violence means two incidents of violence or stalking committed by the respondent, one of which must have been within six (6) months of the filing of the petition, which are directed against the petitioner or the petitioner’s immediate family member.

Stalking:

Stalking is defined as willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly following, harassing, or cyberstalking another person.

Cyberstalking means engaging in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication, directed at a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress to that person, and serving no legitimate purpose.