HOW TO TAKE OUT AN E.P.O.
(Emergency Protective Order)
An EPO is an Emergency Protective Order. It is good for
only FOURTEEN DAYS, during which time a hearing will be held on additional
protection.
The next level of protection is obtaining a DVO (Domestic
Violence Order), which may be issued by the Court after an EPO hearing at
which both parties have an opportunity to appear. A DVO is valid for up to THREE
YEARS and can be renewed by the Court.
Neither an EPO nor a DVO is bullet-proof! That
piece of paper cannot save your life! It can, however, empower the authorities
to take your partner into police custody if he/she is threatening you or
otherwise violating the EPO or DVO.
If you are in Jefferson County and need to take out an Emergency
Protective Order (known as an "EPO"), please call
502-595-0853.
The Domestic
Violence Intake Office at the Jefferson County Hall of
Justice at 600 West Liberty Street (Room 1150, First Floor) is open
Monday through Friday from 8 AM until 12:30 A.M (after
Midnight). They are also open from 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturdays,
Sundays and legal holidays. Their phone number is
502-595-0853. See http://www.louisvilleky.gov/CountyAttorney/dvintakecenter/
for more information.
If you need emergency protection at
other hours (after Midnight and before 8 AM, for instance), you can go to the Hall of Justice at 600 West Jefferson Street in downtown Louisville
and tell any of the Deputy Sheriffs at the metal detector station that you need
to take out an EPO. They will direct you to the proper office.
If you are outside Jefferson
County, contact your local law enforcement
office and ask how to take out an EPO.
If you are in genuine risk of injury through domestic violence, call:
9-1-1.
Make sure you have a Domestic
Violence Safety Plan!
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