Protective Order Hearings

Protective orders are civil orders issued by a Judge, an interim order could initially be issued by a court commissioner, that orders a person to stop or refrain from committing certain acts against the person or persons who filed for the Order of protection (the ‘Petitioner’). In an Interim or Temporary Protective Order, the Judge can order that the person against whom the Order is filed (the ‘Respondent’):

• Stop abusing the Petitioner
• Stay away from the Petitioner and to not try to contact or harass the Petitioner at home, school, job, child’s school, and from the family members’ homes of Petitioner
• Not to enter Petitioner’s home
• Leave the home where both Petitioner and Respondent live
• Temporary custody of any children that you have with the Respondent can be awarded to Petitioner
• Temporary possession of any pet of wither party can be awarded to the Petitioner

In a Final Protective Order, a Judge can order any of the above, but can also:

• Establish temporary visitation with children of Petitioner and Respondent
• Award emergency family maintenance
• Award use and possession of jointly titled car
• Order counseling
• Order the Respondent to surrender all firearms
• Order other relief that the Judge determines is necessary to protect the Petitioner

The issuance of a Protective Order, whether you are the Petitioner or Respondent, can have a significant impact on an upcoming or pending divorce or custody proceeding. In addition, the issuance can affect your current or future employment and any criminal matter generated from acts leading to the issuance of a Protective Order. We prepare each case based on your situation because our attorneys know every protective order matter is different and cannot be treated like the last.