The court process is as follows:
• File your application in person at the Pave Integrated Services for Individual and Family Protection Specialist Centre, any Protection Specialist Centres, or at the Family Protection Centre of the FJC. If you have a police report, a medical report, or an Emergency Order (issued to you by the Protector), you should include them. Relevant court orders such as orders relating to arrangements for access to children are also required for application for protection orders for such children.

• Once the application is filed, it would be referred to a duty judge who will review it. The duty judge may ask you further questions or clarifications on your application. If your complaint is accepted, a summons (which is an order to attend court) will be issued to the respondent (i.e., the person against whom the order is asked for). The court will arrange to have the summons delivered to the respondent.

• You and the respondent will have to appear in court on the first court date which is referred to as a court mention. The allegations made in your application will be read to the respondent. If he does not admit to any of the allegations, a Court Family Specialist will see and speak with both of you.

• If the respondent admits and agrees to a protection order being issued to you after the allegations are read to him or after seeing the Court Family Specialist, both you and the respondent will be brought before a judge for a Consent Order to be issued with or without any additional orders (such as a Counselling Order). The court will issue such an order if satisfied that the order is necessary for your protection and safety.

• If there is no Consent Order, the court will make directions for you to file documents and fix a hearing date for the matter.

• At the hearing, the judge will consider the merits of the case, taking into account all the evidence before deciding whether to issue a PPO.