The law in Minnesota allows a person who is being harassed to request a Harassment Restraining Order or Order for Protection from the court.  If a person is being harassed by another person by a single act of physical or sexual assault, or repeated intrusive or unwanted acts, words, or gestures intended to negatively affect the safety, security or privacy of that person, the person being harassed may file for a restraining order or order for protection.  A Harassment Restraining Order or Order for Protection will help prevent further harassment, order the Respondent not to contact you and your family at any time, and allow police to arrest the Respondent without a warrant for violations of the order.There are two types of orders for protection: full orders and ex parte orders.  Minnesota does not always require that a hearing be held with both parties present before issuing a long-term order.  A long term-order may be issued on your first court date and then it is up to the Respondent to fill out paperwork to request a hearing to object to the order.When a Petitioner initially files for an order for protection, the Petitioner may be granted an ex parte temporary order of protection if the judge finds that there is an immediate and present danger of domestic abuse and you need immediate protection.  “Ex parte” simply means that the Respondent is not notified beforehand or present in court.  A judge makes a decision based solely on the information that the Petitioner provides.  An ex parte order is effective for a fixed period set by the court and can generally last for up to two years or until modified or vacated by a judge after a hearing.  A hearing will be required if the Petitioner asks a judge for additional protection, the judge does not grant all of the protection requested in the ex parte order, or the Respondent requests a hearing