Protective (restraining) orders can be issued quickly, sometimes without the other side present, and then set for a full hearing within weeks. For the person seeking protection, the right order and evidence matter. For the person responding, a final order can affect your home, children, firearms and record for years. Both sides benefit from counsel at the hearing.
What a protective order lawyer does
- Prepares the application and evidence for an emergency or final order
- Represents you at the contested hearing and cross-examines witnesses
- Negotiates agreed orders, modifications or dismissals
- Enforces violations or defends against alleged violations
When you need a protective order lawyer
- You fear for your safety or your children’s
- You were served with a temporary order and a hearing date
- The order affects where you live or your access to your children
- You are accused of violating an existing order
Questions to ask before you hire a protective order lawyer
- What evidence will the judge want to see at the hearing?
- How will this order interact with a divorce or custody case?
- Can the order be narrowed to allow contact about the children?
- What are the consequences of a final order for my job or firearms?
Find a protective order lawyer near you
Choose your state to see listed firms and the official bar directory for verifying any lawyer’s license.
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