Domestic Violence and Protective Orders – The Legal Response in Situations of Risk

Domestic violence is a painful and sensitive phenomenon that requires a swift, determined, and precise legal response. Whether it is physical, psychological, verbal, sexual, or economic violence – Israeli law recognizes this and provides legal tools to protect the victims.

At Halevi • Levi Law Office, we provide discreet and professional support in situations of violence within the family, including filing a request for a protective order, approaching the police, representation in court, and support in dealings with the welfare services.

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence includes any harmful behavior by a spouse/partner, parent, sibling, or any other family member, which causes fear, threat, control, or harm – physical or emotional.

Common types of violence:

Physical violence: assault, pushing, bodily harm

Verbal and psychological violence: humiliation, threats, control, and social isolation

Sexual violence: coercion or abuse within the family unit

Economic violence: controlling income, preventing access to the account, preventing financial independence

Protective order – when and for whom is it appropriate?

A protective order is an urgent legal proceeding intended to remove the violent person from the home or away from the victim, and to immediately stop the violence or the threats.

A protective order can be issued when:

There is actual violence or a threat of violence

There is repeated physical or psychological harm

There is threatening or harassing behavior by a family member

How is a request for a protective order filed?

A request for a protective order can be filed in the Family Court or in the Magistrates' Court (depending on the case). The request will include an affidavit describing the course of the violence, and it will be heard in an urgent hearing – usually on the same day.

At the hearing, the court may:

Order removal from the home or from the workplace

Prohibit making contact or approaching in any form

Prohibit carrying a weapon or entering the victim's vicinity

How long is the order valid?

A protective order is granted for a period of 3 months, and it can be extended up to one year (and even beyond that in exceptional cases). Violating a protective order is a criminal offense, and the police are authorized to arrest the violator.

Legal support in sensitive situations

Domestic violence is not only a criminal matter – it is also an emotional and multidimensional legal process. At Halevi • Levi Law Office we handle these situations with sensitivity, discretion, and uncompromising protection of the rights of the victims, both male and female.

We assist with:

Immediate and strategic counsel

Drafting an affidavit and filing a request for a protective order

Representation in court

Support in accompanying custody, support, dissolution of joint ownership, or divorce proceedings

Frequently asked questions about domestic violence

Can a protective order be requested even without a complaint to the police?

Yes. It is possible to approach the court directly, even without filing a complaint, and obtain an immediate temporary order.

Does a protective order also apply to children?

Absolutely. The court may include protection for children in the order, and may even set restrictions regarding visitation arrangements if there is danger.

Can the violent spouse/partner see the victim at the hearing?

Not necessarily. It is possible to request that the hearing be held behind a partition or separately, while maintaining full safety.

What is the difference between a protective order and a restraining order?

A protective order is granted under the Prevention of Family Violence Law; a restraining order is granted in other proceedings (for example, under the Prevention of Stalking Law) – but their purpose is similar: protecting the integrity of body and mind.

We are available to handle urgent cases of violence between spouses, violence against children, economic or psychological violence, and we provide human and legal support from the very first stage.