Concerning protection order hope cards.

Free hope cards for protection order holders

Washington provides free hope cards to people with valid full protection orders. Eligible orders cover domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, vulnerable adults, antiharassment, and extreme risk protection. A hope card has the same legal effect as the underlying order. The law takes effect July 27, 2025, but its request provisions name January 1, 2025, as the start date. You can request a card from the court clerk when your order is entered, without waiting or extra steps. Interpreter help is available if an interpreter helped you at the hearing. Later, you can request a card from the Administrative Office of the Courts before your order expires. No issuance fee is allowed; this protection is not limited to an original card and one duplicate. Where the issuing office has the needed tools and information, cards are scannable and show names and birth dates of the restrained person, protected person, and protected children. They also show the issuing court, case number, issue and expiration dates, order details, and locations the restrained person must avoid. Weapons restrictions include firearm and concealed pistol license bans, weapon surrender orders, and extreme risk orders, with order details and compliance status. Where feasible, scanning also provides the digital order and case history: petitions, attachments, statements, temporary orders, hearing notices, ordered protections, service records, firearm surrender compliance, and violations. The state courts office must develop the program with court, police, licensing, and survivor advocacy partners. The program must use a trauma-informed approach and put protection from harm first. The office must ensure courts supply needed information through court codes, reporting tools, and database entries.