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Legal Information: Guam

Restraining Orders

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Updated: 
October 31, 2023

Step 4: The "show cause hearing" for a permanent order

All “show cause hearings” are supposed to be scheduled within ten calendar days after your temporary order is issued. If the respondent does not appear, s/he can possibly be held in contempt or the case can be continued.  If the respondent does appear, s/he may ask for a continuance in order to find an attorney and the judge can postpone the hearing for a “reasonable” period of time. During the continuance, your temporary order can be changed or can continue as-is, and a judge may possibly even make it permanent during this time.1

At the “show cause hearing,” you will have to prove that you are a victim of domestic violence, as you alleged in your petition. If the judge grants you an order, it will indicate on the order how long it lasts for.  The law says that the judge can order it for “such periods as authorized by law.”  Another option is that there can be a consent agreement issued, where the respondent agrees to the order without having to go through a whole hearing or trial.2

You can have a victim advocate in court with you during the hearing and you can talk to that advocate during the trial to help you make decisions that need to be made.3 To find an advocate, go to our GU Advocates and Shelters page. If you will be representing yourself, see the At the Hearing page for ways you can show the judge that you were abused.  For legal help and representation, go to our GU Finding a Lawyer page. 

If you are afraid to go to court, you can request that the court allow you to “appear” in court by telephone, video conference, or by another two-way electronic communication device. In making this decision as to whether to allow it, the judge should consider whether your safety or welfare would be threatened if testimony were required to be provided in person at a proceeding. The same protections also apply to a witness who is called to court to testify.4

1 MR 2.1.3.(B)(2)-(4)
2 MR 2.1.3.(B)(5) 
3 7 Guam Code § 40103(b)
4 7 Guam Code § 40103(c)