A restraining order is not the same as a civil domestic violence order for protection or a criminal no contact order. Rather, a restraining order is a broader court order that orders a specific person not to engage in a certain form of conduct or take certain actions. A restraining order may involve a number of different issues related to family law cases, and judges typically issue them in divorce, paternity, or custody cases.
A court often will issue a temporary restraining order against one or both parties that lasts only until the divorce or other family law case is resolved. One common type of temporary restraining order involves property during divorce proceedings. The court often will order both parties not to sell or dispose of any property until the property division is finalized in the divorce. It also is common for the court to issue a temporary restraining order that prevents one spouse from changing or dropping insurance coverage for the other spouse. On the other hand, the court also can issue a restraining order in a family law case in order to protect one party from harassment by the other, or to protect children involved in the case from harm. In some cases, the restraining order can become part of a final dissolution decree.
Some parties may be able to agree on the temporary restraining orders that should be issued in their family law case. In other cases, one party may oppose the other party’s request for a temporary restraining order. In this situation, the court will hold a hearing and consider the arguments of each party before making a decision about whether to issue a temporary restraining order on a particular issue.
Pacific Northwest Family Law knows how to handle all of the different issues that Washington family law cases involve, including issues related to restraining orders. We understand how emotional and stressful these types of cases can be, which is why we are here to help guide you through your family law proceedings. Contact our offices today to set up an appointment with one of our Washington family law lawyers and see what we can do to help with your case.
