What to expect after filing: courtroom hours and hearing guidance

The clerk advised that once a petition is signed and filed, petitioners must appear in the Order of Protection courtroom on a weekday between 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM; the clerk added that the courtroom is closed between 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM. "You will then be given a confidential receipt number. Once your petition is signed, it will be automatically filed. However, you will need to come to the Order Of Protection Courtroom when the courthouse is open on a weekday between 9AM and 03:30PM after filing your petition. The courtroom is closed between noon and 01:30PM," the clerk said.

The clerk warned that hearings may take several hours and that failure to appear can result in dismissal: "The process of having your petition heard by the judge may take several hours. If you do not appear in front of a judge, your case may be dismissed." The recording said a judge will determine whether an emergency order of protection can be issued at that hearing.

The announcement recommended petitioners plan for a multi-hour visit to the courthouse and bring their assigned receipt number; it also reiterated local advocate contacts for assistance preparing the petition narrative and remedies requests.