Home > West's Encyclopedia of American Law > Restraining Order

A command of the court issued upon the filing of an application for an INJUNCTION, prohibiting the defendant from performing a threatened act until a hearing on the application can be held.

A restraining order is an official command issued by a court to refrain from certain activity. Restraining orders are sought by plaintiffs in a wide variety of instances for the same reason: the plaintiff wishes to prevent the defendant from doing something that he or she has threatened. Restraining orders are used in a variety of contexts, including employment disputes, COPYRIGHT infringement, and cases of harassment, domestic abuse, and STALKING. All restraining orders begin with an application to the court, which...