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  • Being a victim of domestic violence can make you feel many things.

  • Vulnerable.

  • Frightened.

  • Angry.

  • Helpless

  • Trapped.

  • But it is of the utmost importance to realize that you always have recourse.

  • That there is a way to protect yourself and your loved ones under the law.

  • And this starts by getting an injunction against your abuser.

  • An injunctionalso known as a restraining orderis a court order that forces a particular

  • personin this case an abuserto stop doing certain things.

  • Including coming near the abused or contacting the abused.

  • An injunction can also make an abuser move out of a home, pay temporary child support

  • as a result… … and give the person abused temporary custody

  • of the children.

  • If you do have an injunction against someone, and they violate it, they will be arrested.

  • Now, in Florida, injunctions are broken down into a two-step process.

  • The initial injunction is called a temporary injunction or temporary restraining order

  • TRO for shortbecause it will last no longer than 15 days.

  • It will come into effect once the filed petition is approved by a judge and the injunction

  • is served on the abuser.

  • During the approval process for the temporary injunction, there is no need for anyone to

  • testify or appear in court.

  • This is why it is also called anex parteinjunction because it is determined without

  • waiting for the accused abuser to be present at a hearing.

  • A judge will make the decision based solely on the information in the original petition

  • and will grant it if it shows an immediate and present danger of domestic violence.

  • Once approved, there will then be a hearing within the 15 days for what’s known as a

  • final injunction.

  • The potential final injunction will last longer than the 15 days and may not have an expiration

  • date at all, depending on the severity of the situation.

  • Plus, a final injunction may offer a wider range of protections than the temporary injunction

  • did.

  • If a final injunction has no expiration date, then either side can file for a modification

  • or outright removal of the order.

  • This can happen at any time.

  • And the judge then has to decide whether to grant these changes or not.

  • If youre caught in a domestic violence situation, know you are not alone.

  • LegalYou is here to help you navigate the court system.

  • LegalYou.

  • You can do this.

Being a victim of domestic violence can make you feel many things.

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