Restraining Orders

When someone files for a protection order, in the majority of states, s/he is generally required to attend a hearing in front of a judge in order to get a long-term protection order. The respondent would also have the right to attend that hearing in front of a judge and explain his/her side of the story. The judge would listen to both sides, decide who is credible (believable) and decide whether or not to grant the protection order. If you believe that the allegations are false, you may want to consult with an attorney before the hearing to help plan for how to prove that the allegations are false. This could involve bringing in witnesses to testify and cross-examining the petitioner to try to show that they are not credible. In some states, if a judge rules in favor of the respondent, the respondent may be able to ask the judge to order the petitioner to pay the respondent’s legal fees and court costs.

We have information on the protection order process in your state here: [INSERT LINK TO RESTRAINING ORDER PAGE]. While it is geared toward individuals seeking a protection order, the information may be able to help someone defending him/herself against a protective order as well.