Transcript
The law provides the opportunity for someone who believes they’ve been the victim of harassment to seek a protective order called a harassment restraining order.
A harassment restraining order is something that will preclude the harasser from either being present at one’s address or place of employment or having ongoing communication with them, whether directly or indirectly. It also applies to situations where a litigate it has been the victim of some sort of an assault, but they don’t have the familial relationship required of an order for protection.
If you believe you’ve been the victim of harassment as defined by law, the definition being repeated, unwanted acts designed to invade your rights, safety, privacy, or security, you can petition the court for that harassment restraining order.
That is done on an ex parte basis without notice to the other side. If the court accepts the allegations within your petition, the court will issue a temporary harassment restraining order, and then set the matter on for a hearing to happen within a couple of weeks.
At the hearing, there will be testimony and evidence presented, both sides will be subject to cross examination. Then, ultimately, if the court accepts the allegations that have been raised as being true, the court can issue a more long-term harassment restraining order, typically for a period of two years.