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How can a 209A Restraining Order protect my child?

Produced by Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Reviewed April 2021

When you file a Complaint for a 209A Restraining Order you can ask for orders to protect your child.

You can ask the court to:

  • give you custody of your child,
  • order the defendant not to have contact with your child,
  • order the defendant to stay away from your child’s school and daycare, and
  • in the Probate and Family Court only, order supervised visitation.

See a sample 209A Complaint that asks the judge to protect your child.

To ask for a 209A order to protect your child, you need to show the judge why your child needs protection. Write all the reasons your child needs protection in the 209A affidavit.

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