Restraining Orders Can Be Used or Abused in Divorce
A civil protection order is a restraining order that prohibits someone — a spouse, family member or other member of your household — from having any contact with you following an incident or threat of domestic violence.
What Are the Implications of a Civil Protection Order?
If a member of your household obtains a civil protection order against you, the court can order you out of the residence and bar you from coming within 500 feet of the person who is protected by the order. If you are married and or there are children involved, the court may award temporary custody, child support and spousal support to the protected party and bar you from having any contact with the children. The court may also order you to turn over and bar you from possessing any firearms. Violation of any of the terms of the CPO may result in your immediate arrest.
While CPOs are sometimes necessary to protect a person from violence, there are occasions when false accusations are made in order to kick a spouse out of the house during a divorce action or to get the upper hand in a child custody dispute. For the person who is subject to a protection order, the effects can be devastating. You may be forced out of your home, your relationship with your children may be disrupted, and even your job may be affected.
At the law firm of Sowald Sowald Anderson & Hawley in Columbus, Ohio, our lawyers represent men and women seeking civil protection orders to protect themselves from an abusive spouse or family member, as well as men and women accused of domestic violence. We also defend people who face allegations of domestic violence.
Schedule a Consultation With One of Our Attorneys
To schedule a consultation about civil protection orders with a lawyer at Sowald Sowald Anderson & Hawley, call 888-609-8912 or fill out the contact form on this Web site. Our law office is located on Fifth Street in downtown Columbus.
