- A PFA may require you to move out of a shared apartment or home. You may need to find a new place to live very quickly.
- The order could require you to stay away from your children. It could grant your accuser full physical custody of your children and require you to pay child support.
- The order can require you to let your accuser keep a shared vehicle or your vehicle. You could suddenly find yourself without a vehicle you typically rely on to get to work.
- You could be required to hand over any firearms you own to law enforcement. You may not be able to own or possess guns, even hunting rifles.
- A PFA can come up with an employer when they run a background checks on you. Consequently, it could hinder your chances of gaining employment. It could also make it difficult to obtain certain professional licenses.
How a lawyer can help
Our attorneys can help you by:
- Reviewing the allegations against you
- Determining whether you were properly served the court documents
- Gathering evidence to support your innocence
- Filing your appearance in your court
- Filing any necessary response to the restraining order petition
- Preparing you for the protection order hearing
- Representing you during the protection order hearing
- Presenting evidence of your innocence during the hearing
- When applicable, presenting evidence of the plaintiff’s ulterior motives at the hearing
- Fighting for the false order of protection request to be dropped
- Fighting for the provisions within a protective order to be as narrow as possible
A restraining order can impact every aspect of your life. When the stakes are so high, it is essential to hire an experienced attorney to defend you in order to have a long-term or temporary order of protection dismissed.