The process is as follows:
1. Complainant files a Verified Motion for Protective Order wherein he or she sets forth the facts for why he or she believes a Protective Order is necessary. "Verified" means that the Complainant makes the allegations under oath and the Motion is signed by a notary. As such, the Complainant may be subject to penalty of perjury for making false statements in the Motion.
2. Usually the same day as the Motion is filed, the Complainant will have a hearing before a judge to present the basis for a Protective Order. This is an informal process from an evidentiary prospective, and the judge can ask the Complainant any questions he or she wants.
3. Following review of the Motion and after the temporary hearing, if the judge finds that the party to be restrained presents a credible threat and that there is imminent danger to the Complainant's life and heath, the judge will issue the Temporary Protective Order and schedule a permanent protective order hearing. The TPO typically lasts for 14 days or up until the hearing date.
4. The person to be restrained is personally served with a copy of the TPO and ordered to appear for the permanent hearing.
5. The permanent hearing takes place. If the Complainant does not appear for the hearing, the TPO expires and no Permanent Order will issue. If both parties appear, the judge will hear evidence from both parties. If only the Complainant appears, the judge will hear evidence from the Complainant.
6. After the permanent hearing, the judge makes a finding. If the judge again finds that the person to be restrained presents a credible threat and that there is imminent danger to the life or health of the Complainant, the judge will issue the PPO and make rulings on a number of things depending on the circumstances (are there kids involved, do the parties work or go to school together, etc.). If the judge does not make the required finding, no PPO issues and the TPO expires.
Long way to say that everyone is right. There has to be something credible before a judge will issue the TPO, and the Complainant has to make the allegations under oath and penalty of perjury. However, the person to be restrained has no opportunity at this phase to contest the allegations, and judges are naturally going to err on the side of caution and issue a TPO even when he or she might have some misgivings about the allegations and evidence. It is only after the PPO hearing when you can get a better idea of the state of the case.