How an Order of Protection Can Affect Your Life

 Posted on January 08, 2025 in Domestic Violence

Orders of protection can be an essential tool for survivors of serious domestic violence who are trying to leave their abusers. However, orders of protection can easily be abused by people who are simply angry at a current or past romantic partner after a breakup or big fight. Civil orders of protection are often issued based only on the petitioner’s accusations, with no solid evidence that the defendant was ever abusive. Even when orders of protection are issued during a criminal domestic violence case, they can still be based on the same unproven accusations that led to the charges. If an order of protection has been issued against you, you must follow every requirement listed in the order to avoid being arrested, no matter how inconvenient it may be. You should contact an experienced Towson, MD orders of protection attorney as soon as you find out someone has asked the court for an order of protection against you.

An Order of Protection Can Lead to Immediate Homelessness 

One of the biggest ways an order of protection can impact your life is by forcing you out of your home. If you lived together with the protected party, an order of protection can tell you to vacate the home immediately. It does not matter if the home is in your name if the alleged victim also resides there. You, as the alleged abuser, will be the one required to leave.

From the moment you are served with the order of protection, you cannot return to the residence you shared with the protected party. There is often no warning and no opportunity to pack your things or arrange a place to stay. You will need to arrange to have the police escort you to collect a few essential belongings, which may take several days. Finding temporary accommodations can be challenging, especially if you are on a tight budget or have criminal charges looming.

Orders of Protection Restrict Where You Can Go 

Orders of protection prevent you from going to the alleged victim’s home, workplace, or school. Avoiding these places can be more problematic for some than others, depending on whether the protected party works in a place you have legitimate reasons to be.

You are also required to leave if you happen to run into the protected party by chance. This is often a problem for defendants who were previously in a relationship with the other party, as they tend to frequent the same places and share the same social circles. If you know that you are likely to find the protected party in a particular place, such as a favorite bar on a Friday night, you should avoid going there, even if your friends are usually there. You may no longer be able to participate in clubs or organized social activities that used to be important to you. This can lead to feelings of social isolation if your social life was entwined with the protected party’s.

Contact a Towson, MD Orders of Protection Defense Attorney

Seger Law, LLC is committed to protecting the rights of people who have had an order of protection issued against them. Aggressive Baltimore County, MD domestic violence lawyer Chelsey Seger will fight to keep an unjust restraining order from interfering with your life. Contact us at 443-208-4692 for a complimentary consultation.