Written by this site from official U.S. sources

Call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 for domestic violence help, and ask your local family court about a restraining order

High value
Evidence B
Buys life
Free
Takes some hours
No willpower

In plain words

In an emergency, call 911. Otherwise, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) or text START to 88788. Trained advocates answer for free, 24/7, without asking your name or address. They can help you find a shelter and help in your state. To get a restraining (protection) order, contact your local family court, or a domestic violence court if your state has one. The rules differ from state to state.

Cost: The hotline is free, and you don't have to give your name. Asking a court for a restraining order takes at least a few hours.
What you get: USA.gov, under domestic abuse: "Call 911 in an emergency." "For help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233). Text 'START' to 88788." For restraining orders, USA.gov says to call the same hotline "to find resources near you." Office on Women's Health (HHS): "You can talk to trained advocates at the National Domestic Violence Hotline, for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without giving your name or address." You can find the closest shelter through the hotline "even if you do not have any money." "Contact your local family court (or domestic violence court, if your state has one) for information about getting a restraining order." If you need a lawyer but don't have much money, "your local domestic violence agency may be able to help you find a lawyer who will work for free or on a sliding scale based on what you can pay."
Notes: The hotline is national. Restraining or protection orders are issued by state courts, so who can apply, what the order can cover, how long it lasts and the forms all vary by state. There is no single national procedure. The same USA.gov page lists the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673). Some shelters offer free cellphones (Office on Women's Health).
Evidence grade: B: Supported by research but without a precise number, or based on small or single studies.
Sources: USA.gov. How to report a crime (domestic abuse; restraining orders). https://www.usa.gov/report-crime
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. Leaving an abusive relationship. https://womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/domestic-violence/leaving-abusive-relationship

Sources checked 2026-10-12

Replaces in the original

If you are experiencing domestic violence: call the police first so a record of the response is made, then apply to the court for a personal safety protection order, with no need to divorce first and no fee

Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you.