Orders of protection are a restrictive means to put legal space and distance between individuals.  Truly if you or your loved ones are in imminent danger, call the police and do not wait to speak to a lawyer about orders of protection.  We help those with civil orders of protection (sometimes called “restraining orders”), which are not prosecuted by the state’s attorney, nor are they treated as a criminal case with the rights associated with criminal defendants.  Civil orders of protection, however, are usually gotten on an emergency basis initially, which often means that the person against whom the order of protection is sought will not know about it until they are served with it.  If the parties live together, the one who gets served usually must immediately find a new place to live, even if it is only temporary.  Such orders are necessary to prevent violence, harm, harassment and damage, but they do disrupt the lives of everyone involved.  They can be an expensive diversion in a family law case, even if they are sometimes very necessary. 

We will help you assess if obtaining an order of protection is best for your family or whether there are alternatives in your situation. If you are the one who has to answer to the order of protection served upon you, we can help you work through a defense to it and perhaps alternative solutions.