Understand the outcomes of a personal protection order application

A PPO is an order restraining the respondent from committing family violence against the applicant or the family member(s) concerned.

When is a PPO issued

A PPO is issued at the end of a hearing when the court is satisfied that:

• The respondent has committed or is likely to commit family violence against the applicant or the family member(s) concerned.
• It is necessary for the applicant's or other family members' protection or personal safety.

A PPO may also include a provision that the respondent is not to incite or assist any other person to commit family violence against the applicant or other family members.

Domestic exclusion order (DEO)

A DEO is an order excluding or restricting the respondent from entering all or part of the applicant's or the protected family member's residence.

Stay Away order (SAO)

A SAO is an order prohibiting the respondent from entering and remaining in an area outside of the family member(s)’ home or any other places frequented. 

No Contact order (NCO) 

An NCO is an order prohibiting the respondent from visiting or communicating with the family member(s) concerned. 

Counselling order (CGO)

A CGO is an order requiring the applicant, respondent, their children or family member, to attend counselling or any other programme as directed by a Protector. The counselling will be conducted at an agency assigned by the Protector. The agency will contact the parties directly to arrange for counselling. A CGO can be made for a specified period not exceeding 36 months. 

After a CGO is made, the court will direct  a court review about 6 to 9 months later. At the court review, the court will assess the progress the parties have made based on the report provided by the counselling agency before deciding whether the parties should continue to attend counselling.

If the court finds that the parties no longer require mandatory counselling, the court will discharge the parties from the obligation. 

If the court finds that mandatory counselling should continue, parties must attend all future counselling sessions that are scheduled so long as the court has not discharged them from doing so.

Mandatory Treatment order (MTO)

A MTO is an order requiring the respondent to undergo psychiatric treatment. An MTO can be made for a specified period not exceeding 36 months.

Expedited order (EO)

An EO is a temporary protection order restraining the respondent from committing family violence against the applicant or the family member(s) concerned pending the hearing of an application for a PPO and/or other protective orders.

An EO may be made in respect of a PPO, DEO, SAO, and NCO.

It will take effect on the date on which the notice of the order is served on the respondent, or on a later date if the court specifies as such. 

It will cease on whichever of the following dates occurs first:

• After 28 days from the date of the order was made.
• The date the PPO application hearing commences unless extended by the court.

The applicant can ask for an EO to be issued. However, the court will only do so if it is satisfied that there is danger of family violence being committed against the applicant while the protection order application is pending. 

Electronic Monitoring order (EMO) 

An EMO is an order that requires a respondent to be placed under one or more prescribed electronic monitoring arrangements to monitor the respondent’s whereabouts. 

Assessment order (AO) 

An AO is an order that requires a person at-risk of family violence to be assessed by the protector or qualified assessor. An AO may also direct another person to produce the person at-risk for an assessment.

Removal order (RO), Supervision Order (SO), and Care Order (CO) 

A RO is an order that requires a protector to remove the relevant family member(s) who is protected under a PPO from his/her home or any other place. An RO may also provide that the protected family member(s) is/are prohibited from returning to their home, or from communicating with the respondent.

A RO is usually accompanied with a SO or CO, or both. A SO is an order placing the relevant family member(s) under the supervision of a protector or other person appointed by the court.

A CO is an order committing the relevant family member(s) to the care of a fit person. Such person can either be an individual or an organisation. 

A breach of any protection order or other protective order may constitute a family violence offence, and such person shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of up to $10,000, or an imprisonment term not exceeding 12 months (or 18 months if the offence is aggravated), or both.

For applications on or after 2 January 2025, refer to Personal Protection Order and other protective orders under Women’s Charter 1961 - The Essentials:

• English (PDF, 323 KB)

For applications before 2 January 2025, refer to Personal Protection Order under the Women's Charter - The Essentials:

• English (PDF, 588 KB).
• Chinese (PDF, 2205 KB).
• Malay (PDF, 448 KB).
• Tamil (PDF, 1776 KB).
  

Specimen document:

• Specimen Government Medical Certificate (DOCX, 18 KB) for absence from court attendance. 

• Part 7 of the Women's Charter.
• For filings commenced on or after 15 October 2024, refer to:
  • Part 3, Division 1 and 2 of the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024.
• For filings commenced before 15 October 2024, refer to:
  • Part 5, Division 3 of the Family Justice Rules 2014.