In Dallas County, you may apply for a protective order by contacting the District Attorney’s Office at (214) 653-3600. Under Texas law, there is no charge for a protective order obtained through the District Attorney’s Office. NO ONE DESERVES TO BE HIT
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· People can apply for free legal help at any of the following Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program Neighborhood Legal Clinics. Click the address link to view directions: *Please note: Clinics may be cancelled because of bad weather, federal holidays, or voting. Please contact 214-243-2236 to confirm that a clinic will occur as scheduled.
Any person who wants to receive free legal help from the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program must apply for assistance and meet our eligibility guidelines. In order to seek help, please apply at one of our legal clinics. Applicants who have been sued should bring copies of their legal documents when applying for help.
In Dallas County, you may apply for a protective order by contacting the District Attorney’s Office at (214) 653-3600. Under Texas law, there is no charge for a protective order obtained through the District Attorney’s Office. NO ONE DESERVES TO BE HIT The following agencies are available to help you: Dallas Police Department/ Fire/ Ambulance 911
Need a protective order lawyer? Call (972) 248-8383 now to schedule a confidential consultation with Jeff Anderson in Dallas, Plano, or Frisco, Texas.
According to Texas law, a Protective Order is designed to protect people from harm either by family members or others with whom they have a close relationship. A court may issue either a temporary or permanent protective order depending on the evidence and circumstances of each individual situation.
A protective order application can be filed by: • Any adult member who meets the relationship requirement. • An adult member on behalf of a child who is the victim. • A prosecuting attorney. • The Department of Human and Regulatory Services.
The court may issue a Temporary Protective Order which will be in effect for 20 days.
If an aggressor violates any terms of the order, or you suspect they have, contact the police right away for your own safety and to make sure the order is enforced . As soon as a victim of violence becomes aware that a protective order has been violated, they need to immediately notify emergency personnel.
After the close of the hearing, if the judge finds there has been family violence or a threat of family violence, the law requires the court to issue a permanent protective order that may be in force for up to two years. The order may prohibit the offender from going near the victim, the victim’s home, workplace or school.
In Texas, an alleged violent party facing a protective order may temporarily or permanently lose their right to bear arms. This could have serious implications for peace officers or people with similar careers that require a weapon. However, the reason that these restrictions are imposed is to protect victims from very violent and dangerous situations.
If the prosecutor will not file on our behalf, you can file on your own, using the online pro se protective order kit. While these forms are legally valid in all courts, some counties prefer their own forms.
You do not need an attorney at the hearing; however, having an attorney can be to your advantage. Also, if you think the respondent will have one or if it would make you feel safer, you can consider getting one. If the prosecutor files the protective order on your behalf, s/he will usually represent you in court.
When you apply for a protective order, you must supply the following information: The name of each petitioner (victim) and the county where each petitioner (victim) resides; ( Note: You can request that your children be included as petitioners, but it may not be ordered if there was no violence against the children);
If you are in immediate danger and want to apply for a temporary ex parte order, you must include a detailed description of the facts and circumstances concerning the family violence and the need for the immediate protective order.
If so, you may get a temporary order that usually lasts up to 20 days. Before getting a permanent order, you need to have a full court hearing where the abuser has the opportunity to be present and both you and the abuser have an opportunity to present evidence and testimony.
The clerk will generally arrange for service of this notice to the abuser along with the petition that you filed as well as any temporary ex parte orders that were issued. This notice states that the abuser has been accused of committing family violence. The abuser may get an attorney to defend himself/herself against this allegation. The notice also informs the abuser of the hearing date.
1 If you do not show up, the judge may dismiss your case and you will lose your protective order.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office has a wide variety of personnel dedicated to assisting victims of family violence and sexual assault. Victims may encounter or be contacted by any or all of the following personnel:
Prosecutor: an Assistant District Attorney who will advocate for the victim in all criminal court proceedings, including trial and /or plea negotiations. Investigator: a licensed peace officer employed by the District Attorney to locate victims, witnesses, and evidence to assist the prosecution.
Victim Advocate: a caseworker assigned to assist the victim with safety planning, counseling resources, community referrals, and court accompaniment if necessary.
A protective order stays in effect for two years unless the judge specifies a shorter amount of time. Also, an individual who has a protective order against them could be required to give up parental rights, give up the use or possession of community property (jointly owned or leased) or pay financial support to the petitioner or other family members.
If you are charged with a class A misdemeanor conviction, you can spend up to one year in jail and/or receive fines totaling not more than $4,000.