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Understand the Order
Explaining exactly what your emergency order does, and the date and time it ends.
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OfficesFairfax | Manassas
Protective Orders / Emergency Orders
Emergency Orders · Virginia
Protection tonight, not in two weeks.
When something just happened and you need distance now, an emergency protective order can be issued the same day or after hours, often right after police are called. It is short-term by design, a bridge that keeps you safe while you take the next step.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The first call to us is a conversation, not a commitment.
The Short Answer
An emergency protective order is short-term protection that can be issued quickly, often by a magistrate and frequently after police are called. It is meant to keep you safe in the immediate aftermath of an incident, generally lasting about 72 hours, until you can seek longer protection through the court.
How It Works
Fast, short, and meant to bridge.
An emergency protective order exists for one reason: to put protection in place right now, when waiting even a few days is not safe. It trades the depth of a full hearing for speed. Understanding what it is, and just as importantly what it is not, helps you use it well and avoid a dangerous gap when it ends.
Issued quickly, often after hours
Emergency orders are built for speed. A magistrate can issue one the same day or in the middle of the night, which is why they so often follow a police response to an incident. An officer at the scene can help set the process in motion. The order can be granted without the other person present, because its whole purpose is immediate safety, not a full airing of both sides.
Short by design
The trade-off for that speed is time. An emergency order generally lasts only about 72 hours. That is enough to get you through the immediate crisis, but it is not a lasting solution. It is best understood as a bridge: it carries you from the moment of danger to the point where you can ask a court for longer protection.
What comes next
Because the order is so short, the most important thing to understand is what happens when it ends. Before it expires, you typically need to seek a preliminary protective order, which holds protection in place until a full hearing. Acting before the emergency order lapses is what prevents a gap. This is exactly where having someone help you is valuable, so the next order is ready before the first one runs out.
Why people call us right away
The emergency order buys you a little time, and that time is precious. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can prepare the preliminary petition and make sure your protection continues without interruption. You do not have to figure out the sequence on your own in the middle of a crisis. That is what we are here for.
What it isShort-term, immediate protection issued quickly, often by a magistrate.
How fastSame day or after hours, frequently following a police response.
How longGenerally about 72 hours.
Its purposeA bridge to longer protection, not a final solution.
The next stepSeek a preliminary order before the emergency order expires.
Mind the Gap
An emergency order's biggest risk is the moment it ends. Because it lasts only about 72 hours, the time to line up a preliminary order is right away, before there is any gap in your protection.
Note: Emergency protective order issuance and duration are set by Virginia statute; confirm the current rules and timing for your situation.
Corrie Sirkin, Esq.Founding Partner
Attorney Insight
A few honest things about emergency orders.
"An emergency order is a lifeline, but it is a short one. The mistake is relaxing once you have it, when the clock is already running."
People are often handed an emergency order after a frightening night and understandably feel a wave of relief. That relief is real, but the order is short, and the most dangerous moment can be when it quietly expires and nothing has replaced it. So when someone calls me with an emergency order in hand, my first question is always the same: when exactly does it end? Then we work backward from there. We get the preliminary petition ready so your protection continues without a single day of gap. You handled the hard part by getting through that night. Let us handle making sure the protection holds.
Questions People Ask
Plain answers about emergency orders.
These are the questions people ask most in the first hours after an incident. If yours is not here, we are happy to answer it directly.
Need to talk it through?
Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
What is an emergency protective order in Virginia?
An emergency protective order is short-term protection that can be issued quickly, often by a magistrate and frequently after police are called. It is meant to keep you safe in the immediate aftermath of an incident, generally lasting about 72 hours, until you can seek longer protection through the court.
How fast can I get an emergency order?
Emergency orders are designed for speed. They can often be issued the same day or after hours by a magistrate, which is why they frequently follow a police response to an incident. The goal is immediate, short-term safety, not a full hearing on the merits.
How long does an emergency order last?
An emergency protective order generally lasts about 72 hours. Because it is so short, it is a bridge, not a destination. Before it expires you typically need to seek a preliminary order to keep protection in place while your case moves toward a full hearing.
What happens after an emergency order expires?
When an emergency order is about to end, the next step is usually to petition for a preliminary protective order, which holds protection in place until a full hearing. Acting before the emergency order expires is important so there is no gap in your protection.
When You Are Ready
Make the protection last past tonight.
If you have an emergency order, or think you need one, reach out now and we will help you secure the next step before the clock runs out. Three offices across Northern Virginia, one phone number. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.