What protections can I get in a domestic violence or dating violence protection order?
An ex parte order and a final protection order may:
- order the abuser to refrain from abusing, harassing, and annoying you;
- order the abuser to have no contact with you or your children;
- keep the abuser from entering your home, school, business or place of employment, or those of your children;
- evict the abuser and award you possession of the residence, even if the residence is owned by the abuser;
- award you custody of your child;
- require the abuser to pay you monthly support;
- require the abuser to pay rent, mortgage, and/or utility payments;
- require the abuser to see a counselor;
- order that the respondent not remove, damage, hide, harm, or get rid of any companion animal owned or possessed by you (and the judge can allow you to remove your companion animal from the possession of the abuser);
- grant you use of motor vehicle and other possessions;1
- direct a wireless service provider to transfer the rights to, and billing responsibility for, any wireless service (cell phone) number(s) that you or any minor children in your case use if you are not already the account holder;2 and
- grant any other relief that the court considers reasonable and fair.1
Whether a judge orders any or all of the above depends on the facts of your case.
1 Ohio Rev. Code § 3113.31(E)(1)
2 Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3113.31(E)(1)(k); 3113.451