There are many ways a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or harassment can seek safety and wellbeing for themselves and other people in their lives. Court orders are one way to do so. They offer a range of protections from offenders and can play an important part in a victim’s safety plan.
In Nebraska, there are several different types of court orders that a victim could obtain. This guide was created to clarify the purpose and provisions of each order in an easily digestible manner for system professionals. Whether you are helping a victim obtain a court order or enforcing an order that has already been filed, this guide serves as one tool to make well-informed and victim-centered decisions.
In this guide, we use the term victim to refer to those with lived experience of domestic and/or sexual violence because that terminology is used in statute. We honor and recognize however that many individuals with lived experience do not identify as such. Some individuals identify as victims, some as survivors, some as both and some as neither. It is important to give those with lived experience power in defining their own experiences. Always ask individuals with lived experience of domestic and/or sexual violence how they would like to be referred to so as to not make potentially harmful assumptions.