Restraining Orders in Florida
Domestic Violence Attorney in Ocala
Domestic violence, in Florida, is defined as any battery, assault, sexual assault, sexual
battery, kidnapping, stalking, or other criminal offense that results
in the physical injury or death of a family or household member committed
by another family or household member. If you are the victim of domestic
violence, you can apply for a restraining order or an injunction against
domestic violence.
At the law office of Ami L. DiLorenzo, P.A., we are serious about domestic
violence and will act aggressively to protect you and your rights.
Contact us today for a free consultation at (352) 437-2200.
Restraining Orders and Injunctions Available
There are two types of injunctions against domestic violence in the state
of Florida: temporary injunctions and final injunctions.
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Temporary Injunctions: Also referred to as an ex parte injunction, this court order is intended
to provide a petitioner or other members of the family with immediate
protection from an abuser. Upon filing a petition for protection against
domestic violence, a clerk will give the petition to a judge who will
decide if there is an immediate danger of domestic violence. It will take
effect as soon as the abuser is served with a copy of the order. It will
not last more than 15 days unless a judge grants a continuance.
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Final Injunctions: At the full hearing, which will take place before the 15 days end on the
temporary injunction, a judge will decide whether a final injunction is
warranted. If granted, the final injunction could last more than 15 days,
providing more protection than the temporary injunction. It is possible
for it to either have a set period or no expiration date at all. If there
is no expiration date, the abuser can request the court to modify or dissolve
it, which a judge may or may not grant, depending on the circumstances.
In addition to restraining orders against domestic violence, Florida provides
four other types of restraining orders:
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Repeat Violence Injunctions: Restraining orders against domestic violence only protects victims who
face violence or abuse at the hands of family members. Repeat violence
restraining orders, however, provide protection in situations where an
abuser is neither a family member nor a member of the household. If anyone
commits two or more violent acts or stalks an individual or an immediate
family member and one of those acts was committed within the past six
months, that person would be eligible for this type of restraining order.
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Dating Violence Injunctions: Similar to domestic violence restraining orders, this type of restraining
order is for situations wherein the victim is facing abuse at the hands
of someone who is not a member of the household, but someone with whom
the victim has or has had a romantic relationship with within the past
six months. If a girlfriend or boyfriend committed any act of violence
against his or her partner, or has given the partner reason to believe
he or she is in immediate danger, a dating violence restraining order
can provide some protection.
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Sexual Violence Injunctions: Regardless if the victim was in a relationship with the perpetrator within
the past six months, if anyone commits any act of sexual violence against
another, the victim is eligible for a sexual violence restraining order.
Given that sexual violence is an incredibly broad category, the key requirement
to obtain this restraining order is that the victim must have reported
the incident to law enforcement officials and cooperate with a criminal
investigation.
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Stalking or Cyberstalking Injunctions: In the state of Florida, stalking is defined as repeated, malicious harassment
that has no purpose other than to cause the victim emotional distress.
Similarly, cyberstalking is defined as repeated electronic communication
that causes emotional distress and does not serve a legitimate purpose.
Harassment can also include issuing threats, the destruction of property,
intentionally harming a pet, and more. As such, there are many situations
that warrant a stalking or cyberstalking restraining order.
How to Obtain a Restraining Order in Florida
Once you decide on the type of restraining order you need, the next step
is to prepare the petition and to file it in court. The petition will
ask for personal information about the petitioner and the respondent,
including the address, current place of employment, information regarding
any children (if applicable), and a physical description of the respondent
to assist police in identifying him or her. The most critical portion
of this petition is the paragraph wherein you are asked to describe the
allegations against the respondent. Once you file the petition, a judge
will review it immediately and, if it meets the requirements under Florida
law, you will be granted a temporary restraining order that is valid for 15 days.
The next step in this process is the court hearing, which is usually scheduled
near the end of your temporary restraining order’s expiration date.
If the respondent cannot be located within this timeframe, the restraining
order will be extended. To prepare for the hearing, you and your attorney
should be working together to gather witnesses, phone records, or any
other evidence pertinent to the situation.
At the hearing, the judge will rule based on facts and evidence presented
and, if the respondent is present, he or she will be given a chance to
cross examine any witnesses or object to the introduction of evidence.
Once both sides rest their case, the judge will rule on the petition and on
custody or visitation issues, if applicable. The restraining order that is granted
can either be for life or for a specified period of time.
Effective Representation in Matters of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence affects the emotional and physical states of the individuals
involved. At the law office of Ami L. DiLorenzo, P.A., we represent both
the petitioning spouse and the respondent in legal proceedings in the
Marion County area and throughout Florida. The process of filing a restraining
order or an injunction can be a difficult and delicate process. Our
Ocala Family Law Attorney is dedicated to finding the best solution for you and your loved ones.
Contact our office today to get started or call (352) 437-2200.