👨👩👧 Family RightsDomestic Violence Protection Measures in Poland — Know Your Rights
Learn about domestic violence protection measures in Poland: your legal rights, police orders, restraining orders, and how to get help fast.
Last verified: April 2026
Domestic violence is a serious crime in Poland, addressed under the Act on Counteracting Domestic Violence (Ustawa o przeciwdziałaniu przemocy domowej). Polish law provides multiple layers of protection for victims, including emergency police orders, court injunctions, and access to shelters and support services. Understanding your rights can help you act quickly and safely if you or someone you know is experiencing abuse.
⚖️ Your Key Rights
- ✓You have the right to request an immediate police order (nakaz natychmiastowego opuszczenia wspólnie zajmowanego mieszkania) requiring an abusive person to leave your shared home for up to 14 days, extendable by a court to 3 months.
- ✓You have the right to apply to a court for a restraining order (zakaz zbliżania się) that prohibits an abuser from approaching you, contacting you, or coming near your home or workplace.
- ✓You have the right to free legal assistance and support from municipal and county-level interdisciplinary teams (Zespoły Interdyscyplinarne) established to coordinate help for domestic violence victims.
- ✓You have the right to access free crisis shelters, support centers (Specjalistyczne Ośrodki Wsparcia), and psychological counseling provided by local authorities.
- ✓You have the right to file a criminal complaint against your abuser — domestic violence (znęcanie się) is prosecuted under Article 207 of the Polish Penal Code and can result in imprisonment.
- ✓You have the right to refuse to testify against a family member in criminal proceedings, but you are not obligated to use this right — victims may choose to testify to support prosecution.
- ✓Children in the household are also legally protected, and authorities including social services (MOPS/GOPS) and the family court (sąd rodzinny) can intervene to ensure their safety.
📋 Common Situations Explained
Physical assault by a partner or family member at home
If you are physically harmed by a partner or family member, you can call the police (112) immediately. Police can issue an emergency expulsion order on the spot, removing the abuser from the home without you needing to leave. A medical certificate (zaświadczenie lekarskie) documenting your injuries is important evidence for any subsequent criminal or civil proceedings.
Abuser refuses to leave the shared home
If your abuser will not leave voluntarily after a police expulsion order, the police are legally required to enforce it. If you need longer-term protection, you or a prosecutor can apply to the family or civil court for a formal injunction extending the prohibition and adding a no-contact order. You do not need to own the property to benefit from this protection.
Psychological or emotional abuse without physical violence
Polish law recognizes psychological abuse, economic abuse, and controlling behavior as forms of domestic violence under the 2023 amendments to the Act on Counteracting Domestic Violence. You can report this to police or social services and request an intervention. Documenting incidents (dates, messages, recordings where lawful) strengthens your case.
Victim has children and fears losing custody
If you fear for your children's safety or worry about custody consequences if you leave, a family court (sąd rodzinny) can issue emergency orders to protect the children and regulate contact. Social services and child protection officers (asystenci rodziny) can also support you during this process. Leaving an abusive home does not automatically harm your custody position.
Abuser violates a protection order or restraining order
Violating a court-issued restraining order or a police expulsion order is itself a criminal offense in Poland. You should immediately call the police (112), report the violation, and keep any evidence such as messages or witness accounts. The court can strengthen existing orders or impose additional sanctions on the abuser.
🚀 What To Do
- 1Call the emergency number 112 if you are in immediate danger — police can attend, document the situation, and issue an on-the-spot expulsion order removing the abuser from your home.
- 2Seek medical attention for any injuries and ask for a written medical certificate (zaświadczenie lekarskie) documenting them — this is key evidence for criminal and civil proceedings.
- 3Contact the Blue Line (Niebieska Linia) helpline at 800 120 002 (free, 24/7 in Polish) for crisis support, advice, and referrals to local shelters and legal aid.
- 4Report the abuse to your local social services office (MOPS or GOPS), which will initiate the 'Blue Card' (Niebieska Karta) procedure — a formal multi-agency response coordinating police, social workers, and health services.
- 5Apply to the local district court (sąd rejonowy — wydział rodzinny lub cywilny) for a formal injunction if you need longer-term protection beyond the initial 14-day police order; applications are free of court fees for victims.
- 6Keep records of all incidents — dates, descriptions, photos, messages, and witness names — and store copies somewhere safe outside your home or in a secure digital location.
👨⚖️ When to Get a Lawyer
You should seek legal representation when pursuing criminal charges, applying for a court restraining order, dealing with divorce and custody proceedings connected to the abuse, or if the abuser has their own lawyer. Free legal aid (nieodpłatna pomoc prawna) is available at designated local offices for people who cannot afford a private attorney.
🔗 Official Resources
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