Seattle Family Law and Protection Orders

If you are in immediate danger of domestic violence, call 911. If you need a court order protecting you and/or your children from domestic violence, call a Seattle family law attorney.

Domestic violence is a serious problem. Once violence occurs in a relationship, statistics show that it likely will happen again. While there are many available resources for families experiencing violence, a Seattle family law attorney can get you a court order which prevents contact between an abuser and persons who need protection from the abuser.

Under Seattle family law , a person may seek an order of protection by filing a petition with the court alleging that the person has been the victim of domestic violence. The court will grant a temporary order even without the respondent (the restrained person) present; however, the order must be properly served upon the respondent in order for the order to be valid, and a hearing must occur within fourteen days. The criteria that the court will consider when deciding whether to grant an order of protection is somewhat complex and should be explained by a competent attorney familiar with Seattle family law.

When a court grants an order of protection there are various Seattle family law remedies that it may instill. An order of protection may prevent contact between the parties, exclude one party from the family home, order the payment of fees, order a person to attend violence counseling, order supervised visitation between the respondent and children, or any other remedy which the court deems necessary.

Although the technicalities of orders of protection are complicated, the process to get one is not. There are provisions within Seattle family law to assist persons seeking an order of protection. The King County Superior Court offers no-cost facilitators to guide people through the process, and in many cases no filing or service fees are required.

Of course, safety is the most important goal of protection orders; therefore, the court makes it easy for people in need of an order to get one without a lawyer. However, entering a protection order is a big step—albeit often a necessary step—in the life of a family. A competent Seattle family law attorney will advise you about the strengths and weaknesses of getting a protection order and how it will affect future litigation. McKinley Irvin attorneys, Seattle family law specialists, offer protection order services with intensity and discretion. Our lawyers have handled hundreds of protection order cases and are thoroughly familiar with all areas of Seattle family law.

The author is a seattle family law attorney law student. please visit mckinleyirvin.com for more details.