How to Get a Domestic Abuse Protection Order in Mississippi
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Mississippi · Last updated September 17, 2026
In Mississippi, a Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) is a civil court order that directs an abuser to stop the abuse and stay away from you, issued under the Protection from Domestic Abuse Law (Miss. Code 93-21-1 and following). You seek one when a current or former spouse, a person you live with or dated, a co-parent, or a family member has abused, threatened, or stalked you. Mississippi is unusual in giving you four courts to file in: you can petition a municipal, justice, county, or chancery court, and the petitioner pays no filing or service costs (Miss. Code 93-21-7). A judge can issue an emergency order the same day, without the other person present, based on your sworn petition. That emergency order lasts ten days, or until a hearing can be held, whichever comes first, and a continuance cannot exceed twenty days (Miss. Code 93-21-13). At the hearing, a chancery or county court can issue a final order for whatever period of time the court deems appropriate, which can be long term or even permanent (Miss. Code 93-21-15). If you are in immediate danger, call 911; the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233. Attorney review of your petition is available through DocDraft.
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How do I get a Domestic Abuse Protection Order in Mississippi?
File a petition for a Domestic Abuse Protection Order in a municipal, justice, county, or chancery court. The petitioner pays no filing or service costs (Miss. Code 93-21-7). A judge can grant an emergency order the same day based on your sworn petition, then set a hearing for a longer order.
How long does an emergency protection order last in Mississippi?
An emergency Domestic Abuse Protection Order is effective for ten days, or until a hearing may be held, whichever occurs first (Miss. Code 93-21-13). If the hearing is continued, the court can extend the emergency order, but a continuance cannot last longer than twenty days. This gives you protection while your case is pending.
How long does a final protection order last in Mississippi?
A final Domestic Abuse Protection Order from a chancery or county court is effective for whatever time period the court deems appropriate (Miss. Code 93-21-15). Because the statute sets no maximum, a final order can be long term or made permanent. Temporary orders from municipal or justice courts have shorter, capped durations.
Which court handles protection orders in Mississippi?
Mississippi lets you file in a municipal, justice, county, or chancery court (Miss. Code 93-21-5). Emergency and temporary orders can come from a municipal, justice, or county court, while a final Domestic Abuse Protection Order is issued by a chancery or county court. Venue is where the respondent lives or where the abuse happened.
Mississippi Domestic Abuse Protection Order law at a glance
In Mississippi, a Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) protects you from abuse by a spouse, a partner, a co-parent, or a family member, under the Protection from Domestic Abuse Law (Miss. Code 93-21-1 and following). You can file your petition in a municipal, justice, county, or chancery court, and the petitioner pays no filing or service costs (Miss. Code 93-21-7). A judge can issue an emergency order the same day, without the other person present. That emergency order lasts ten days, or until a hearing can be held, whichever comes first, with any continuance capped at twenty days (Miss. Code 93-21-13). After a hearing, a chancery or county court can issue a final order for whatever time period it deems appropriate, which can be long term or permanent (Miss. Code 93-21-15).
Getting a Mississippi protection order after threats from an ex-partner
In Mississippi you can bring a Domestic Abuse Protection Order in a municipal, justice, county, or chancery court, which helps if the nearest open court is a justice court. Suppose your former partner has been threatening you and showing up at your home. You get the standardized DAPO forms from the clerk, describe the threats with dates, and file at no cost (Miss. Code 93-21-7). A judge signs an emergency order that day; it lasts ten days, or until a hearing, whichever comes first (Miss. Code 93-21-13). Your ex is served. At the hearing in chancery court, you show screenshots and testify, and the judge grants a final order for a period the court deems appropriate, which can be permanent (Miss. Code 93-21-15). Attorney review of your petition is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
Miss. Code 93-21-13 (emergency order; duration)
Provides that an emergency domestic abuse protection order shall be effective for ten days, or until a hearing may be held, whichever occurs first, and that if the hearing is continued the court may extend the emergency order, but a continuance shall be valid for no longer than twenty days.
Miss. Code 93-21-15 (temporary and final order duration)
Provides that a temporary order from a municipal or justice court shall not exceed thirty days (up to one year when the parties have no minor children in common), and that a final domestic abuse protection order from a chancery or county court shall be effective for such time period as the court deems appropriate.
Miss. Code 93-21-7 (proper forum; no cost to petitioner)
Provides that a petition may be filed in a municipal, justice, county, or chancery court, and that the petitioner shall not bear the costs associated with its filing or with the issuance or service of any notice of hearing, order of protection, warrant, or witness subpoena.
Miss. Code 93-21-5 (jurisdiction of the courts)
Provides that the municipal, justice, county or chancery court, or a state military court as defined in Section 33-13-151, shall have jurisdiction over proceedings under the Protection from Domestic Abuse Law as provided in the chapter.
Regional Variances
Mississippi Domestic Abuse Protection Order rules at a glance
Order name
Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO), issued under the Protection from Domestic Abuse Law (Miss. Code 93-21-1 and following). It covers abuse by a spouse, partner, co-parent, or family member.
Where to file
A municipal, justice, county, or chancery court (Miss. Code 93-21-5 and 93-21-7). A final order is issued by a chancery or county court. The petitioner pays no filing or service costs (Miss. Code 93-21-7).
Emergency and temporary orders
A judge can issue an emergency order the same day, effective for ten days or until a hearing, whichever comes first, with any continuance capped at twenty days (Miss. Code 93-21-13). A temporary order from a municipal or justice court can last up to thirty days, or up to one year with no minor children in common (Miss. Code 93-21-15).
