After your spouse or another family member has assaulted you, you may have called the police. Once responding officers showed up, you may have wondered if you should have called them at all. After all, you’re mostly okay and your family member stopped hitting you.
Do not let this incident go by without any documentation or effort to make the violence stop. File a report and ask about an order of protection.
If your spouse has been violent, seek a protective order
It is vital to handle the episode of violence you experienced. Whether your spouse has been escalating their aggression against you, physical violence may only get worse. You need to protect yourself and your children.
Deciding that having such an order is not important only opens the door for future violence. Your spouse has proved that they aren’t afraid to hurt you to get what they want.
How a protective order works
A protective order is a legal document that tells your spouse they cannot have any contact with you for a specific time period. “Contact” means phone calls, going to your place of work to talk to you, standing within 100 to 300 feet of your home, office or any other place where you may be.
A temporary protective order may be in force for a few weeks. You and your spouse go separately to court, where you may want to request a permanent protective order, which may be effective for one year.
The judge may decide to grant a protection order right away if they believe you are in imminent danger.
How to get a temporary protective order
File a petition with family court, explaining why you need an “ex parte” order. If your spouse was arrested, this may give more proof for your need for an order.
Learning more about how to protect yourself with a protective disorder may help you create a new life.
