You will need to tell the court the following things in the Petition:
- Who you are and who hurt you.
- How the defendant hurt you.
- Your relationship or your child’s or your ward’s relationship with the defendant.
- Where the defendant can be located in person.
- The most recent time the defendant hurt or injured you, and how the defendant hurt or injured you, or threatened to hurt or injure you, including where and when this happened.
- Any other injuries or threats you received from the defendant, including how the injuries or threats happened, and where and when you were hurt or threatened.
- Whether there are any children under age 18 who might be affected by the case and how the court might decide visitation or custody.
- Whether you want your case kept confidential from the public.
- What you would like the court to do for you. For example, you could ask the court to order the defendant to stop the abuse and stay away from you, your home, or the family home. The court could order the defendant to not contact you personally or through another person or by phone, social media, writing, or any other way. The court could order defendant to provide housing, transportation, or financial support. The court could order that you keep care and control of pets or companion animals.
- That you would like to sign up with the Iowa Protective Order Notification service (IowaPON). This is a free, confidential service that can tell you when your protective order is served on the defendant and when your protective order will end.