A protection order is an urgent court restraint — it is not the divorce and not a criminal case by itself.
The Anti-Domestic Violence Law lets a people’s court issue a personal safety protection order (restraining contact, staying away, temporary housing, and similar). Applicants can include the victim and, in some cases, close relatives or authorities. Evidence can be police records, medical notes, photos, messages — not only a final criminal conviction. Orders can be made quickly; breach has consequences. This wiki page orients the tool. Many city and foreign-spouse DV articles already exist — link them; do not clone. Divorce, custody and criminal complaint remain separate paths.
4 questions before you choose the route.
This page identifies the right question and evidence. It does not determine the legal outcome on a reader’s facts.
Is there an immediate safety need?
Order vs police 110 vs shelter.
UrgencyWhat evidence exists today?
Police, medical, messages.
ProofWhich court?
Usually where the applicant or respondent is.
CourtIs divorce or custody also needed?
Parallel, not instead.
ParallelWorking rule: Map the regulated role before marketing or launch in China.
The signal ledger.
These facts move the question beyond a label and into a product, money-flow and control analysis.
Bring a compact evidence docket—not a pitch deck.
Give a compliance team or counsel the operating facts that reveal the perimeter.
Questions people ask before they build.
Short answers for orientation. The right result can change with the service model and current rules.
Do foreigners qualify?
Yes in principle if a PRC court has the person/facts. Practical barriers are evidence and housing — see foreign-spouse DV guides.
Does an order end the marriage?
No. You still need registration or a divorce judgment.
Primary authorities
Reviewed sources support orientation, not a fact-specific assessment.