Restraining Orders in California: What You Should Know
Restraining orders often become an issue in family law. A restraining order is used by the courts to keep someone from harassing, assaulting, or abusing another person. There are several key facts concerning restraining orders that California residents should be aware of.
Types of Restraining Orders Filed California
There are four types of restraining orders to consider in California:
- Domestic violence orders
- Civil harassment restraining orders
- Elder or dependent adult abuse restraining orders
- Workplace violence restraining orders
Domestic violence restraining orders are appropriate in cases where the restricted individual and the protected person have been involved intimately. Spouses, ex-spouses, intimate partners, and former intimate partners are all included. Biological family members may also obtain domestic violence restraining orders.
Where the individuals involved do not have an intimate connection, civil harassment restraining orders apply. These orders may apply to roommates, work colleagues, or strangers who may display unwelcome attention to an individual.
What Types of Behaviors Do Restraining Orders Prevent?
- Physical contact. Protective orders in California safeguard victims from being physically approached by the other person at their homes, places of employment, educational institutions, vehicles, and other places.
- Personal contact. Restraining orders not only ban individuals from physically being in close contact with the person who is protected but also prevents the restricted person from participating in other forms of personal contact. These contact avenues include calling, texting, emailing, threatening, stalking, harassing, and damaging personal items.
- Moving out of shared premises. When a living arrangement becomes unsafe, a restraining order may be used to force someone to leave a house or apartment that they share with the protected person.
What Are the Consequences of Restraining Order Noncompliance?
If a judge issues a restraining order and the restricted individual does not follow it, they could get charged with contempt of court and become subject to civil or criminal consequences, including fines and prison time.
Contact The Berman Law Group for More Information About Restraining Orders
If you need legal help for a domestic abuse situation, such as a restraining order or protection order for yourself or your family, please contact the Los Angeles family law experts at The Berman Law Group. We have expertise in all fields of family law, including domestic abuse and restraining orders. Please consult our family law professionals about your case for more information about how you may be legally protected in a domestic abuse scenario. Call us today at (310) 788-3837—we can help.
We serve Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, and the surrounding Greater Los Angeles communities.