Northern Virginia Attorney for Protective Orders Issues
Protective orders are powerful tools to protect individuals and families from batterers and predators. You have a right to live without fear for your safety. If you or a loved one is in need of legal protection, contact Alexandria's Christian Curtis, LLC.
Christian Curtis, LLC | 703-879-7729 | E-mail
Protective orders, also called restraining orders in other states, are issued for safety purposes in cases of domestic violence or domestic assault and battery. There are three kinds of protective orders:
- Emergency
- Preliminary
- Permanent
Each has a different duration and is obtained under different circumstances. For example, police making an arrest for domestic violence will automatically get an emergency protective order. If you are the victim of abuse, but no criminal charges have been filed, you can go to court and file a petition for a “preliminary” protective order on your own. If the judge feels what you describe in your sworn affidavit is serious enough, he or she can issue a preliminary protective order that same day, even though the alleged abuser has no knowledge of the proceeding yet. The alleged abuser will be served a copy of the order by a sheriff’s deputy and told to present his side of the story within 15 days. A “permanent” protective order lasts no more than two years, although it can be renewed upon request.
Do not underestimate the gravity of protective orders. If one is issued against you, it can affect your employment, your security clearance, your custodial and property rights, your immigration status, and it can follow you the rest of your life. If you lie to get one, you will be in serious trouble with the court. But if you do need one to protect yourself or your children from an abuser, you must not hesitate. As your lawyer, my duty is to be especially sensitive to these issues.
Contact Christian Curtis, LLC for information about protective orders.
If you are in need of a domestic relations lawyer for family law services ranging from divorce to child support to protective orders, contact Christian Curtis, LLC today for an honest assessment of your situation. You can call me at 703-879-7729 or e-mail me.
