I defended a client in the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court last year who was served with a protective order after getting into an argument with his wife. Nobody was hurt, there were no criminal charges filed, but 24 hours later, he was evicted from his home, could not visit his children, and was not legally allowed to own any firearms. Sadly, this is what happens to most Virginians when protective orders are in place.
Here in this blog post, I'll explain what protective orders are under Virginia law, the different types you might see, and some of the strategies I've used in court to fight off these orders successfully.
A protective order is a civil court order that is intended to keep a person from being subject to violence, threats, or harassment. Under Virginia law, there are three main types: