Orders of Protection in New York

New York Family Court Attorney

If you need assistance in seeking an order of protection in New York, a Family Court attorney at our law firm can help. A person may apply for an order of protection in Family Court if he or she has been the victim of any form of domestic violence. You must be married to, separated from, divorced from, related to or must have a child in common with the abuser in order to seek an order of protection in Family Court. This court order will prohibit specific conduct by the abuser. He or she may be prohibited from coming within a certain distance of you or your children or contacting you in any way, although the specific terms of your order or protection may vary depending on the circumstances.

An order of protection can be sought at your closest New York Family Courthouse. You must go to the “Petition Room” of your local Family Court between 9am and 5pm on Monday through Friday or until 8pm on Tuesday through Thursday at locations where Night Court is offered. Tell the clerk at the front desk that a “family offense” has occurred and you will be given forms to fill out. You will need to write down the incidents of violence or abuse and will need to name the person who committed these acts. When your name is called, you will see a clerk who will write a petition for you based upon the information you have provided. It is important to be as detailed as possible in describing what occurred and it is also important to note whether previous orders of protection were sought and issued. Make sure your petition is accurate and states everything you would like to address before signing it.

What Does an Order of Protection Do?

In petitioning for an Order of Protection with the New York Family Court, you may be able to ask for the following:

• Prohibiting the abuser from coming within a certain distance of you or your children
• Prohibiting the abuser from committing specific acts, such as making threats, abuse or contacting you
• Help from law enforcement to go back home to collect your belongings
• Ordering the abuser to vacate the home you share
• Ordering the abuser to pay temporary child support
• Revocation or suspension of the abuser’s license to carry or possess firearms

Find out more about how an order of a protection can help you. Contact a New York Family Court Lawyer at our offices today.