Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

Santa Cruz Criminal Defense Attorney

A Domestic Violence Restraining Order is a court order that can help protect you from abuse.  Abuse includes hitting, kicking, hurting, scaring, throwing things, pulling hair, pushing, following, harassing, sexually assaulting and threatening.  Abuse is spoken abuse, written abuse or physical abuse.  You can get a domestic violence restraining order if you have a close relationship with the person you are seeking a restraining order against.  A close relationship includes a person you are married to, divorced or separated from, registered domestic partner, dating or used to date, live together or used to live together or you are related to, for instance parent, child, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, in-law.  A Domestic Violence Restraining Order can order the restrained person not to contact or go near you, your children, other relatives or others who live with you. The order can order the person not to have a gun. The order can order  the person to move out of your house. The first (temporary) order lasts until your next court date.  The order at the Domestic Violence Restraining Order hearing can last for up to five years.  If you need assistance to obtain a Domestic Violence Restraining Order, contact The Christine McGuire Law Office.