What Happens After a Restraining Order Is Filed in Colorado
Once a civil protection order is filed in Colorado, the process moves on a fixed timeline. Several deadlines begin immediately, regardless of whether both parties are ready. For the person seeking protection, the next step is service of the temporary order. For the person named in the order, certain restrictions take effect before any hearing takes place.
The First 24 to 48 Hours: What Happens Right Away
The judge issues the temporary order after hearing from the petitioner alone. If the order is granted, the petitioner receives documentation for service on the respondent. From that point, several things happen in rapid sequence.
If the respondent was present in the courtroom when the order was issued, the respondent has 24 hours to surrender all firearms and ammunition. If the respondent was not present and is served later, the deadline is 48 hours from the time of service. Weekends and court holidays do not count toward those deadlines.
Colorado courts schedule a compliance hearing within 8 to 12 business days to verify that the respondent has surrendered any firearms. The respondent must appear at that hearing in person. As of 2024, Colorado operates an automatic notification system that alerts the protected person if the respondent attempts to purchase or transfer a firearm while the order is in effect.
Key Deadlines After a Protection Order Is Filed in Colorado
| When | What Happens | Who Acts |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 — Order issued | TPO becomes active immediately; petitioner receives copies for service | Court + Petitioner |
| Within 24 hours | Respondent must surrender all firearms (if present in court when issued) | Respondent |
| Within 48 hours | Respondent must surrender all firearms (if served after the hearing) | Respondent |
| Days 8–12 (business days) | Compliance hearing — court verifies firearms have been surrendered | Court |
| Within 14 days of TPO | Permanent order hearing must be scheduled | Court |
Why the Permanent Hearing Cannot Happen Without It
Before the permanent order hearing can proceed, the respondent must be personally served with the temporary order. Personal service means hand delivery. Service by mail, email or leaving documents at an address does not satisfy this requirement.
Who can serve the respondent: the county sheriff (at no cost to the petitioner), a private process server or any person over 18 who is not a party to the case. The sheriff's office handles service as a routine matter in La Plata County.
If the respondent cannot be located and served before the scheduled hearing date, the petitioner can ask the court for a continuance. The temporary protection order stays in effect during any extension period.
For the respondent: avoiding service does not suspend or void the temporary order. The order remains fully active. All restrictions apply. Evading service only delays the hearing, not the order itself.
The Permanent Order Hearing: What Both Sides Should Expect
The permanent order hearing must be scheduled within 14 days of the temporary order being issued. This is the first hearing where both parties appear.
Both sides have the right to present evidence and call witnesses. The judge applies the preponderance of the evidence standard. For a detailed look at how to prepare for the permanent protection order hearing as a respondent, that process involves building a factual record before the hearing date.
If the respondent does not appear at the hearing, the judge can make the temporary order permanent that same day. If the petitioner does not appear, the judge may dismiss the order. Both parties have an active interest in being present.
As of 2025, if the temporary protection order has been extended for a year and the petitioner wants it to become permanent, the petitioner must file a motion at least 14 days before the scheduled hearing.
How a Protection Order Intersects with Other Legal Matters
| Custody & Visitation | Criminal Cases | Employment & Firearms |
|---|---|---|
| When domestic violence is involved, the court evaluates how the order affects custody and visitation arrangements for any children. | Criminal charges filed alongside a protection order trigger a separate Mandatory Protection Order (MPO). Both can be active at the same time. | A Permanent Protection Order prohibits the respondent from possessing firearms or ammunition while the order is in effect. |
How a Protection Order Affects Other Legal Matters
A civil protection order does not exist in isolation. It intersects with three other areas of law that respondents and petitioners often deal with at the same time.
Custody: when the protection order involves domestic violence, the court evaluates its impact on custody and visitation. The child's welfare takes priority over any other consideration. An active CPO can be introduced as evidence in separate family law proceedings.
Criminal cases: when criminal charges are filed alongside a protection order, the judge issues a Mandatory Protection Order automatically as a condition of release. Both a CPO and an MPO can be active simultaneously. For a full explanation of how these orders differ, see the types of restraining orders in Colorado.
Employment and firearms: a Permanent Protection Order prohibits the respondent from possessing firearms or ammunition while it is in effect. For people in professions that require a firearms license or security clearance, this has immediate consequences. Barrie evaluates the full impact of an active order from the first consultation.
Talk to Barrie About Your Next Steps
The days immediately after a protection order is filed are the most critical. Whether you were just served or just filed, Barrie can walk you through exactly what is happening, what your deadlines are and what to do before the permanent hearing. Free confidential consultation with a civil protection order attorney in Durango. Barrie represents clients across La Plata County, Montezuma County, Archuleta County and all of Southwest Colorado.
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A temporary protection order stays in effect until the permanent order hearing, which must be scheduled within 14 days of the temporary order being issued.
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Yes, if the order includes a firearms provision. The respondent has 24 hours if present in court when the order is issued, or 48 hours after being served if not present.
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The permanent hearing cannot proceed without completed service. The petitioner can request a continuance until service is completed. The temporary order remains active in the meantime.