What is a Domestic Violence Restraining Order?

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A Restraining Order is a court order. It can require the person to stop threatening a person with whom he or she has a close relationship, or beating him or her, or his or her children, or the people who live with him or her. Restraining Orders can also tell someone to:

• stop calling,
• move out,
• stay away from where the person seeking protection lives or works,
• give up a gun,
• limit the time he or she spends with their children,
• pay certain bills,
• pay child support,
• release or return certain property, or
• pay some or all of the attorney fees for the person seeking protection.

If a person seeking protection gets a Restraining Order, he or she can ask a police officer, sheriff's deputy, or other law enforcement officer to make the person to be restrained do what the Order says.

These Orders can last for as little as a week, or as long as five years.

NOTE:  If someone gets a Restraining Order, he or she should be ready to not see or talk to the person to be restrained as long as the Restraining Order is in effect.

 

 To learn how to get a Domestic Restraining Order, click here.

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