Restraining Orders

The judge will review your petition and might ask you some questions at an ex parte hearing. If you are not in court but rather your attorney is filing the papers for you, the judge can still issue the ex parte order based on what you wrote in your petition. “Ex parte” means without the abuser being notified beforehand or being present in court. The judge can issue an ex parte order if s/he believes that notifying the abuser ahead of time would further endanger the safety and welfare of you or your children. However, if the abuser is already represented by an attorney, then the attorney may need to be notified beforehand.¹

The order will last for up to ten days until the case is set down for a “show cause hearing.”²

You can have a victim advocate in court with you during the hearing.³

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