As opposed to a domestic violence restraining order, these are reserved for more casual or less significant relationships. These are intended to protect people from the abuse of those who are in their lives regularly, such as a neighbor, friend or coworker, but whose relationship is not more immediate than that, such as a parent, sibling, spouse, or in-law living in the same home.
Those who file for these restraining orders are often referred to in legal documents as the Petitioner. In order to be successful in these protective orders, the Petitioner has to be able to prove harassment in a “clear and convincing” manner. This can be more challenging than people realize, especially if all the Petitioner has is a story and no physical or documented evidence of the alleged actions.This is why it’s important to have the right legal team on your side. If the petition sticks, it can last up to 3 years, and can even be renewed without having to show new evidence of the same abuse/harassment.
