Understanding Restraining Orders

Restraining orders are issued when a person feelsharassment including annoying neighbors, roommates,
threatened by your words or actions and seeks toor other acquaintances.
have you legally banned from any contact with them.Understanding Your Rights
They may be either temporary or long-term andYou must be officially be given notice of the
vary on the details of the order depending on therestraining order brought against you. In order to be
type.served a restraining order you must have had official
Types of Restraining Orderscopies of the notice delivered to you. This will include
- Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Order:a form for you to respond to the allegations brought
This type of restraining order can be temporary foragainst you by the person who originally sought the
up to 3 weeks or may be made permanent for 1 toorder You will have between 10 to 20 days before
3 years.the hearing to file your response.
- Emergency Protective Order: This type ofIn Court
restraining order is issued by law enforcementIf you receive a notice, you will have to attend a
officers and will remain valid for 5 days after thehearing in which it will be decided whether or not the
order is issued.restraining order is needed. Having this kind of charge
- Criminal Protective Order: Also known as a "Nobrought against you can have a large effect on your
Contact" order This kind of restraining order is issuedlife. A restraining order has the ability to keep you
in active domestic violence cases and used tofrom the things and, sometimes, people that you
separate the parties involved in the domestic violencelove for fear of further legal trouble. Restraining
situation.orders are enforced by law and the violation of a
- Civil Harassment Restraining Order: This kind ofrestraining order could result in fines and jail time.
restraining order is utilized to stop various types of