An EOR is issued by the Protector (a person appointed by the Director-General for Social Welfare, Ministry of Social and Family Development) if it is assessed that there is imminent danger to the survivor. The EOR is valid for 14 days to give the survivor time to make an application to the Family Court for a personal protection order (PPO). An EOR is not a court order but breaching it is a criminal offence punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment.

An EO is a temporary PPO (issued by the Family Court) restraining the respondent from committing family violence, while the PPO application is pending. The applicant can ask for an EO to be issued when applying for a PPO. The EO will cease on whichever of the following dates occurs first:
(a) After 28 days from the date of the order was made unless extended by the court
(b) The date the PPO application hearing commences unless extended by the court
A breach of an EO is punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment.