Advocates for domestic abuse victims praise online portal to obtain restraining orders

Wisconsin has launched an online portal designed to make it easier for people to seek court-ordered protection. The portal is available for domestic abuse and harassment temporary restraining order petitions. It eliminates the need for people to visit a courthouse to file the paperwork. PC: Fox 11 Online

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Wisconsin is opening an online portal that removes the need to visit the courthouse for people who need court-ordered protection, like restraining orders.

According to officials at Golden House, a domestic abuse shelter and counseling facility, their advocates are helping people fill out paperwork requesting a restraining order about two to three times a week.

“A lot of things to fill out, and then would have to go take it back to the courthouse, go three different spots to be able to actually file it. From there, it goes to the Brown County Sheriff’s Department for service and things like that,” said Stephanie Prevost, associate director at Golden House.

But a new online portal, tested over the summer in eight counties across the state, including Brown, is making the process easier.

Prevost said, “When you’re filling out paperwork, legal paperwork, it can be really confusing. When you’re doing it online, then it’s walking you through that process and it’s keeping, it simplifies it.”

Those seeking a restraining order can simply complete the online forms, by themselves or with an advocate, and hit submit.

“It cuts down on time, it’s more confidential. It’s less clunky, it’s much more people-friendly, it’s not so legal, so it helps to walk through it,” added Prevost.

The online portal also eliminates the need to walk into a courthouse, something that can be scary and intimidating in an already stressful situation.

“The safety of not having to go to the courthouse because if there’s an abuser would suspect that they were doing that, then they could be followed there or something like that where they wouldn’t even have to go anywhere near there,” said Prevost.

While victims don’t initially need to come to the courthouse, eventually they will have a hearing in front of judge. The time they save by filing online will help them prepare for that experience.

Prevost said, “It gives really, it gives advocates much more time to be able to talk to them about what the next steps are going to be because they’re not inundated with the paperwork.”

While the online portal has many benefits, Golden House encourages those who want to file to work with an advocate.

Advocates for domestic abuse victims praise online portal to obtain restraining orders

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