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What is a no contact order in Washington state?

Author

Andrew Vasquez

Updated on March 05, 2026

What is a no contact order in Washington state?

In Washington State there are two types of No Contact Orders – (1) Pre-Trial, and (2) Post Conviction. Both types of No Contact Orders in Western Washington prevent a defendant from having contact with an alleged victim. A Post-Conviction No Contact Order is an order that is issued after a criminal conviction.

Also question is, how does a no contact order work in Washington state?

*No-Contact Order: This order is part of a criminal action. After an arrest for domestic violence, in Washington State, a No-Contact Order may be issued as a condition of release. Incident must have been reported to the police and criminal charges must be pending.

Furthermore, how long do no contact orders last in Washington? (5) If a no-contact order has been issued prior to charging, that order shall expire at arraignment or within seventy-two hours if charges are not filed.

Additionally, how do I get rid of a no contact order in Washington state?

If a No Contact Order has been put in place anywhere in the state of Washington, the first thing we do is call the court and find the soonest date we can request relief in front of a judge. You will need to be present at that court hearing. Before the court date, we file a motion to modify or rescind (lift) the order.

What are grounds for a no contact order?

A no-contact order can be issued for one of many reasons – from minor altercations between couples to serious, criminal charges of stalking and sexual harassment. Other circumstances in which no-contact orders may be filed include high-intensity divorces and separations or neighborly disputes.

Do no contact orders go both ways?

Both work the same way, but the pretrial order is issued before your case is heard and the post-conviction order is issued afterward. Keep in mind that NCOs only restrict your behavior as far as making contact and do not pertain to the behavior of the alleged victim.

Will a judge drop a no contact order?

You asked for the no contact order and you can ask the judge to drop it. You cannot drop the charges, but as long as the judge believes that you are not being forced or coerced into dropping the No Contact order, he/she should drop it.

How do I get a no contact order removed?

Steps

Contact the court clerk. Before you start drafting a motion to modify your no-contact order, call or visit the clerk's office in the court that issued the order.
Consult an attorney.
Search for forms or templates.
Decide which parts of the order you want dropped.
Complete your documents.

How long does a court ordered no contact last?

A domestic violence restraining order entered after a hearing will usually remain in effect for three to five years. If the person who obtained the order can demonstrate a continuing need for protection, the order can be renewed for an additional five years.

How do I get an order of no contact?

To obtain a no-contact order of protection you need to file in the district court where you live. You can also file a no-contact order in the county where the person who is abusing you lives, or in the county where the abuse or unlawful act happened.

How do you find out if there is a no contact order?

If you do not have an attorney, you can call the local county courthouse and check with the Court clerk. This should be in the county where you think the no contact might have arisen. If you think the no contact is due to a PPO, then you need to contact the circuit court clerk in your county.

What's the difference between a no contact order and a restraining order?

A no contact order is found in criminal court proceedings rather than civil court cases. A restraining order is for civil cases; criminal charges aren't typically involved. Restraining orders are used for protecting the party who filed it from physical, emotional, or material harm.

Is a no contact order public record?

If the restraining order is non criminal, then it wont show up on a criminal background check. However, a civil no contact order is still of public record.

Can police issue no contact order?

If a no-contact order is violated, the offender can be jailed and/or charged with Invasion of Privacy. When the police are called to a domestic disturbance and the offender is jailed, the police issue a temporary no-contact order.

How do I get a no contact order dropped in Oregon?

This involves a two-step process:

The victim must file a Petition to Waive the No-Contact Order with the court that has jurisdiction over the case; and.
The court must find, after a hearing on the Petition, that waiving the no-contact order is in the best interest of the parties AND the community.

How much does a no contact order cost?

Filing fees vary by state, but generally cost $100-$400. For example, in Santa Cruz, CA, the court charges $345 for filing for protection in a workplace or civil matter, but domestic violence, stalking and elder abuse victims file for free. In Santa Fe, NM[1] , filing for a protection order costs $122.

Do no contact orders expire?

A no contact order expires when the sentence period is finished. It also expires if the case is dismissed or the defendant is found not guilty. However, be careful because there may also be another restraining order issued as a result of a divorce or Family Court matter or a District Court restraining order.

What is the penalty for violating a no contact order in Washington state?

Criminal Penalties

A person charged with a No Contact Order violation in Washington State is exposed to a gross misdemeanor. A conviction can carry a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and a $5000 fine. In certain circumstances, breaking a No Contact Order or Civil Protection Order may be charged as a felony.

Can we get married with no contact order?

Answer: Allowing for peaceful contact does not affect you and your boyfriend's ability to get married. People are free to marry whether or not a restraining order is in effect. In Orange County, the victim, the restrained person, or both can petition the Court to terminate the criminal restraining order early.

What is considered a violation of a no contact order?

Violation of a No Contact Order is usually considered a gross misdemeanor, which RCW §9A. 20.021 defines as punishable by up to one year in jail, a maximum fine of $5,000, or both. 20.021, it is punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $10,000, or both.

Can a defendant talk to a victim?

As a general rule, there is nothing to stop a defendant from contacting or talking to the victim or the victim's family. HOWEVER, there CAN be bond conditions and or Protective Orders that order the defendant not to do things.

How are no contact orders enforced?

Meaning, if a no-contact order is broken, the defendant is not arrested on the spot. If a no-contact order is violated, law enforcement puts a packet together on the case and gives it to the victim's advocate. The victim's advocate then notifies the solicitor's office.

Do you have to be served a no contact order?

A no-contact order is an order signed by a judge. If the request is in anyway rational (e.g. does not involve aliens) the judge will probably issue the restraining order. But the court requires the order be served, or delivered, to the restrained person.

How do I get an anti harassment order in Washington state?

Washington State law allows for a person to file a civil case in court asking a judge to grant an order to protect them from another person whose behavior is abusive, threatening, exploitive or seriously alarming. The primary purpose of most is to order the "respondent" to not contact or harm the "petitioner."

Does a no contact order show up on a background check?

" Restraining orders are public documents, so the potential of them showing up is very real, if the agency doing the background check looks for them. The thing is, if they are doing a CRIMINAL background check, then they WILL see it.

What is considered 3rd party contact?

Third-party, or indirect contact, means that one person passes a message to the other through a third-party. That is, a message must be conveyed from the Respondent to the Petitioner through a third person. Remember - Injunctions may be issued for sexual violence, repeat violence, domestic violence, and stalking.

Can I get penalized for contacting someone I have a restraining order against?

If you accidentally violate your own restraining order, you cannot be arrested or charged with contempt for contacting the person you have a restraining order against. Still, it is ill-advised to do so. There may be a way to have the restraining order modified to allow limited, peaceful contact.

How long does a no contact order last in Washington state?

Duration of order: Stalking Protection Order: 14 days for a temporary order; Stalking Protection Order duration is then determined by the court for a fixed period of time or permanent. Stalking No-Contact Order: 5 years for a final Stalking No-Contact Order.

Is harassment a felony?

Harassment is both a criminal offence and a civil action under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. This means that someone can be prosecuted in the criminal courts if they harass you. It also means you can take action against the person in the civil courts.

Can I lift a no contact order by request?

If an alleged victim wishes to have the no contact order lifted, he or she can make that request to the court. However, this is not the end of the process. A judge must agree that lifting the no contact order is the best course of action in any given case.

Does a restraining order work both ways?

No, a restraining order does not go both ways. If he/she filed and was granted a restraining order, once you are served, you cannot contact him/her, but they can.

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