Final order duration
A final order from a chancery or county court is effective for such time period as the court deems appropriate, with no statutory maximum, so it can be long term or permanent (Miss. Code 93-21-15).
Main form
Standardized Domestic Abuse Protection Order petition forms provided free by each municipal, justice, county, and chancery court clerk. There is no single statewide form number to buy or download.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Get the standardized Domestic Abuse Protection Order forms
As soon as possible after the abuse days after startingAsk a municipal, justice, county, or chancery court clerk for the standardized Domestic Abuse Protection Order forms and fill out the petition describing the abuse, your relationship, and specific dates. The clerk can help but cannot give legal advice. Attorney review of your petition is available through DocDraft.
File your petition at no cost
Same day you finish the forms days after startingFile your petition with the court clerk where the respondent lives or where the abuse happened. The petitioner pays no filing or service costs (Miss. Code 93-21-7). Ask the clerk when a judge will decide on an emergency order.
Get and carry the emergency order
Same day the judge signs it days after startingIf the judge grants an emergency order, get the signed copy and keep it with you. It is effective for ten days, or until a hearing may be held, whichever occurs first, and a continuance cannot exceed twenty days (Miss. Code 93-21-13). Note your hearing date.
Arrange service on the respondent
Before the hearing days after startingHave law enforcement or a process server personally serve the respondent with your petition, any emergency order, and notice of the hearing. The petitioner does not pay the cost of service (Miss. Code 93-21-7). Service is required before a final order can issue.
Attend the hearing with your evidence
On the hearing date days after startingGo to the final hearing in chancery or county court and bring photos, messages, and any witnesses. Both sides can testify. The judge decides whether to issue a final Domestic Abuse Protection Order (Miss. Code 93-21-15). If you miss the hearing, your emergency order can expire.
Track the final order duration
Before the order expires days after startingA final order lasts for whatever time period the court deems appropriate, and can be long term or permanent (Miss. Code 93-21-15). Read the order for its end date, if any, calendar it, and ask the court about renewal or modification before it expires.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get the standardized Domestic Abuse Protection Order forms | Ask a municipal, justice, county, or chancery court clerk for the standardized Domestic Abuse Protection Order forms and fill out the petition describing the abuse, your relationship, and specific dates. The clerk can help but cannot give legal advice. Attorney review of your petition is available through DocDraft. | - | As soon as possible after the abuse |
| File your petition at no cost | File your petition with the court clerk where the respondent lives or where the abuse happened. The petitioner pays no filing or service costs (Miss. Code 93-21-7). Ask the clerk when a judge will decide on an emergency order. | - | Same day you finish the forms |
| Get and carry the emergency order | If the judge grants an emergency order, get the signed copy and keep it with you. It is effective for ten days, or until a hearing may be held, whichever occurs first, and a continuance cannot exceed twenty days (Miss. Code 93-21-13). Note your hearing date. | - | Same day the judge signs it |
| Arrange service on the respondent | Have law enforcement or a process server personally serve the respondent with your petition, any emergency order, and notice of the hearing. The petitioner does not pay the cost of service (Miss. Code 93-21-7). Service is required before a final order can issue. | - | Before the hearing |
| Attend the hearing with your evidence | Go to the final hearing in chancery or county court and bring photos, messages, and any witnesses. Both sides can testify. The judge decides whether to issue a final Domestic Abuse Protection Order (Miss. Code 93-21-15). If you miss the hearing, your emergency order can expire. | - | On the hearing date |
| Track the final order duration | A final order lasts for whatever time period the court deems appropriate, and can be long term or permanent (Miss. Code 93-21-15). Read the order for its end date, if any, calendar it, and ask the court about renewal or modification before it expires. | - | Before the order expires |
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no cost to the petitioner. Under Miss. Code 93-21-7, the petitioner in a domestic abuse protection order case does not bear the costs of filing, or the costs of issuing or serving notice of the hearing, the order, or a warrant or witness subpoena. The court can assess costs against the respondent.
You can file if the person who abused, threatened, or stalked you is a current or former spouse, a person you live with or have lived with, someone you are dating or dated, a co-parent, or a relative. A parent or guardian can file on behalf of a minor child in Mississippi.
A judge can issue an emergency order without the respondent present when you show a danger of abuse, so you get protection right away. Under Miss. Code 93-21-13, the emergency order is effective for ten days, or until a hearing may be held, whichever occurs first, with any continuance limited to twenty days.
Mississippi courts use standardized Domestic Abuse Protection Order forms, and each municipal, justice, county, and chancery court provides them free. You fill out a petition describing the abuse, your relationship to the respondent, and specific dates. The clerk can help you complete the forms but cannot give you legal advice.
At the final hearing in chancery or county court, both you and the respondent can attend, present evidence, and testify. The judge decides whether to issue a final Domestic Abuse Protection Order and what terms to include, such as no contact and stay-away orders (Miss. Code 93-21-15). Bring photos, messages, and any witnesses.
A temporary Domestic Abuse Protection Order from a municipal or justice court cannot exceed thirty days. If you and the respondent do not have minor children in common, that temporary order may exceed thirty days but cannot exceed one year (Miss. Code 93-21-15). A final order from chancery or county court can last longer.
Violating a Domestic Abuse Protection Order is a crime in Mississippi. Call the police, who can arrest the person, and the court can also hold the respondent in contempt. Keep a copy of your order with you and report every violation. Active orders are entered in the Mississippi Protection Order Registry for enforcement.
No. Mississippi courts provide standardized Domestic Abuse Protection Order forms so you can file on your own, and the petitioner pays no filing or service costs (Miss. Code 93-21-7). A court clerk can help you fill out the forms. Legal help can be useful if the case is contested or the respondent has a lawyer.
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