Considering Orders of Protection

If you and your children have suffered at the hands of an abuser, it is time to consider orders of protection. This is a legal order given out by the court system in order to protect your family, and even demand that the abuser stop all contact with your family.

Depending on what state you live in, you can obtain an order of protection from a criminal court, family court or the supreme court. If you are obtaining an order as part of your divorce settlement, it is possible to get a temporary order until your first court hearing. At that point, the judge will listen to both sides to determine whether a permanent order is necessary.

Even though it is referred to as a permanent order of protection, it actually lasts anywhere from 2 to 5 years. When it is set to expire, you will be expected to return to court if you wish to keep the order of protection active.

Have additional questions about orders of protection?   Contact us to discuss your options with a Long Island family lawyer.