If you watch the news or television family dramas, you may think that women are the only victims of domestic abuse and in need of protection orders. In fact, some women can very well be the aggressors, requiring the man in their life to seek a protective order. In the legal system, protection orders are just as available to a man who is a victim of or threatened with violence as the orders are available to women.

What is a Protection Order?

An Order of Protection, also called a Restraining Order or an Injunction, is a court order that restricts the behavior and actions of a person who is alleged to have been violent or made threats of violence against another person. The person seeking the order is called the Petitioner. The person alleged to have been violent or to have made threats of violence is the Respondent.

Benefits of a Protection Order

If a man has been abused or is being threatened with abuse, he owes it to himself and the safety of his children or other family members to seek protection from the court. When the court grants the petition and issues a protective order, the order places certain restrictions on the respondent. Common types of restrictions embodied in the order include:

• The respondent must stay a certain distance, usually 500 feet, from the petitioner’s home, place of employment or other place petitioner frequents.

• Respondent must stay at least 100 feet from the petitioner’s automobile.

• Respondent must not have any contact, telephone, text or otherwise with the petitioner.

If the respondent violates the order, the petitioner can call the police and the respondent may be taken into custody and/or criminal charges may be filed. Sometimes, men feel they can take care of threatened abuse without court protection. For the well-being of yourself, your children and/or other family members, you may need an order of protection.

Situations that may require a Protection Order

If you have been the object of any of the following actions, you may need the protection of the court:

• Harassment

• Stalking

• Abuse

• Assault

You do not have to wait to suffer actual harm. If harm has been threatened, you need the protection of the court.

Professional Legal Assistance Will Help You Prepare Your Petition

Orders of Protection are not easy to get. The Petitioner must present specific evidence of harm that has occurred in the past or of the threats that have been made for future harm. The court will want you to provide specific details such as:

• The nature of the threatening behavior as well as when and how it occurred. Be specific about what the behavior consisted of and why it was threatening.

• List dates and number of times you received threatening or harassing phone calls. If you have any recordings of them, provide them to the court.

• If you have any medical reports or photos to substantiate the abuse, attach them to the petition.

At Kenny Leigh & Associates, we limit our practice exclusively to representing men in family law proceedings. We have years of experience in preparing petitions for orders of protection and know what information and evidence needs to be presented to the court. In addition to divorce lawyers in Jacksonville, we have offices in Fleming Island, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Boca Raton and Ocala, FL and are ready to help you protect yourself and your family.