Domestic violence is a serious and urgent matter. If you or your child is experiencing family violence in Austin, Texas, a skilled family law attorney can help you pursue a protective order to safeguard your well-being.
At Kazen Family Law & Divorce Lawyers, we provide strong legal representation for clients seeking protective orders. Our founding attorney, David A. Kazen, brings over 29 years of experience in family law. He is Board Certified in Family Law—a distinction he has held for 19 years.
Contact Kazen Family Law & Divorce Lawyers today at (512) 236-1315 to schedule a confidential consultation with a trusted Austin protective order lawyer.
Obtaining a protective order is the first step in protecting yourself and your family from family violence. You may need to pursue a divorce, child custody, and other related matters through the family court. Kazen Family Law & Divorce Lawyers can help you with all matters related to domestic violence and protection orders.
When you hire us, you can trust that our legal team will:
Call now to schedule a free case review with an Austin family law lawyer.
Protective orders are civil court orders that prohibit continuing acts of family violence. The Texas Family Code gives courts the authority to issue protective orders for family violence.
A person may be eligible for a protective order if:
Even though a civil court issued the order, the police can enforce a protective order. Violations of the protective orders could result in criminal penalties.
There are three types of protective orders the courts may issue.
Protective orders in Texas include:
Ex parte orders are issued without notifying the other party. Temporary protective orders are issued when the petitioner is at risk of ongoing family violence. The petitioner must provide evidence of a clear and present danger for the court to issue a protective order without informing the other party of the request.
Temporary ex parte protective orders are valid for up to 20 days. The court will schedule a hearing within that time. Both parties have the opportunity to present evidence arguing in favor of or against a final protective order.
Final protective orders are issued after a hearing at which the petitioner and the alleged abuser have the chance to present their case to the court. The court must determine that family violence has occurred to issue a final protective order.
Protective orders may be issued for up to two years.
The court may include numerous terms that the abuser must obey, including, but not limited to:
A protective order is usually effective for two years. It is possible to remove a protective order, but you would need to petition the court to drop the protective order. It is ultimately up to the judge whether to remove the order.
A magistrate’s emergency protective order (MEPO) differs from a protective order issued by the family court. A MEPO is issued as part of a pending criminal case. The alleged abuser must have been arrested for family violence for a magistrate to issue a protective order.
The duration of an MEPO is usually 31 to 61 days. The court may issue an order for up to 91 days if the alleged abuser used a deadly weapon to commit assault or domestic violence.
Whether you are seeking a protective order or defending yourself against allegations of family violence, you need experienced legal counsel. Our legal team at Kazen Family Law & Divorce Lawyers stands ready to help you protect your best interests. Call our office today to schedule a confidential consultation with an Austin protective order attorney to discuss your legal options.
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Kazen Family Law & Divorce Lawyers
609 W 9th St Suite 101, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 236-1315
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