The Wisconsin Court System’s Consolidated Court Automation Programs office developed the portal with county court systems, including Dane County, which volunteered to help pilot it. The system was in a prototype phase in July. It currently supports only domestic abuse and harassment restraining orders; advocates hope it will eventually include orders involving child abuse and individuals at risk.

Users can complete forms as guests and print them for in-person filing, or create an account with a safe email address to submit online and save their progress. The portal guides people through questions about the parties, the incidents and the type of protection sought, and identifies required fields.

Ryan Poe-Gavlinski, a clinical associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School who helps survivors with protective-order filings, said the portal is easier to navigate than the previous electronic filing process. Its plain-language explanations can help users determine which order applies, she said, though choosing incorrectly or leaving out important information can affect whether a petition is granted.

The portal’s statement-of-facts section limits petitioners to 1,500 characters, with the option to upload supporting materials separately. Poe-Gavlinski said petitioners should provide detailed information, particularly about recent or serious incidents. Some judges may not consider information at a hearing if it was not included in the original petition, she said.

The system also asks whether a petitioner faces immediate danger and how long an order is being requested. Most domestic abuse orders can last from one day to four years, with some cases qualifying for longer periods, including up to 10 years or a permanent order. Advocates advise petitioners to request the longest duration they may qualify for, because a court cannot grant more time than requested.

Once a petition is submitted, the process can move quickly. Advocates urge people to plan for their safety before filing, since the person named in the petition will eventually be notified.

At The Women’s Center in Waukesha, director of advocacy and support services Krystal Chase said staff helped 21 people use the portal during its prototype phase; 15 of those filings were successful. She said the portal provides feedback from commissioners that can help people correct and resubmit a filing.

DAIS, an organization supporting survivors, has also shifted much of its filing assistance to the portal, legal advocate Kayla Thompson said. But the system is not available in every language spoken in Wisconsin, leaving advocates and interpreters to help users who cannot complete it in their preferred language.

Technology can pose another safety concern if an abuser monitors a survivor’s device or online activity. The portal includes a quick-exit button that opens a blank page, and it automatically redirects there after a period of inactivity. The system does not share a petitioner’s name, address or phone number with the person they are filing against. Advocates say survivors may use a trusted person’s address or create a separate email account if needed. Filing in person remains an option.

Dane County recorded 135 combined domestic abuse and harassment restraining-order filings from Sept. 1 through Oct. 14, compared with 131 during the same period a year earlier, according to the county Clerk of Courts. More than 70 of this year’s filings came through the portal, the office said. Advocates say it is too early to know whether easier online access will lead to a sustained increase in filings or place added pressure on court resources.

Questions about system oversight also remain. Dane County’s Clerk of Courts said the state portal is built and maintained by CCAP, and the county is not responsible for technical support or system logs. The office said its procedures for reviewing filings and redacting confidential information have not changed and that, at the time of its response, it was not aware of user complaints.

Advocates say the portal is a useful option, not a substitute for support. They recommend survivors seek help with the filing process and make a safety plan before submitting a petition.