Harassment Restraining Order - Do it Yourself
Minnesota Guide and File
This free program helps you create the forms to ask the court for a Harassment Restraining Order (HRO). These forms are called "Petitioner's Affidavit and Petition for Harassment Restraining Order."
The program works by asking you questions. It uses your answers to fill out your form. You can file your forms with the court electronically. You can also print your forms and take them in person to the court to file.
If you are in danger, CALL 911
This information will help you with paperwork. It cannot protect you from a dangerous person. If you believe you are in danger right now, call the police right away.
Think about getting a lawyer
You should think seriously about getting a lawyer if your case involves harm to a child, concerns about your immigration status, subpoenas for witnesses, written evidence, or expert witnesses like doctors or police. If the person harassing you has a lawyer, you should try to get one, too.
Find a free lawyer for low-income individuals or find a private lawyer.
Before You Begin
Before you start the interview, you need to read the instructions below.
Download Forms
If you do not want to use this program to fill out your forms, you can download blank forms to fill out from the Minnesota Court's website. Click the "Forms" tab and choose the option that best fits your need. There are forms for asking the court for an order, responding to an order you were served with, or an 'all forms' option.
Forms on the Courts website are organized in "packets" and by individual forms. Packets include form instructions and all individual forms. If you are not sure what form you need, start with the Packet and download each individual form in the packet as you need. Some of the forms are Fillable Smart Forms.
Some Minnesota court forms are “Fillable Smart Forms.” For information and help using Fillable Smart Forms, see Technical Support.