Something happened, and the police got involved – and now you have a temporary protective order against you while you’re waiting on a formal hearing.
What now? You will eventually get to tell your side of the situation in court and fight the allegations and the order. In the meantime, however, there are some critical mistakes you need to avoid:
1. Going back to your shared home to pick up a few things
If you share a residence with the protected person, you will probably be required to vacate the premises immediately. Under no circumstances should you stop back to pick up anything – not even spare clothes or your computer – without official sanction. (Usually, the court will allow you to pick up necessary items under the watchful gaze of a police officer.)
2. Contacting the alleged victim in any way
Usually, people do this because they think that they can “talk things out” or reason with the other party, particularly when they know the allegations are bogus. However, it’s a violation of the law to contact the protected person in any way – and that means over the phone, via email or text, on social media or through third parties (like friends or relatives).
3. Blowing off steam online about the situation
Your social media is never going to be as private or hidden as you think. Before you vent about the situation, post a rant about the other party or showcase your wrath at the judicial system, consider how your words will sound when they’re read aloud in court. You do not want to do anything right now that could make you seem aggressive.
Look at the protective order carefully and make sure that you fully understand what they say. Even though you may chafe under the restrictions, you need to know what’s expected of you and obey all the rules until the issue is resolved.
If you’re found guilty of violating a temporary protective order because you’ve contacted or harassed the person it concerns, you can end up facing criminal charges. That can result in up to 90 days in jail and $1,000 in fines even if the other party’s initial allegations are unfounded.