Manassas Protective Order Assistance: Secure Your Safety

Compassionate Legal Advocacy for Protective Orders in Manassas

Protective orders, also known as Restraining Orders, are designed to keep an individual safe from the violent and threatening behavior of an abuser. Being in a situation when you feel like you are always facing the threat of violence is not something you should live with. The compassionate and skilled legal team at Sandground, West, Silek, Raminpour & Wright, PLC in Manassas, can help you pursue a protective order, so you can feel safe and at ease.

Contact Our Manassas Law Office today at (703) 420-7011 for a Protective Order Consultation.

Understanding Family Abuse and Protective Orders in Virginia

In Virginia, family abuse occurs when a member of one’s household or family commits an act of force, violence, or threat that causes physical injuries or makes one reasonably fear bodily injury, sexual assault, or death. Examples of family abuse include sexual assault, forceful detention, stalking, violence towards a family pet, threats to harm, or other criminal offenses that can potentially result in injuries.

Types of Protective Orders: Emergency, Preliminary, and Final

There are three types of protective orders:

• Emergency Protective Order (EPO): Immediate Safety Measures

Much like the name suggests, an emergency protective order provides immediate protection. Most Emergency Protective Orders are issued by police officers when they respond to a domestic violence call. However, an EPO can be obtained after business hours or on weekends when the courthouse is closed. Emergency protective orders expire at the end of the third day after issuance.

• Preliminary Protective Order (PPO): Setting the Stage for Safety

Typically, a protective order is obtained by requesting a Petition at Juvenile Intake. If the Petitioner satisfies the legal requirements for a Protective Order, the Juvenile Intake office will ensure that it is filed with the Court. In many instances, courts will hear the request for a PPO on the same day it is filed. The hearing for the PPO is ex-parte, meaning that the abuser will not be present at the hearing for the PPO. If the court agrees that there is sufficient evidence based on the sworn testimony of the victim, the Court can grant the PPO for up to 15 days and will set the case for a final hearing within that 15-day timeframe. The PPO will have to be served on the abuser and the abuser will be notified of the hearing date for the final protective order.