Pennsylvania Victim’s PFA Orders

If you are seeking protection from abuse in Pennsylvania, a PFA petition is a civil proceeding with its own eligibility rules and hearing process. Logue Law Group can discuss your situation, the documents you have received, and whether the firm can represent you after reviewing potential conflicts. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

This page addresses people seeking a PFA, rather than defending against one. Filing a petition does not guarantee an order or eliminate a safety risk. Counsel can help you organize the facts, understand requested relief, and prepare for a hearing without promising a particular result.

Protection from Abuse Order

A PFA may be available for qualifying abuse involving a current or former intimate partner or a family member. The relationship and alleged conduct matter. A criminal prosecution and a civil PFA are separate proceedings; a PFA is not a criminal conviction or a hate-crime penalty. Review the Commonwealth’s information on protection orders if your circumstances may call for a different form of protection.

What are the Kinds of PFA Orders?

Emergency PFA

When the Allegheny County PFA Department is closed, emergency relief may be requested through a magisterial district court or Pittsburgh Municipal Court. Emergency relief is short term. Follow the order’s expiration terms and the court’s instructions for seeking further protection. Consult the court’s current PFA filing instructions before traveling.

Temporary PFA (Ex Parte)

A judge may consider temporary relief without the other party present. Temporary relief does not decide the final case. In Allegheny County, the PFA Department is at the Family Law Center, 440 Ross Street, Suite 301, Pittsburgh. Check current intake hours, the service requirements, and the final-hearing date.

Final PFA

At the final hearing, both parties have an opportunity to present their position. A final PFA may last up to three years. Read the actual order to understand its duration and restrictions; do not assume that every order contains identical provisions.

Before meeting with counsel, preserve messages, photographs, hearing notices, existing orders, and a factual chronology that you lawfully possess. Do not alter originals or access another person’s account to collect evidence. Tell counsel about upcoming hearings, service problems, children affected by the case, and any related criminal proceeding.

To discuss representation when seeking a Pennsylvania PFA, call 412-387-6901 or request a consultation. You can also review our PFA questions for victims. An initial inquiry does not establish representation; the firm must first review the matter and any conflicts.

If your questions concern participation in a criminal case as well as a protective order, review our Pittsburgh crime-victim advocacy information to discuss the scope of private representation.