Finding the strength to leave an abusive relationship, whether physical or emotional abuse, is a challenging thing. When you do finally make the move to leave, you often need to take steps to ensure your safety from the other party. In most cases, the best way to do this is to work with a domestic violence attorney and obtain a restraining order, or an order of protection. Here's a look at what you need to know about restraining orders and how you get one.
What Can A Restraining Order Do For You?
Before you can even decide if you should pursue a restraining order, you need to understand what that order can do for you. Essentially, a restraining order requires the restrained individual to stay a specific distance away from you at all times, including staying away from your home, your school, your work, and anywhere else that you might be.
It also means that the restrained person is not allowed to call you or contact you in any way. You can even have the restraining order prevent third-party contact if that is a problem. If the other party is a significant safety threat, being served with a restraining order also prevents them from possessing firearms.
How Do You Get A Restraining Order?
If you believe that you need a restraining order to protect yourself, or your children, it's important to know what steps are required to obtain one. It's best to work with an attorney to ensure that you follow the process correctly, especially when your safety and well-being are at stake.
The first thing you'll have to do is petition the court for a temporary protection order. These orders are fairly easy to obtain provided you can make a statement that details the reasons for your fears and the threats that you are concerned about.
Once the temporary order is issued, it will have an expiration date. That expiration date will be paired with a court hearing in which you'll ask a judge for a long-term protection order. The courts look for a little bit more information. The more evidence you have, the greater documentation you have for your fears, the easier it will be to obtain the long-term order.
Talk with a domestic violence attorney today about what information is needed to ensure that your protection order is secured and you remain safe. Your domestic violence attorney can help you with what you need.
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