Temporary PFA Process

• Applications for a Temporary Protection From Abuse order (TPFA) can be made at the PFA Office on the 1st floor of the County Services Center on Reed Street, between Washington and Court Streets, in Reading. We recommend that someone who needs a PFA arrive at the PFA office as early as possible in the day, Monday through Friday, but no later than 2 PM in order to complete the process that day.
  
• Office Staff and BWIC advocates will assist you with the application form.
• Court staff will direct you to the judge's office or courtroom.
• The judge will talk with you, review the application, and decide whether or not to grant the TPFA.
• A BWIC legal advocate can be present to provide assistance and support.
• If the TPFA is granted, a hearing date will be set to determine whether or not the PFA becomes a final PFA.
• You will be directed to take the TPFA to the Prothonotary's Office (on the 2nd floor) and the Sheriff's Department (3rd floor) for filing and service of the TPFA on the defendant.
• First, make copies of the order and take them to the police departments in the jurisdictions where you work and live and then to you children's school.  Also take copies to any other place from which the defendant is prohibited.

After your TPFA is granted, you may call BWIC's legal assistant to set up an appointment with an attorney. We perform a check to verify that BWIC has no legal conflicts prohibiting our attorneys from representing you before we set an appointment date. Generally, BWIC attorneys attend court in the morning and take appointments in the afternoon.

During your appointment, you and your attorney will discuss your case. If representation is under taken, your attorney will appear in court on your behalf for your hearing.