Washington State law allows for a person to file a civil case in court asking a judge/commissioner to grant an order to protect them from another person whose behavior is abusive, threatening, exploitative or seriously alarming. The primary purpose of most is to order the "respondent" to not contact or harm the "petitioner." There are different types of protection orders, intended for specific situations. State law establishes who can seek them, who they can protect, who they can restrain, the types of protections and relief they offer, when and where court hearings are conducted, what costs may be incurred.