Montgomery County courts processed 1,756 new protection-from-abuse orders in 2025, placing the county sixth statewide, David Mowery of Mainline Media News first reported.

The filing offices and hotlines that handle those orders serve Lower Merion Township residents directly.

Data released by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts shows Montgomery County accounted for 4.2% of the 41,597 new PFA orders filed across the state last year. Statewide filings dipped less than 1% from 2024, state court officials said.

A protection-from-abuse order, or PFA, is a civil court order that can require an abuser to stop all contact with a victim, surrender weapons and leave the victim's home. Victims of domestic violence by an intimate partner, family member or household member can seek one.

Philadelphia led all 67 counties with 7,864 orders, about 19% of the state total. Allegheny County followed at 4,104. Three southeastern Pennsylvania counties landed in the top 10: Delaware County at 2,047, Berks County at 1,803 and Montgomery County at 1,756.

Neighboring Chester County recorded 670 orders, or 1.6% of the statewide total.

How to file in Montgomery County

Residents seeking a PFA can visit the Prothonotary's Office on the first floor of One Montgomery Plaza in Norristown between 8:30 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday, according to the county's PFA filing page. Applications can also be started online, but filers must appear in person before a judge before an order is granted.

For after-hours emergencies, the county directs residents to the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-773-2424.

Local resources

Several organizations serve Montgomery County residents dealing with domestic violence:

  • Laurel House 24/7 hotline: 800-642-3150. The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office identifies Laurel House as the county's domestic violence agency, providing shelter, housing, counseling and legal advocacy.
  • Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP) offers free legal help for PFA cases in Montgomery County. The LASP domestic violence helpline for the county is 855-980-6924, available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • Women's Center of Montgomery County 24-hour hotline: 1-800-773-2424.
  • Prothonotary's PFA Department: 610-278-1191.

The Pennsylvania Courts website lists additional information on protection orders.