Commonly issued in cases of domestic violence, injunctions are used to petition the court for an order prohibiting a person from doing something. Alternatively referred to as restraining orders, injunctions are used to prevent domestic violence, abuse, stalking, harassment, and more. When a petition for injunction is initially filed, a court may enter a temporary injunction pending final hearing within the next 24 hours. If the judge enters a temporary injunction, the respondent is then served with the injunction paperwork by the local sheriff’s office. The respondent must follow the terms of the temporary injunction until the date of the final hearing, at which point, the Judge will decide whether there is sufficient evidence and testimony to warrant a final injunction. If an injunction is entered, the respondent must abide by all the terms on the injunction until it expires. However, either party may file a motion to extend or terminate the injunction depending on the circumstances.
If you are a victim of domestic violence and wish to file an injunction, or if you have been served with a temporary injunction, call us right away!