Law Office of Michael L. Fell
900 Roosevelt Irvine, CA 92620
(949) 585-9055

A Restraining Order Can Keep You from Graduating on Time: How to Have a Restraining Order TerminatedA restraining order, sometimes referred to as a protective order or a no-contact order, is ordered by the court and requires a person to stay away from another person. If it’s entered against you, then you must stay away from the person, where they work, and where they live. You also can’t contact them via phone, email, or any other way.

If you go to school with someone who has a restraining order issued against you, it can be virtually impossible not to violate your restraining order and still get to the classes you need. If this is the situation you’re in then we recommend you contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 for your free case evaluation as soon as possible.

Having a restraining order against you requires you to make major changes to your life

The moment a restraining order is ordered against you, then you’ll need to make some changes. For example, if you live with the person then you’ll need to leave your home and find somewhere else to live. If you have children together, and they live with the person who got the restraining order, then you may not be able to contact them.

California law also prevents you from having a firearm while there is an active restraining order against you. You might also be required by the judge to pay for and take part in counseling. Even five years after your restraining order is lifted, it may still show up. For this and other reasons, you may want to find a way to have your restraining order terminated.

Violations can cost you big

Before we talk about how to have the restraining order terminated, let’s discuss the penalties for violating a restraining order. It is a misdemeanor the first time you’re convicted but don’t let that fool you into thinking that the consequences aren’t severe – you could be looking at up to 364 days in jail and fines of up to $1000.

If you’re convicted of violating a restraining order a second time, then you could be looking at a felony charge with a punishment of up to three years in state prison and fines of up to $10,000.

How to have a restraining order terminated

The first and most important thing to do is to contact a criminal defense attorney who can apply to the court for the order to be either modified or lifted altogether. We may need to show the courts that you’ve corrected your behavior and we may also show that special exceptions need to be added so you can attend school.

Depending on your specific case, we may work to convince the court by showing them your grade point average, by proving you are gainfully employed, that you’re taking part in counseling, and by showing them statements from people who can vouch for you. To learn more about your options, reach out to Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 for a free case evaluation.