| Restraining orders are orders of protection that | | | | required to report to the court the fact that they |
| legally bind someone from having contact with or | | | | received this legal order. Usually the time period to do |
| otherwise coming near another individual. This | | | | so is 72 hours. If they break the terms of the |
| protection order is used to keep people that are | | | | restraining order before being served, then law |
| having problems with one another apart. If you are | | | | enforcement will advise them and then enforce the |
| afraid for your safety, then obtaining a legal form of | | | | order if they do not comply immediately. |
| order is one part of the process to protect yourself. | | | | Another important part of an order is the fact that |
| Terms of such orders vary from state to state, and | | | | the person that is served is not allowed to own or |
| different things do apply. Some rules are common to | | | | otherwise possess a firearm. This is due to the high |
| all of them. The following information generally applies | | | | potential for violence among many of these |
| to all restraining orders. | | | | situations. Failure to comply with this court order can |
| Restraining orders are enforced with very strict rules, | | | | result in fines and imprisonment. |
| and violating an order can have very stiff penalties. | | | | Child custody issues are not allowed to interfere with |
| The charges one might incur if they violate a | | | | the terms of the restraining order. The best interests |
| restraining order may vary from contempt of court, | | | | of the child are always held in higher regard than all |
| to a severe felony in some cases. This can lead to | | | | others. |
| serving time in a State prison and is enforceable by | | | | Many people have an order filed and think that this is |
| any law enforcement agency that is informed of the | | | | all that is needed to keep them safe. Sadly, this is |
| restraining order. | | | | often not the case as people are only able to be |
| Generally, such orders will have specific expiration | | | | arrested after they have broken the restraining |
| date information. In the absence of this, one should | | | | order. Due to this, the damage is sometimes already |
| expect that the expiration is three years from the | | | | done. If you are in danger for your life, filing a |
| date of issue. Some aspects of an order that has to | | | | restraining order is certainly something that you |
| do with child custody do not expire until the court | | | | should do. However, you should also take steps to |
| deems it so. | | | | insure that you are safe in addition to preparing and |
| The person that is served with an order will be | | | | filing this legal form. |