1) First: “Restraining order” isn’t one single thing in Philippine law

In everyday conversation, “restraining order” is used to mean any order that tells someone to stop contacting, threatening, approaching, or harming another person. In Philippine practice, the term can refer to two very different legal tracks, with very different costs:

Protection Orders under special laws (most commonly R.A. 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004)
- Examples: Barangay Protection Order (BPO), Temporary Protection Order (TPO), Permanent Protection Order (PPO)
- These are designed for safety and are generally low-cost to free for the applicant.
Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and injunction under the Rules of Court (typically Rule 58)
- This is a court remedy used in many disputes (property, business, neighbor conflicts, harassment outside R.A. 9262 coverage, etc.)
- This route can be materially more expensive because it usually requires filing fees and often an injunction bond.

Understanding which one applies is the key to understanding the true cost.

2) The lowest-cost (often free) “restraining order”: Protection Orders under R.A. 9262

Who can use R.A. 9262 protection orders

R.A. 9262 addresses violence against:

Women, and
Their children

Committed by a person who is (or was) in a specified relationship with the woman (commonly: spouse/former spouse, someone with whom she has or had a dating/sexual relationship, someone with whom she has a common child, or a relationship in the nature of marriage).

This is the most common legal basis when people ask about “restraining orders” involving a partner/ex-partner and safety at home.

Types of protection orders under R.A. 9262 (and what they cost)

A) Barangay Protection Order (BPO)

Where filed: Barangay (through the Punong Barangay or designated official)
Typical purpose: Immediate, short-term protection (e.g., no threats, no violence, no contact/harassment; often includes stay-away directives depending on circumstances and available relief)
How fast: Often same-day, intended to be quick
Duration: Commonly short (often referenced as 15 days, subject to the specific order and practice)
Cost: Generally no filing fee to request a BPO

Practical expenses (not “fees”): transportation, photocopies, printing evidence, and similar out-of-pocket costs.

B) Temporary Protection Order (TPO)

Where filed: Court (typically a Family Court branch of the RTC, or the appropriate designated court where Family Courts are not available)
How fast: Designed for urgent protection; may be issued ex parte (without the respondent present) based on the petition and supporting facts
Duration: Commonly short-term (often referenced as 30 days, subject to the order and procedure)
Cost: Generally no docket/filing fees charged to the petitioner in R.A. 9262 protection order proceedings

C) Permanent Protection Order (PPO)

Where filed: Court
How fast: Requires notice and hearing (not instant like a BPO; slower than a TPO)
Duration: Longer-term; remains effective until modified or lifted by the court
Cost: Generally no docket/filing fees charged to the petitioner in R.A. 9262 protection order proceedings

Why R.A. 9262 protection orders are often “free”

Protection order proceedings under R.A. 9262 are meant to be accessible to victims and are commonly treated as fee-exempt for petitioners (so the usual “docket fee” concept that applies to ordinary civil cases typically does not burden the applicant in the same way).

What can still cost money even if the protection order filing is free

Even when court/barangay fees are not charged, real-world expenses may include:

Medical examination / medico-legal certificate (depending on facility; government hospitals may be lower-cost; private facilities vary)
Photocopying/printing evidence (screenshots, messages, photos)
Transportation (multiple trips for filing, hearings, service coordination, follow-up)
Notarization (some documents may be verified/under oath; practice varies by court and assistance available)
Childcare / missed work due to hearings

These are indirect costs rather than “cost to file.”

3) The higher-cost route: TRO / injunction under the Rules of Court (Rule 58)

What a TRO is (Philippine civil procedure)

A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is a short-lived court order that temporarily stops an act while the court hears the request for a preliminary injunction (a longer-lasting provisional order during the case).

Important procedural reality: A TRO is generally not a standalone application. It is typically requested within:

a civil case (complaint or petition), or
a special proceeding where injunctive relief is allowed.

Typical TRO durations (often cited in practice)

Under the general framework in the Rules of Court:

A trial court TRO is typically limited in duration (commonly referenced as up to 20 days in many RTC contexts, with certain short emergency issuances possible at the outset under specific conditions).
Appellate court TROs are often referenced with longer limits (e.g., 60 days in common descriptions of Court of Appeals TROs).
The Supreme Court’s TRO practice differs and may continue until further orders depending on the case context.

