Abuse has no gender; any person can commit an act of violence against another. This violence can be physical, mental, verbal, and/or emotional, and it can be committed by either spouse. If you have been abused, threatened, or otherwise mistreated by your spouse, you can take legal steps to protect yourself.
When filing a restraining order, a violent action is defined as:
If you have been the victim of abuse, the first thing you must do is immediately remove yourself from the situation. If you are able, go to the nearest police station to make an official statement.
If the instance of violence was severe enough, you can request a temporary restraining order that will go into effect immediately. This is known as an ex parte temporary injunction, and it lasts until you can go before a court. Once you are safe, contact an attorney experienced in filing restraining orders.
Upon filing the petition, a judge will make one of 3 decisions:
Florida separates protection orders into 4 distinct categories:
For a court to issue an order, you must establish that you have a reasonable fear of violence.
At Dale L. Bernstein, Chartered Law Office, our restraining order attorney will help you defend your rights and protect all members of an aggressed party. We will do everything we can to advocate for your best interests and apply the correct restraining order to your situation.
For an appointment, call our firm today at (727) 312-1112 or contact us online.