Dallas Domestic Violence Protective and Restraining Order Lawyer
Domestic Violence Protective and Restraining Order Attorney in
Dallas, TX
Facing domestic violence in Dallas may warrant the need for a protective or restraining order. This court order can keep you and your loved ones safe. At Cruz Arevalo, an experienced Dallas domestic violence protective and restraining order lawyer can navigate the state’s restraining order laws. Our firm can also represent you at the George Allen Court Building in the downtown district, where your case will likely be held. You can trust us to do everything possible to keep you safe.
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Why Hire a Restraining Order Lawyer?
As the growth of cases of domestic violence in Texas is becoming alarming, so has the recent strengthening of the laws relating to protective orders. Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse can occur between family or household members, such as spouses, parents and children, and people who share intimate relationships. This can result in serious injury, disability, or even death.
Domestic violence can also have a profound impact on children who witness or experience the abuse. Victims of domestic violence have legal options to protect themselves and their families, including obtaining a protective order.
We will help you get a family protective order to protect you and your children because you deserve to live safely. At Cruz Arevalo, a seasoned domestic violence protective and restraining order attorney can assert your rights. Our team has over a decade of experience in restraining order cases, helping protect individuals just like you. Whether you’re a resident of Deep Ellum or call Lake Highlands home, you have a right to feel safe from anyone who might wish you harm, including a spouse.
Defining Domestic Violence in Dallas
In 2020, the city of Dallas experienced a sudden increase in the number of felony domestic violence assaults by 13.6%. Domestic violence can happen to anyone, and your safety should come first. Domestic violence can include any form of abuse between:
- Spouses
- Ex-spouses
- Romantic partners
- Ex-romantic partners
- Individuals who share a child together
- Members of a family
- People living under the same roof
Common forms of abuse include:
- Sexual abuse. This can include rape and assault.
- Physical abuse. Such acts could be hitting, punching, kicking, or pushing.
- Isolation abuse. A victim is kept away from or prevented from contacting friends and family by their abuser.
- Emotional abuse. This includes humiliating the victim in front of others, calling the victim names, getting angry in a way that is meant to frighten them, making the victim feel stupid, and refusing to listen to their thoughts and opinions.
- Verbal abuse. This use of threats, intimidation, or other abusive language is meant to keep the victim in submission or compliant with the wishes of the abuser.
- Control abuse. This can include a pattern or act of assault, along with the use of threats, humiliation, or intimidation. These are intended to harm, punish, or frighten the victim.
- Financial abuse. The act of withholding money, stealing funds, or restricting the use or knowledge of finances from the victim constitutes financial abuse.
How a Dallas Domestic Violence Protective and Restraining Orders Attorney Can Help
If you have suffered any of these forms of domestic abuse, the attorneys at Cruz Arevalo can help. Whether you are undergoing a divorce, engaged in a child custody case, or simply needing to be protected from an ex-spouse or partner, we can ensure your safety and that of any involved loved ones. At Cruz Arevalo, our attorneys can aid you in the following ways:
- Represent you in court when seeking a protective or restraining order.
- Offer you the necessary support and legal guidance during a challenging time.
- Connect you with domestic abuse and violence support groups in the Dallas area, who can help you heal from what you’ve experienced.
- Help you seek a legal result that is in the best interest of your children.
- Answer all your questions related to a domestic violence case or the possibility of a protective or restraining order.
- Handle all the complicated legal paperwork involved in your case, making sure all forms and documentation are filled out and filed properly.
In 2023, 205 Texans, including women, men, and children, were killed by someone who claimed to love them. If you are afraid for your own safety or that of your children when seeking a divorce in Dallas, you have a few options. You may either file a request for a standard restraining order, along with your petition for divorce, or you can ask the judge in your overall divorce case to issue a protective order.
At Cruz Arevalo, we can help you pursue either legal option. We offer the legal advocacy necessary to make your case to the judge.
Seeking a Texas Protective or Restraining Order
Your first option when facing any kind of domestic violence in Dallas is to ask for a civil restraining order with an attorney’s assistance. There are two kinds of civil restraining orders you can seek, including:
- Temporary restraining order. A family court judge can issue a temporary restraining order ex parte, meaning you do not have to go through a formal court hearing to obtain this order. They are often granted if there is good cause and adequate proof that such a restraining order is necessary. These orders will typically last until a hearing can occur, where the judge can see if further protections are warranted.
- Final restraining order. A final restraining order will usually happen at a final hearing. The judge involved can extend an existing temporary order based on the evidence you and your attorney present. How long a final restraining order can last will depend on whether there are any aggravating circumstances involved in the case, such as a history of abuse or physical injury.
To pursue a protective order in Dallas, you will need to follow a certain number of steps. These include the following:
- You must first show that you meet certain requirements, such as:
- You have been physically hurt or threatened by the individual you wish to issue the order against.
- You must be afraid that this individual will hurt you or threaten you again.
- You must have a certain close relationship with this individual.
- If you meet those requirements, you can then fill out a protective order application and file these documents with the court.
- Once the order has been filed, the defendant, or the individual the order is being issued against, will be served with the order.
- You and the defendant will be required to appear in court, where a judge will determine if the protective order is needed or the case should be dismissed.
- If the judge agrees with the order, the defendant can be removed from a shared household or cut off from all contact with the victim.
One in three Texas residents will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. If this applies to you, the team at Cruz Arevalo can represent you. Whatever your case might entail, we can fight to protect you and those you love.
Contact a Trusted Dallas Restraining Order Lawyer Today
If you have been victimized by domestic violence in Dallas, know that you are not alone. At Cruz Arevalo, we have extensive experience in all categories of family law, including child custody, child support, and restraining or protective orders. When you hire a restraining order lawyer from our firm, they can explain your legal options and seek the most favorable outcome in your restraining order case. Contact our offices today for the consultation and legal protection you deserve.