Exact application depends on the court and the rule framework governing the specific proceeding.

What it costs to seek a TRO/injunction

This is where costs can rise quickly. The main cost buckets:

A) Court filing (docket) fees and legal fees

Docket fees depend on:
- the type of action (e.g., “incapable of pecuniary estimation” vs. money claim),
- the court level (MTC vs RTC), and
- whether the case involves a claim amount (which affects assessment).
There are also add-ons that may appear in assessments (commonly: legal research-related fees and other court charges assessed by the clerk of court).

Cost reality: Without relying on a single fixed number, applicants should expect at least several thousand pesos in many ordinary civil filings, and potentially much more where claims are high or multiple causes of action are pleaded.

B) Injunction bond (often the biggest “cash” requirement)

For a preliminary injunction, courts commonly require the applicant to post an injunction bond to answer for damages if it turns out the injunction should not have been granted.

The amount is set by the court and can vary widely.
In real cases, bonds can range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands (or more) depending on the alleged harm and the nature/value of what is being restrained.

This bond requirement is a major reason why a civil TRO/injunction path can be costly.

C) Service and sheriff-related expenses

Serving summons and orders and implementing certain directives can involve sheriff/service-related expenses assessed through the court process.

D) Attorney’s fees (optional but common in practice)

A lawyer is not always legally required to file papers in every scenario, but TRO/injunction applications are technical and often lawyer-assisted. Attorney’s fees vary widely based on:

location,
urgency,
complexity,
number of hearings,
and scope of the main case.

4) Low-cost alternatives that people confuse with “restraining orders”

A) Katarungang Pambarangay (barangay conciliation)

For many disputes between residents (and where barangay conciliation is required before court), the barangay process can be a low-cost first step. It is not a restraining order, but it can create enforceable settlement terms and documented findings.

B) Criminal complaint + protective conditions

For certain criminal complaints (threats, harassment-related offenses depending on the facts), courts can impose conditions through criminal procedure (for example, conditions tied to release on bail), and violations can have consequences. This is fact- and case-dependent and is not a universal substitute for a protection order or TRO.

5) Cost comparison (practical, Philippines-based)

If the situation fits R.A. 9262 (VAWC context)

Typical cost to apply: ₱0 in filing/docket fees (BPO/TPO/PPO), with incidental out-of-pocket expenses for documents and logistics.

If the situation does not fit R.A. 9262 and the goal is “stay away / stop doing X”

Typical cost: Higher, because it usually means a civil case with TRO/injunction:

filing/docket fees (often several thousand pesos or more), plus
possible injunction bond (often tens of thousands+), plus
service/sheriff costs, plus
possible attorney’s fees.

6) Fee waivers and cost-shifting: how people legally reduce the cost

A) Indigent litigant status (fee exemption)

Philippine procedure recognizes indigent litigants who may be exempted from paying certain legal fees if they meet the qualification standards and submit the required sworn statements and supporting proof. This can significantly reduce the “cost to file” in ordinary civil cases.

B) Public legal assistance

In appropriate cases, applicants may seek help from government legal assistance mechanisms and accredited legal aid groups, which can reduce or eliminate attorney’s fees (eligibility varies).

C) Respondent pays (in some contexts)

Some frameworks allow courts to order respondents to shoulder certain costs or provide support-related relief, but this depends on the legal basis and what the court grants.

7) Common misconceptions that affect “cost” expectations

“I can file a TRO at the barangay.” A barangay can issue a BPO (in R.A. 9262 situations) and facilitate conciliation, but a TRO is a court order.
“A restraining order is always expensive.” Protection orders under R.A. 9262 are often free to file; the expensive track is typically the civil TRO/injunction track.
“A TRO is a one-page request.” TROs usually come attached to a main case and require verified pleadings, factual support, and compliance with procedural rules—often increasing legal and practical costs.

8) Bottom line

In the Philippines, the “cost to file a restraining order” depends on which legal remedy applies:

Protection orders (BPO/TPO/PPO) in a VAWC setting (R.A. 9262): filing is commonly free, with only incidental expenses.
Civil TRO/injunction (Rules of Court): expect court filing fees and often a potentially substantial injunction bond, making this route significantly more expensive in many cases.