Protection Orders

Temporary order, final hearing, and violations

People search a temporary protection-from-abuse order, the final hearing, and how long an order lasts. They search it from both sides: the person who filed, and the person who was served. A violation is a separate search and can be a criminal charge. Gun possession after a PFA is another search, because an order can change whether someone may have a firearm.

If you are in danger now, contact the police. Send the county and the hearing date for a referral. Custody often gets searched on the same day. Say if that case is already open.

What the first message needs

The county, the hearing date, and whether you are the petitioner or the respondent. A message does not replace a call to the police.

Nothing on this page is a prediction of what a case is worth, and it is not legal advice. A message asks the desk to review the facts and refer them.

What to send

Protection-from-abuse petitions and hearings. If you are in danger now, contact the police. Say the county and the hearing date.

The useful first facts are the place, the date, the court if there is one, and what happened. Records can wait until a lawyer asks for them.

How a referral works

A message asks the desk to read the facts and refer them to a lawyer who handles this work. It does not hire that lawyer, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

The lawyer who receives the introduction decides whether to take the matter and talks with you about deadlines and fees.

Related family cases

• Family Law — Custody, support, and divorce
• Divorce — Divorce and separation
• Child Custody — Custody schedules and hearings
• Child Support — Support orders and contempt