In Australia, there is an alternative called a DVO, or Domestic Violence Order.
When my now ex-partner left me, my son was 3 months old. I don't blame her, she got pregnant after 4 months of dating, we didn't get on and we tried our best, but it just wasn't happening. We agreed she'd move back to her mums which was literally 100m from us as the crow flies.
After about a month of me being given free access to my son, could go round and bath him before bed give him his bottle etc, things started to get terse, especially around money (I was already giving her way more than I would have been assessed by Child Support).
Anyway, one day, whilst my son was asleep upstairs, she started laying into me because of a conversation over a pram umbrella (it's very sunny here and high UV). It led to me saying "Right, lets make a list of what you need, what you feel I owe, and lets be done with it so we don't need to talk about it anymore". This digressed into an argument. Not yelling, just arguing.
After being told a few things I didn't want to here, I walked home, packed up as much of her stuff as I could possibly find and I walked it back and left it at the front door. Didn't throw it down, wasn't shouting, was just trying to minimise contact.
The next day I got a text from her saying "You can't come round anymore, I am scared for (son's name) safety, and you can't throw my belongings around".
Knowing what was coming I went to see a solicitor immediately, who penned a very reasonable custody agreement, that could be signed by both, and would remove the need to talk about it and debate.
She must have recieved that letter on the Friday. Monday I went back to work (I work away) for 10 days. I got back and there was a policemans card in my door. I called them, very nervously and the Sergeant said "I'm guessing you know what this is, it's from your ex". She was serving me domestic violence orders based on the argument we had. I was reassured by the policeman that solicitors here have advised women to do it for the past 15 years, because it looks better in the family court for them.
So I was basically not able to see my son, for 6 months, even though he lived 100m from me, until I could get through the court process, and have it thrown out, which it was, but the honus was on me to prove it was all made up.
TL"DR : It is used as a weapon in separation cases. I got bent over by the process, and although it was thrown out, nothing was ever recorded about her having done it needlessly.