Naperville Orders of Protection Attorneys

Restraining Orders Lawyers Protecting Clients in DuPage County, Will County, and Northern Illinois

Domestic violence is a very serious issue and often requires immediate legal action. Unfortunately, domestic violence is not uncommon when dealing with family law matters. At J. Aldrich Law, P.C., our attorneys are experienced in handling domestic violence related issues both in family law proceedings and as criminal defense attorneys. We use our experience in family court and criminal court to ensure that our clients' safety and interests are protected to the fullest extent of the law.

Obtaining Orders of Protection in Illinois

Domestic violence is far too common in households throughout the country and far too prevalent in situations involving family law disputes. If you have been the victim of domestic violence, our attorneys can help you obtain an Order of Protection, which provides a layer of security for victims. Domestic violence can exist in a number of forms in addition to actual physical violence. If you are being stalked, harassed, intimidated, and/or threatened, you can seek protection from your abuser immediately. An Emergency Order of Protection can be granted when the immediate safety of the victim is threatened. Emergency Orders of Protection are only good for 14 to 21 days, after which a hearing with the accused present is required to extend the term of the order (for up to two years).

The terms of an Order of Protection are subjective and up to the discretion of the judge. Failure to comply with the terms of the Order of Protection has serious consequences including the possibility of jail time and fines. Depending on the circumstances of the complaint, and Order of Protection can:

• Prohibit the accused from abusing, harassing, intimidating, or stalking the petitioner;
• Require the accused to stay away from the petitioner and locations the petitioner frequents (including forcing the accused to leave a shared residence);
• Remove a minor child from the custody of the accused;
• Forbid the accused from destroying the petitioner’s property; and
• Compel the accused to pay temporary support to the petitioner.

Our attorneys will explain the process for obtaining an Order of Protection and what types of protection are necessary for your situation. We can help you obtain an emergency order and represent you in subsequent hearings to keep the order in place. In addition, we can assist you in obtaining temporary restraining orders (TROs), which are court orders used to require parties to do or not do something. They do not carry the same criminal penalties for violation as Orders of Protection, but they do carry civil penalties.

Defending Against Orders of Protection

Sadly, it is not uncommon for false allegations of abuse to arise in family law disputes in order to sway the judge. For example, one spouse might accuse the other spouse of abuse during a divorce to impact the allocation of parental responsibilities (also known as child custody). Consequently, the accuser might obtain an unjust Order of Protection to bolster the false claim. Our attorneys have the skill and experience to successfully represent clients who are falsely accused of abuse. We vigorously advocate for our clients' rights and defend our clients against false allegations.

If you are seeking an Order of Protection or wish to defend against one, contact our attorneys at 630-953-3000 to schedule a free initial consultation. We will discuss the details of your situation and explain how we can help protect you and your family. We are located in Naperville, IL and work with clients throughout DuPage County, Will County, Cook County, and the surrounding areas.