How the Electronic Protective Order System Works

By Times- News Published: Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 12:39 PM.

Faster and easier 

Using a computer, webcam and video phone, Alamance County’s electronic protective order system shrinks a time-consuming process down to several simple steps. The system, in place since June, cuts what used to take an entire day down to about two hours.

State and county employees estimate that the new system saves as much as 10 employee hours per application.

Traditional domestic violence protective order

  1. Report to Family Justice Center. Fill out five or more legal documents by hand, including complaint and motion for domestic violence protective order, notice of hearing on domestic violence protective order, ex parte domestic violence protective order, civil summons domestic violence, and identifying information about defendant/domestic violence actions.
  2. Submit documents to the Alamance County Clerk of Court in the Alamance County Historic Courthouse.
  3. Take copies of documents down the street to a District Court judge. Wait in courtroom for judge to become available to hear the motion for protective order.
  4. If a judge grants the restraining order, return to the clerk of court’s office to file paperwork for service through the sheriff’s department. This is the step many applicants forgot, leaving their protective orders unserved.

Electronic protective order system

  1. Go to the Family Justice Center and complete paperwork.
  2. Electronically confer with clerk of court and District Court judge at 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. each day.
  3. Judge-approved orders are automatically filed with the clerk’s office and sheriff’s department.
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