You must file a petition with a judge. This petition will contain all of the necessary information that the judge needs to determine if you qualify for a PPO. Try your best to give a detailed description of what happened and who did it to you? Try to remember dates and times as specifically as possible. If you have any copies of police reports, you should include them with your petition.
In addition to showing a domestic relationship, you must also demonstrate to the judge that you are afraid that the target of your order is likely to stalk, harass, threaten, or assault you.
What does a PPO do for me?
A PPO is a restraining order. It legally bars the person subjected to it from certain actions and behaviors. More specifically, it bans them from:
- Entering your home or any other place that you occupy
- Assaulting, attacking, or harassing another person
- Threatening to injure or kill you or another person
- Removing any child that you have legal custody over
- Buying or possessing a firearm
- Preventing you from removing your children or personal possessions from any place owned or leased by the abuser
- Interfering with you at your school or job; or otherwise harming your career, education, or environment
- Having access to your home or work address or any telephone number associated with a child you both share
- Stalking you
- Causing mental harm or otherwise coercing you by threatening to harm or take away an animal that you own
- Any other action that interferes with your personal freedom or causes a reasonable fear of violence
Violation of a protection order is a crime. If you call the police, the violator is subject to immediate arrest. Following a violation, you can petition the court for a motion to show cause for the violation of the protection order. This will likely result in the judge punishing your abuser.
It is extremely important that you report any violation of your order. Do not allow your abuser to convince you that “things will be different”. Your order has a finite duration, allow that duration to run its course. For additional information, click here.
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