What is the legal definition of abuse in Nebraska?
This section defines abuse for the purposes of getting a domestic violence protection order. The following acts are considered abuse, also known as domestic violence, when they occur between family or household members:
- causing or attempting to cause physical injury, with or without a weapon (“dangerous instrument”);
- placing someone in fear of physical injury by making a “credible threat,” which means:
- a verbal or written threat, including through email, text, etc.;
- a threat that is implied through a pattern of conduct or a combination of verbal, written, or electronic statements/conduct that causes you to reasonably fear for your safety or your family’s safety; ; or
- forcing unwanted sexual contact or sexual penetration, as defined by the law.1
Note: You do not have to prove that the harasser had the intention to actually act on the threat, just that s/he seemed to have the ability to do so. If the harasser makes the threat while s/he is in jail, it can still be seen as a “credible threat.”2
- spouses or former spouses,
- children,
- people who are presently living together or who have lived together in the past,
- people who have a child in common whether or not they have been married or have lived together at any time,
- people related by blood or marriage, and
- people who are presently involved in a dating relationship with each other or who have been involved in a dating relationship with each other in the past.2
1 NE R.S. § 42-903(1)
2 NE R.S. § 42-903(1)(b)
What types of protection orders are there? How long do they last?
In Nebraska there are ex parte temporary protection orders and final protection orders. A judge can give you an ex parte temporary order without prior notice to the abuser or his/her presence in the courtroom To get this order, the judge must believe that you are in immediate danger of being abused based on your affidavit or your statements. If an ex parte order is issued, it will be served upon the abuser along with a form for the abuser to request a “show-cause hearing” in which the abuser would appear in court and present evidence (“show cause”) as to why the order should be dismissed – and you would present evidence why you should keep the order. The abuser has 10 business days to return the request for the show-cause hearing.1 If the judge does not give you an ex parte order, the judge should schedule a hearing within 14 days where both you and the abuser can be present. At that hearing, you would present evidence to the judge to try to prove why an order should be issued.2
If the requests a show-cause hearing, it will be scheduled within 30 days. The judge can also order that a hearing be held based on your request or based on the judge’s own decision to hold a hearing. At that hearing, the judge would decide whether to issue a final order. If the abuser does not request a show-cause hearing, and the judge doesn’t decide to hold one on his/her own, then your temporary order would be considered a final order.3
A final protection order will last for one year but it can be renewed.4 See Can I extend my protection order? for more information.
1 NE R.S. § 42-925(1)
2 NE R.S. § 42-925(3)
3 NE R.S. § 42-925(2)
4 NE R.S. §§ 42-925(5); 42-924(3)
What protections can I get in a protection order?
An ex parte order or a final protection order can do the following:
- order the abuser to:
- not restrain you or restrict your freedom (liberty);
- not threaten, assault, bother, attack, or otherwise disturb you;
- not contact you in any way;
- be removed (excluded) from your home regardless of who owns the home;
- stay away from any specific place;
- not have or buy a firearm;
- not be in contact with, hurt, or kill any household pet owned or held by you, the abuser, or any family or household member who lives with either of you; and
- give you:
- temporary custody of any minor children for up to 90 days;
- sole possession of any household pet that is owned or held by you, the abuser, or any family or household member who lives with either of you; and
- anything else that the judge believes is necessary for your safety.1
Whether a judge orders any or all of the above depends on the facts of your case.
1 NE R.S. §§ 42-924(1); 42-925(1)
In which court do I file for a protection order?
You must file the petition in district court but the case may take place in either district court or in county court.1 In the petition, you will have to state your preference for whether you want the case to be heard by a county court judge or by a district court judge.2 If you are unsure of which court to request, you might want to ask an attorney in your county for advice. For courthouse locations in your area, see NE Courthouse Locations. To find legal organizations, go to NE Finding a Lawyer.
1 NE R.S. § 42-924(2)
2 NE R.S. § 25-2740(2)
Si el agresor vive en otro estado, ¿puedo conseguir una orden en su contra?
Si el/la agresor/a vive en un estado diferente al suyo, el/la juez/a podría no tener “jurisdicción personal” (poder) sobre ese/a agresor/a. Esto significa que es posible que el tribunal no pueda otorgar una orden en contra de él/ella.
Hay algunas formas en las que una corte puede tener jurisdicción personal sobre un/a agresor/a que es de otro estado:
- El/la agresor/a tiene una conexión sustancial a su estado. Quizás el/la agresor/a viaja regularmente a su estado para visitarlo/a, por negocios, para ver la familia extendida, o el/la agresor/a vivía en su estado y huyó recientemente.
- Uno de los actos de maltrato “ocurrió” en su estado. Quizás el/la agresor/a le envía mensajes amenazantes o le hace llamadas acosadoras desde otro estado pero usted lee los mensajes o contesta las llamadas mientras usted está en su estado. El/la juez/a puede decidir que el maltrato “ocurrió” mientras estaba en su estado. También puede ser posible que el/la agresor/a estaba en su estado cuando le maltrató pero desde entonces se fue del estado.
- Otra forma para que la corte adquiera jurisdicción es si usted presenta su petición en el estado donde usted está, y el/la agresor/a recibe notificación de la petición de la corte mientras él/ella está en ese estado.
Sin embargo, aunque nada de esto aplique a su situación, eso no necesariamente significa que usted no pueda conseguir una orden. A usted le pueden dar una orden por consentimiento o el/la juez/a puede encontrar otras circunstancias que permitan que la orden sea dada. Puede leer más sobre jurisdicción personal en nuestra sección de Asuntos Básicos del Sistema Judicial - Jurisdicción Personal.
Nota: Si el/la juez/a de su estado se niega a dar una orden, usted puede pedir una orden en la corte del estado donde vive el/la agresor/a. Sin embargo, recuerde que es probable que usted necesite presentar la petición en persona y asistir a varias citas en la corte, lo cual podría ser difícil si el estado de el/la agresor/a es lejos.
