If you have been served with a temporary restraining order or TRO for alleged harassment, domestic violence, or stalking, you have ten days to prevent a possible issuance of a final restraining order (FRO). Either order can severely interfere with your life by causing financial troubles and prohibiting you from contacting your children. And a violation of these orders can lead to serious consequences. Because of this, you should consider hiring a restraining order defense lawyer who will defend you against the charges you are facing and fight the FRO.
What to Expect When a Restraining Order is Issued Against You
In New Jersey, domestic violence is taken seriously and the law provides extensive protection to alleged victims. One of these protections is a TRO. If you do not have legal representation, you can be issued a FRO, which does not expire. Violating a FRO can result in criminal and civil sanctions that can put you in jail and leave you facing fines and penalties. Keep in mind that you can violate the order even if you do not know about it when you come into contact with the protected person accidentally, and if the petitioner initiated the contact. In addition, a restraining order can prohibit you from possessing or owning any type of firearm, restrict access to certain properties (solely and jointly owned), and require you to pay the rent of the petitioner. Sadly, it can also mean that you cannot contact or have limited contact with your children. And if the alleged victim demands compensation for the pain and suffering you caused them, you could be required to pay the cost.
Building Your Defenses
A reliable attorney has a defense team that offers knowledgeable and aggressive legal counsel to those who are a subject of a restraining order. If you have been accused of domestic violence charges that have or may have resulted in a court-issued order, a lawyer should be able to help you devise an effective defense. Their extensive experience in restraining order cases and are ready to counsel you on how to prevent an order from being issued by the court. They can guide you as you navigate through the state’s legal system. Your attorney may dispute the validity of the order or negotiate to have some conditions of the order changed or dropped. Either way, you have a great chance of getting favorable results when you face the charges against you with skilled representation.
