Emergency Family-Law Resources in the District of Columbia
Official starting points for immediate safety, interim custody orders, and Civil Protection Orders.
Temporary orders involving children
D.C. does not promise same-day rulings on any private interim filing. Emergency hearings are limited. Use the Superior Court procedure for interim relief and confirm the receiving court's local intake and deadlines.
A parent can request an interim legal custody / physical custody order through the Superior Court procedure. For an immediate threat, a Civil Protection Order is a separate, faster route.
Civil Protection Orders (D.C. Code §§ 16-1004, 16-1005)
D.C.'s Civil Protection Order (CPO) is handled by the Superior Court Domestic Violence Division. A Temporary Protection Order (TPO) may issue on a showing that safety or welfare is immediately endangered; its initial period may not exceed 14 days (D.C. Code § 16-1004). A CPO may issue after hearing on good cause; an initial CPO may last up to 2 years (§ 16-1005).
D.C. child protective (CFSA)
Reports of suspected abuse or neglect go to D.C. Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA); call 911 for immediate. The CFSA child-abuse/neglect hotline is 202-671-SAFE (202-671-7233), staffed 24/7. An unsubstantiated report does not prove it was knowingly false and does not by itself end custody.
- D.C. Code § 16-1004 — temporary protection order
- D.C. CFSA — report child abuse and neglect
- D.C. Courts — get a protection order
Always confirm current local forms, fees, and filing procedure with the Superior Court clerk handling your case.