Domestic Violence Attorney in Washington State

What is a Protection Order?

Protection Orders are civil orders that involve domestic violence, sexual assault, or other serious matter. These can involve spouses, significant others, boyfriends/girlfriends, roommates, or similar. The prior relationship does not necessarily have to be intimate.

What are Anti-Harassment or Stalking Orders?

Anti-Harassment or Stalking Orders are civil orders that involve harassment, stalking, electronic surveillance, bullying, or related behaviors designed to significantly annoy or distress an individual.

What are Restraining Orders?

Restraining Orders are civil orders obtained within a domestic relations case, such as a divorce or legal separation. These orders can forbid various behaviors based on circumstance (such as do not disturb), and they can be mutually binding on both parties.

What are No Contact Orders?

No Contact Orders are criminal orders only issued in criminal cases. Generally, their terms are harsher than other protective orders and may be sought only by the State or County prosecutor.

I am being stalked or harassed by someone. What can I do?

If you are being followed or harassed by another person, the courts can protect you.

In any protection matter, start by assembling a clear timeline of events. When did the person first contact you? When did you first tell them to stop or leave you alone? Have you been injured? How many times have you felt unsafe since? Do you have any photo evidence or documents to support your narrative?  A strong chronology will help you get the protection you need.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is legally defined in Washington state as physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of the same. This can also include emotional or financial abuse.

Domestic violence is not gender specific and can be committed by anyone. If you are experiencing domestic violence, you absolutely deserve safety.

Can I be protected from a physical abuser?

Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPO) are issued by the court to protect a petitioner and/or child, depending on the nature and circumstances of the facts involved in your case. Orders can restrain the abuser from certain actions, locations, behaviors, or individuals, and will subject them to arrest should the order be violated.

How long will a Protective Order last?

Usually a protective order will last one year. If a DVPO is about to expire after running it course, one can petition to have it renewed if the safety concerns remain.

The individual facts and circumstance are critical to determining your options to protect yourself. We strongly recommend getting in touch.

My abuser is an intimate partner, and I may be getting divorced soon. How will this change the process?

Protection orders can be sought independently, but they can also be requested as part of a dissolution or legal separation filing. If granted, a domestic violence finding can greatly impact the guilty party’s ability to seek full custody of any children. Speak to our team if you are also looking for a dissolution or legal separation, and look at our separation information pages.

I was served with a Temporary Protection Order. What is it?

A Temporary Protection Order is an order entered for a short period of time before the dispute can be adjudicated. Often, they are used to protect individuals in potential emergency circumstances and only last until a full hearing can be set and heard. About two weeks.

If you are served with a Petition and a Temporary Protection Order, it is critical you read it carefully and understand its requirements. You only have a limited period to respond, so consulting with an attorney quickly is strongly advised.

The allegations against me are false. How can I clear my name?

The defense you can mount depends on the facts available and the claims the Petitioner has made. Are there any witnesses? What documentation has the Petitioner given to the court? The key to any defense is locating the weaknesses and inconsistencies in the opposing story. Our office would be happy to

What happens if I violate a protective order?

The consequences of violating a protective order will vary based on the type of order, the circumstances, the language of order, and other factors. In general, a violation can subject the violator to arrest and incarceration. We strongly advise against even the appearance of a violation, even an accidental one.

There is currently a standing protective order against me. The protected person is inviting me to violate the order’s terms. May I do so?

It is the restricted individual’s sole responsibility to adhere to a protective order even if the protected party invites you to violate it. However, if a protected person is intentionally trying to bait you into violating an order or using the protection as a weapon to disrupt your life in bad faith, you may have recourse to modify the terms of the order.

How long does a civil protective order last?

Protective orders typically they last for one year. The Petitioner can later ask the court to extend a protective order if they can somehow demonstrate that the danger is ongoing.