If you are in an volatile relationship and fear for the safety of yourself and your children, you should look into seeking an order of protection. A protection such as this can be your first line of defense from harassment, violence, abuse and even stalking.
Unfortunately, there are many people who do get into ill-advised relationships. When you make the decision to get out, the other party sometimes doesn't take it well. If you find yourself in this type of situation and are being threatened and harassed, take the first step and report it to the police. Then you should seek out the counsel of a good order of protection lawyer. They will guide you through the process and make sure you and your family stay safe.
An order of protection means just what it states: protection. This means the offending individual is prohibited from contacting you in any way. If they reside in the same residence, the will be ordered to find somewhere else to live. Everything within the order of protection also goes for children as well. If you think you situation is particularly dangerous, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. They will use all of their extensive knowledge of the criminal court system to help you.
Orders of protection can be issued under criminal, family or state courts and they all have different criteria:
Family Court
These are civil proceedings that deals specifically with family violence. If you are threatened by a loved one, or someone you are in an intimate relationship with, a lawyer will help you get an order of protection filed.
Criminal Court
In this case, orders of protection are issued against individuals who have committed crimes. Often a protection order is a condition of bail. The parties involved do not have to have a relationship.
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Supreme Court
This can be issued as part of a divorce proceeding. If you have been threatened, your attorney can argue an Order to Show Cause on your behalf.
If you have a order of protection issued against you, you need to follow it to the letter. Any violation of this order could land you in serious trouble. It is important for the party who issued the order of protection to also not violate this. For instance, if the party who is under the order shows up at your house and you invite him in or attempt a reconciliation, you both can be arrested for violation of an order of protection.
However, if the offending party attempts to contact you in any manner, you should contact the police immediately. There have been a number of individuals killed by angry, violent spouses.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need an order of protection, let an attorney handle the situation for you. They will educate you about your case and advise you of your options. This order can have huge ramifications. Unfortunately, there are extremely violent spouses who will not take the order too well. You need to be prepared and know what to do if the order is violated.
Reach out to an order of protection attorney with a sold background. They can get the ball rolling and help move the situation along as quickly as possible. It's about helping you and your loved ones stay safe. Get a free consultation today.