If you have been served with an order of protection (also known as a restraining order), it is vital that you immediately seek a skilled and qualified St. Louis Order of Protection lawyer. Once you have been served with an ex parte order of protection, the Court will typically conduct a hearing within 15 days to determine whether a full order of protection will be entered against you. Because of the swift nature of these types of cases, once you are served with an ex parte order of protection, it is important that you immediately contact an attorney to protect your rights.
In many cases, a disgruntled boyfriend or girlfriend is seeking revenge by filing for an order of protection. In some cases, an angry neighbor or co-worker may want to get back at you. Perhaps your wife or husband has even filed for an order of protection against you to “punish” you. Sadly, these kinds of malicious and vindictive strategies are employed all too often. Unfortunately, if you are on the wrong end of these spiteful tactics, you must defend yourself and protect your rights.
After an ex parte order of protection is entered against you and you have been served, a hearing is usually held within two weeks to determine whether a full order of protection will be ordered. At the hearing, you will have an opportunity to present your side of the story. Additionally, as your St. Louis order of protection attorney, we will appear in court with you and vigorously cross-examine the complaining party. The lawyers of Henderson Law Group will aggressively attempt to undermine the complaining party’s version of events. At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge will either enter a full order of protection or deny the order of protection.
If the judge enters a full order of protection, it can include several provisions. This may include temporarily enjoining the Respondent from communicating in any way with the complaining party, being at the same place as the complaining party, entering the home of the complaining party, among many other possible provisions. The judge will typically enter the full order of protection for 6 months or even a year. If you violate any of the judge’s orders, you can and will be arrested for violating the order of protection.
If you have been accused of intimidation, stalking, harassment, or domestic abuse, it is vital that you contact a qualified and skilled St. Louis Order of Protection lawyer today to defend your rights. At Henderson Law Group, we will aggressively fight to protect those rights. Call us today for free consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.