Understanding Protective Orders: What You Need to Know
I’m Tulsa Divorce Attorney Palmer Johnson. Welcome to my video series where I address frequently asked questions I get from my family law clients. Today I want to talk about protective orders. In particular, I want to address the question, do I get an advantage in the divorce case if I go and get a protective order against the other side?
What I would say to that is, you should only go seek protective orders if you really need them. Most of the time when they’re sought for, I think, questionable reasons, what I find is that they’re a pain, even for the person who thinks that it gave them an advantage in the child custody case, because they go both ways. You cannot communicate directly with either parent until you get to typically some kind of show cause type hearing after they consolidate the protective order into your divorce case. It can really cause a lot of expense and added drama, I think, in cases where it’s not necessary because the other party is not actually afraid or scared of the other party.
Importance of Seeking Protective Orders
Now, that aside, there are certainly instances where protective orders are necessary things to seek, important remedies to seek, if you’ve been a victim of domestic violence and ongoing abuse. Although it’s just a piece of paper, it does give you some validity to call the police and report violations, things that you can do to keep yourself safe and potentially your children safe. I’m not saying never to a protective order, but I’m saying I think people should think carefully about the circumstances, why they’re asking the court for it, and whether or not they are sincere in their positions, because I think it’s a fairly unfair thing to do to the other parent if it’s not justified.
Contact Us for a Consultation
If you have questions about family law matters or the possibility that you might need to seek a protective order, contact me at moms.law or call 918-770-7117 to schedule your low-cost personal consultation. Let us help you navigate the complexities of family law and protect your rights.