RESTRAINING ORDERS
FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
Call our 24-hour hotline: (414) 933-2722 or use our textline: (414) 877-8100.
SOJOURNER CAN HELP
For assistance filing a restraining order, you can now book a phone appointment or join Sojourner’s virtual waitlist by visiting www.waitwhile.com/welcome/sojourner . All advocate assistance with e-filing is now offered by phone. Scheduling an appointment reserves time for you to speak with an advocate to help you file one order. Joining the waitlist adds you to a daily, virtual line to receive advocate support on a first come, first served basis.
We recommend that you schedule an appointment and join the waitlist if it's safe for you to receive an unscheduled call. You may be able to speak with an advocate prior to your scheduled appointment time by joining the waitlist.
To file, the court requires you to have the full legal name of the person harming you and a valid address where they can be served. The Milwaukee County Courthouse now requires all temporary restraining orders (TRO) to be filed electronically.
ABOUT RESTRAINING ORDERS
A restraining order is a court order against someone who has abused or harassed another person. The person is ordered either not to abuse or not to have contact with the petitioner. A restraining order does not guarantee safety.
TO FILE A NEW RESTRAINING ORDER
Restraining order requests for Milwaukee County must be filed online. Sojourner staff can help with this process, answer questions and provide support, as needed.
Obtain the legal first and last name and valid address for the person you wish to file against. You must have this information in order to proceed. The court requires the individual who is harming you to be served personally with the legal documents.
Go to Wisconsin Court e-Filing to create an account and begin the filing process.
After creating an account, use the Restraining Order Forms Assistant for help with forms, if needed. Important: you still need to download the forms and save them upon completion.
Upload the required documentation in PDF form. Note. There are five different types of restraining orders. You must upload the correct forms to initiate your request. Visit Circuit Court Forms to find and upload the appropriate forms.
EXISTING ORDERS & COURT DATES
If you already have filed a restraining order and have an upcoming hearing date, plan to appear at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, Room 712 on the 7th Floor, at the time indicated on the temporary restraining order paperwork received upon filing. Advocates will attend hearings by phone. Failure to appear at the hearing will result in a dismissal of the order.
BUYER BEWARE:
A website offering to help people file restraining orders for a fee leaves survivors without protection orders. The Express Filings website, expressfilings.com, which charges $39 to “express file your order” is not affiliated with the court system. Any attempted orders filed on this site are not guaranteed. If you feel you’ve been mislead by Express Filings, consider filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Sojourner offers help filing restraining orders for free. Go to www.waitwhile.com/welcome/sojourner to make an appointment or join the virtual waitlist for filing assistance, or visit the Wisconsin Circuit Court e-filing website to file on your own.