It’s not uncommon for a person to be hit with a restraining order and assume that if they simply stay away from the person, and follow the rules set out in the restraining order, that it won’t impact their future. This is often not the case. If you’re served a restraining order then your next move should be to reach out to a defense attorney with experience in restraining orders.

In fact, the best time to reach out to an attorney is before the restraining order is filed. If you have reason to believe that an individual is planning to file a restraining order, then you should reach out to Law Office of Michael L. Fell as soon as possible. Read on to learn more about how this order could impact your life and then call us at (949) 585-9055 for a consultation.

The restraining order will show up on your record for five years

In most cases, the restraining order is going to be filed with the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System. That means that if you’re pulled over or stopped by any law enforcement officer in the next five years, this restraining order is likely to show up on your record.

You can face significant penalties if you violate the restraining order

Not everyone who violates a restraining order does so purposely. Sometimes they simply leave their home and end up in the same space as the alleged victim, whether it’s a popular restaurant or the grocery store. In some cases, a judge may not believe that you didn’t intentionally violate the restraining order and the consequences could be huge: Up to $1,000 in fines and as long as a year in jail.

You may have serious restrictions on where you can and can’t go

Don’t assume that you can travel to another county and be rid of the restraining order conditions. In fact, it can be enforced anywhere in the state of California. Don’t assume that you’ll simply leave the state, because the restraining order may impact your ability to travel. Likewise, you may be barred from your own home if the restraining order says so.

You may have to take classes

In some cases, you’ll be required to take a 52-week class in either anger management or a batterers program. Not only does this take a lot of time out of your week, every week, for an entire year, but you have to pay for the classes – and they can be costly.

There are numerous other possible consequences

The issues don’t end there. If you have children then a restraining order could impact how often you’re able to see them, which could increase your child support payments. If you have a firearm, then you should expect to immediately surrender it when you get a restraining order issued against you – and you may never get back your right to own a firearm.

As you can see, it’s essential to have an experienced defense attorney on your side. You can trust Law Office of Michael L. Fell to work tirelessly to ensure your rights are respected and that we find the best possible outcome for you. Reach out today at (949) 585-9055 to learn more.