Chapter 209A, the Massachusetts Abuse Prevention Act, defines abuse as the occurrence of one or more of the following between family or household members:

• Attempting to cause or causing physical harm
• Placing another in fear of imminent serious physical harm
• Causing another to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by force, threat, or duress

An Abuse Prevention Order, called a 209A Order, or a Protective Order, or a Restraining order, is a civil court order intended to provide protection from physical or sexual harm caused by force or threat of harm from a family or household member.

Chapter 209A, the Massachusetts Abuse Prevention Act, defines family or household members as persons who:

• Are or were married to one another
• Are or were residing together in the same household
• Are or were related by blood or marriage
• Having a child in common regardless of whether they have ever married or lived together
• Or are or have been in a substantive dating or engagement relationship, which shall be adjudged by district, probate or Boston municipal courts, by considering the following factors: the length of time of the relationship; the type of relationship; the frequency of interaction between the parties; and if the relationship has been terminated by either person, and the length of time elapsed since the termination of the relationship