The protection order: protecting yourself from violence, urgently and without filing a complaint

Published on 09/07/2026

🆘 In immediate danger, call 17 (police emergency) or send a text to 114 if you cannot speak. 3919 (Violences Femmes Info) is free, anonymous, 24/7 and does not appear on bills. For victim support: 116 006.

When violence takes hold in a couple or a family, one measure makes it possible to get to safety quickly, without waiting for the outcome of a criminal trial: the protection order (ordonnance de protection). Here, in a documentary way, is what French law provides in 2026 — what it is, on what conditions the judge grants it, how quickly, and how to apply for it.

What is a protection order?

It is a civil measure delivered urgently by the family court judge (juge aux affaires familiales, JAF) when a person is put in danger by violence within their couple — including from a former spouse, PACS partner or cohabitant, and even without cohabitation. Article 515-9 of the Civil Code lays down the principle:

"Where the violence committed within the couple […] endangers the person who is the victim of it or one or more children, the family court judge may urgently deliver a protection order to that person."

You do not need to have filed a complaint

This is the most frequent misconception — and the most discouraging. The protection order requires no prior criminal complaint. It is an autonomous civil procedure: the judge assesses a situation of danger, they do not try an offence. The civil route (protection) and the criminal route (complaint, conviction) are complementary, never mutually exclusive.

Who can apply for it?

Under Article 515-10 of the Civil Code:

"The protection order is delivered by the judge, seised by the person in danger, assisted if need be, or, with that person's agreement, by the public prosecutor."

The application therefore comes from the victim themselves (assisted if they wish) or from the public prosecutor (procureur de la République) with their agreement. A protection order may also be delivered to an adult threatened with a forced marriage (Article 515-13 of the Civil Code).

On what conditions does the judge grant it?

The judge does not require proof "beyond doubt" as in criminal matters. They rule on plausibility: they grant protection if, in the light of the material debated in adversarial proceedings, they consider there are serious reasons to regard as plausible the alleged violence and the danger to which the victim or the children are exposed (Article 515-11 of the Civil Code). Hence the importance of gathering concrete, dated material: medical certificates, police log entries, messages, testimony.

How quickly?

The law imposes a maximum deadline of six days. The same Article 515-11 states that the order is delivered "within a maximum period of six days from the setting of the hearing date" — this starting point is the setting of the date by the judge, not the mere filing of the application.

⚠️ New in 2024 — the provisional order for immediate protection (ordonnance provisoire de protection immédiate, OPPI). Since the Law of 13 June 2024, in cases of serious and immediate danger, protection may be delivered within 24 hours (Article 515-13-1 of the Civil Code). Note: the OPPI is applied for by the prosecutor (with the agreement of the person in danger), where an application for a protection order is already under way — the victim does not request it alone. In cases of serious danger, the right reflex remains to report the situation (17, 3919, filing a complaint) so that the prosecution can act.

What measures can the judge order?

Article 515-11 of the Civil Code gives the judge a wide range. They may notably:

prohibit the perpetrator from contacting the victim and certain designated persons, and from appearing in certain places;
allocate the couple's home to the victim and order the eviction of the violent spouse — even if the victim is not the owner;
prohibit the holding or carrying of a weapon and order its surrender;
authorise the victim to conceal their address (election of an address for service with a lawyer, the prosecutor or an association);
rule on parental authority, contact rights and the contribution to expenses;
order the wearing of an anti-approach electronic bracelet (bracelet anti-rapprochement) (Article 515-11-1 of the Civil Code), which raises the alarm as soon as the perpetrator crosses a safety distance;
admit the victim to provisional legal aid.

How long does the protection last?

⚠️ New in 2024 — protection lasts up to twelve months (no longer six). Article 515-12 of the Civil Code sets the measures "for a maximum duration of twelve months" from notification. They may be extended if, within that period, a petition for divorce or legal separation is filed, or if the judge is seised of an application relating to parental authority. Beware of older articles still indicating six months: this has been obsolete since 15 June 2024.

How to apply, in practice

Form: the application is made with Cerfa No. 15458*07, "Application for the delivery of a protection order".
Where: at the registry of the family court judge of the judicial court (or local court) of the place of residence.
Lawyer: not mandatory to file the application and at the hearing — but strongly advised, ideally one specialised in domestic violence. Legal aid, including on a provisional basis, can cover the cost.
Cost: free. The protection order is expressly exempt from the new legal aid contribution of 50 € introduced on 1 March 2026 (official list of exempt procedures, F33227).

⚠️ Breaching a protection order is an offence: Article 227-4-2 of the Criminal Code punishes it with three years' imprisonment and a fine of 45 000 €. If a prohibition is violated, immediately alert the police (17).

An application for protection is built on dated facts and filed documents: dates and descriptions of the incidents, certificates, messages, testimony. Calmly gathering and ordering this material — often in an emergency and under stress — is precisely what Aridelle is designed to make easier. See our guides Keeping a timeline of events and Building an evidence file for the family court judge.

For any individual situation, get support: a lawyer, a point-justice, France Victimes (116 006) or Allô Service Public (3939) can guide you. In cases of danger, 3919 is free and anonymous, and 17 answers emergencies.