Generally, when someone comes to see me asking about restraining orders, it’s because there’s been some instance of domestic violence. Sadly, some sort of criminal activity between the parties has occurred (either inside or outside the home).
One person may have gone to family court, made a complaint and filed a petition for a family offense that the other person has committed against them, which is a violation of the law. The allegation may involve harassment, assault, stalking, or something like that. Once a complaint has been issued, the court will generally issue a temporary restraining order that directs the offending party to either stay away from the other person or not to commit any more offensive acts.
At that point, the matter is no longer simply one person’s complaint saying, “My spouse (or my boyfriend or my girlfriend) is committing some sort of activity against me. Once a judge issues an order that says, “You can’t do that,” violation of that order would no longer simply be an offense against the other party. Instead, you would actually be violating an order of the court, and that has very serious consequences and implications. If you are faced with a restraining order, you surely want clear advice as to what you can and can’t do.
Are you or a loved one facing a restraining order? Contact experienced Buffalo Domestic Violence Lawyer Michael Ranzenhofer for compassionate representation. Our award-winning attorneys have over 70 years of combined experience helping New York residents with a wide variety of legal matters. Contact us today and let our experience work for you.
This educational legal blog was brought to you by Michael Ranzenhofer, an experienced Buffalo Domestic Violence Attorney.