Emergency Protection Issued Without the Alleged Abuser Present
A temporary PFA order is an emergency protection order issued ex parte — meaning only the person seeking protection appears before the judge. The alleged abuser is not present, does not receive advance notice, and cannot defend against the allegations at this stage. The temporary order provides immediate protection while waiting for the final hearing where both parties can present evidence.
Temporary orders remain in effect until the final PFA hearing, typically scheduled within ten days of the temporary order being issued.
Where to Go and What to Expect
During Family Court Hours
Temporary PFA petitions are filed at the Family Court, 440 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, third floor PFA Department. Filing hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Upon arriving, you fill out a petition describing the specific acts of abuse, stalking, harassment, threats, or physical force. Victim advocates are present to assist with completing the forms. You then wait to appear before a judge who reviews the petition and decides whether to grant the temporary order.
There is no filing fee. There is no cost to obtain a PFA.
After Family Court Hours: Emergency PFA
When you need protection after Family Court has closed, Emergency PFAs are available through Magisterial District Courts during their business hours and through Pittsburgh Municipal Court at 660 First Avenue. An Emergency PFA provides protection until close of business on the day the Family Court PFA Department reopens, at which point the full temporary PFA process at Family Court must be completed to extend protection.
The Allegheny County domestic violence hotline can also assist with emergency resources.
The Protections a Temporary PFA Provides
No-Contact Provision
The alleged abuser is prohibited from all direct and indirect contact with you — no phone calls, texts, emails, or social media contact. No contact through third parties. This applies immediately upon service of the temporary order.
Eviction from the Residence
The alleged abuser must leave the shared residence immediately. This applies even if the respondent owns the home, pays the mortgage, or has their name on the lease. They are excluded from the property until the final hearing. A police escort can be arranged at a later date for the respondent to retrieve personal belongings under supervision.
Temporary Custody
The court can award temporary custody of minor children to the plaintiff as part of the PFA. The respondent's contact with the children may be suspended or restricted to supervised visitation until the final hearing.
Firearm Relinquishment
Upon service of the temporary order, the respondent must surrender all firearms within 24 hours — to police or to a federally licensed firearms dealer. The respondent cannot purchase or possess firearms while any PFA order is in effect. This is enforced under both Pennsylvania and federal law.
The Respondent Is Served
The Sheriff's Department serves the respondent with the temporary order and notice of the final hearing. The order is effective immediately upon service. The respondent is now aware of the allegations, the restrictions, and the hearing date. Even one phone call, one text message, or one drive-by of the protected address after service is a violation of the temporary order — subject to immediate arrest for indirect criminal contempt and up to six months in jail.
Violations of temporary PFA orders are prosecuted. Even minor violations — a single text to "check in" or a message sent through a mutual friend — are contempt. Every violation is documented and will be used as evidence at the final hearing.
For an overview of both sides of PFA matters and how the engagement works, see Protection from Abuse in Allegheny County.