﻿ Emergency Protection Orders | Provincial Court of Newfoundland
and Labrador  Provincial Court  What is an Emergency Protection
Order?  This is a court order that a judge of the Provincial
Court can grant in urgent situations to provide immediate
protection when family violence has occurred. In this EPO, the
judge may place various restrictions on the respondent. The EPO
is temporary with a maximum duration of 90 days. Judges will
consider each application individually, so the actual duration
of the EPO will vary from case to case (within this 90 day
maximum limit). The EPO is meant to offer an immediate response
and to provide time to put longer term plans in place. Because
it is a short-term emergency response, an EPO cannot be extended
or renewed.  Does an EPO Replace a Criminal Charge?  No. If the
police have evidence that a criminal offence has taken place,
they will still lay criminal charges under the Criminal Code of
Canada opens new window. Therefore, a criminal investigation,
criminal charges and a