There is nothing wrong with choosing to protect yourself or your family from someone who has made you feel unsafe or taken actions to hurt you. Above all, your priority should be the ongoing safety of your loved ones. Getting a protection order can be one of the most reliable ways to maintain constant legal protection, though getting one may be easier said than done. You may ask: How do you get a protection order in Washington? It starts with speaking to a good lawyer.
Washington protection order laws can be tough to navigate on your own without help from an experienced protection order attorney. It’s highly recommended that you hire a protection order lawyer to walk you through your options, provide you with reassurance, and take control of your protection order case. Our firm can give you guidance, legal protection, and a plan to pursue a protection order the right way. We know what kind of help you are going to need.
What Is a Protection Order?
A protection order is a civil court order that requires a harasser or abuser to stay away from their targeted victim and stop contacting them. If the subject of a protection order violates the order, it’s considered a criminal offense that can immediately lead to the person’s arrest. In Washington, a protection order is not the same as a restraining order, which is issued as part of an ongoing family law case. Protection orders for immediate safety.
Protection orders are common throughout Washington state. In King County alone, there’s an average of 3,309 civil cases filed each month, with many of them involving protection orders. Statewide, there were 19,598 instances of protection order violations that resulted in arrests. One in eight adults in the state admits to experiencing intimate partner violence. Hiring a protection order lawyer can be the most important decision you make for your case.
Hire a Protection Order Lawyer
If you want to file a protection order in Washington, you need to meet several specific requirements. There are many kinds of protection orders that you can apply for, and it’s important that you meet the requirements for the one that fits your immediate needs. There won’t be any filing fees for any domestic violence order, sexual assault order, or stalking order. Here are some ways that a good lawyer can assist you with getting a protection order:
- Determining the correct order. The state of Washington has many different versions of a protection order, and you may only need one of them. A restraining order in a divorce case is a separate tool that works in a different way. Filing for the wrong protection order can result in your request getting dismissed, which may only waste your time. A good lawyer can help you file the right paperwork for whichever order you need.
- Streamlining service. The protection order, once granted, needs to be served on the right person you are trying to defend yourself against. That process can sometimes be difficult, especially if that person is trying to dodge personal service. You may want to leave this up to your lawyer, who can request electronic service if necessary.
- Disputing unfair claims. When you pursue a protection order, and the other party is served, they may try to turn it around on you and claim that nothing happened. They may even try to paint you as the aggressor. A good lawyer can present evidence to refute those claims and shut down any attempt to reframe the case with you as the villain.
- Building your case. This can sometimes be the hardest part of seeking a protection order. If you’re scared of someone trying to hurt you, it can be difficult to build a case for a protection order on your own. A protection order lawyer can compile police reports, gather your medical records, collect witness statements, and make sure your case meets the legal burden of proof before you move forward with filing for the order.
- Handling a hearing. One of the most important things a protection order lawyer can do for you is advocate on your behalf. Standing up for yourself legally can be overwhelming in a situation like this. Your lawyer can prioritize your safety, argue for necessary restrictions, and protect you legally when it may be too much for you to protect yourself.
- Reapplying. There may be several reasons why the court denies your initial protection order request. It could be a paperwork error. You could have less credible evidence than you thought. Regardless, your lawyer can help you gather additional evidence and reapply if another incident occurs.
Pursuing a protection order can be difficult for you in more ways than one. You must determine which type of protection order you need, and you must navigate the state’s filing requirements while also struggling to protect your loved ones from your abuser or harasser. At Chvatal King Cantu Law, we can bring decades of family law experience to your case and help you do what’s necessary to file the right paperwork and get your protection order.
Washington Protection Order Lawyer
Standing up for your own safety can be hard to do when you don’t know or understand the legal processes that exist to protect you. Waiting it out may not be an option for you, especially if the target of your desired protection order has already hurt you or your loved ones, or even tried to. Hiring a protection order lawyer to help you navigate a legal process that may be painful for you can end up being the most important decision you make for yourself during this ordeal.
The last thing you want is for your protection order to be denied because your case wasn’t strong enough. The help of a skilled, experienced family lawyer cannot be overstated in a situation like this. At Chvatal King Cantu Law, we can guide your case in the right direction and keep you from being taken advantage of. Contact us to speak with someone who can help. Our knowledge and experience can give you the confidence needed to navigate the legal road ahead.
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