Restraining Orders

If the judge issues you an ex parte order, it will be served on the abuser along with a form for the abuser to request a “show-cause hearing.” Note: If the abuser wants to request a show-cause hearing to object to the order being issued, s/he has to return this form to the clerk within ten business days of receiving the order and the hearing would be scheduled within 30 days.¹

The courts will forward copies of your papers to law enforcement, who will then try to serve the papers on the abuser.² The sheriff will go to the abuser’s home, work, or other place s/he can be found to hand him/her the papers. If you believe that serving the respondent at his/her work or in some other way would put you in danger, you can include this information in the forms that you fill out and request that the abuser not be served at that location. The order is not valid until law enforcement has served the respondent.

You can find more information about service of process in our Preparing for Court – By Yourself section, in the question called What is service of process and how do I accomplish it?

¹ NE R.S. § 42-925(1)
² NE R.S. § 42-926(1)