News

As Domestic Violence Awareness Month begins, the Wisconsin Court System is highlighting a new online option designed to make it easier for people to seek court-ordered protection. People in all 72 Wisconsin counties can now use the portal to complete temporary restraining order petitions without first visiting a courthouse to obtain the necessary forms.

The Restraining Order Portal went live statewide September 1. Accessible from computers, phones, and other mobile devices, it provides a guided, easy-to-understand process for preparing and submitting domestic abuse and harassment temporary restraining order petitions. The portal walks users through creating an eFiling account, generating the applicable court forms, and submitting them directly to their circuit court in one simplified process. Petitioners may also use the portal to prepare forms without creating an account.

“The Wisconsin Court System stands ready to help those in need. It takes an act of courage to file for a restraining order, and we want to make it as easy as possible for those who choose to seek court-ordered protection during what is often a challenging and urgent time,” Chief Justice Jill J. Karofsky said. “This portal is about keeping people safe by making the initial restraining order process clearer, more accessible, and user-friendly.”

The statewide launch follows a successful July and August pilot in eight counties: Adams, Barron, Brown, Dane, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Sauk, and Waukesha. During the pilot, 72 petitions were filed through the portal, and 122 advocates, clerks, court officials, law enforcement representatives, and others received hands-on training.

The final phase of pilot testing took place August 20 and 21 in Milwaukee with Sojourner Family Peace Center, where advocates and court staff reviewed the portal and provided feedback. The portal was also shaped with technical assistance from Innovation for Justice’s UX for Justice program, which applies user experience research and design methods to online court technologies and processes.

“At the Waukesha Women’s Center, our advocates have reported that there has been a significant decrease in the time it takes petitioners to complete a TRO while using the portal,” said Krystal Chase, MS, CCTS-I, Director of Advocacy & Support Services at The Women’s Center, Inc. “Petitioners have reported it being a lot easier than they thought it would be. Knowing that the tool that has been created to help make a significantly difficult time easier is a relief to all involved.”

The portal is currently available for domestic abuse and harassment temporary restraining order petitions. Child abuse and individual-at-risk petitions are not available through the portal and must continue to be filed on paper or through the traditional circuit court eFiling process.

The Restraining Order Portal is part of a national effort to improve access to civil protection order processes. Wisconsin is one of three courts nationwide selected as a learner court in a project funded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women and administered by the National Center for State Courts. The project focuses on identifying court-based strategies for safe, accessible, fair, and effective virtual civil protection order processes.

The Restraining Order Portal is available at ro.wicourts.gov. Additional information is available through the Wisconsin Court System Help Center.

Anyone in immediate danger should call 911. Anyone seeking support outside of an emergency can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or visit thehotline.org.

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CONTACT:
Stephen Kelley
Public Information Officer
communications@wicourts.gov