Harassment has become more of an issue in recent times with individuals harassing ex husbands and wives or even harassing a co-worker or former friend. While harassment may seem more like a nuisance behavior, it is one that can actually turn violent. When the person doing the harassing doesn’t get their way, the situation can become one that can become even more persistent and violent.
A restraining order can be a remedy to harassment because it instructs the person doing the harassing to stop. If someone at your college is harassing you, you can get a restraining order and tell them to stop. If it is your cousin who will not leave you alone and is throwing threats at you, you can use a restraining order to protect yourself.
Nonetheless, restraining orders tend to be used a lot in domestic abuse cases, custody disputes, and during aggressive divorces.
But you may be wondering if you have a reason for a restraining order against someone. Not knowing if there are grounds is why there are so many harassed and stalked individuals who do not protect themselves in this way. If someone is doing any of the following, you may eb able to secure a restraining order against them:
- Intends on harming you or your property
- Is stalking you
- Will not stop calling you or stop sending you letters, packages, or emails
At first, the restraining order will be temporary, but it will protect you. You can then wait until a hearing can be held. If the terms of the restraining order are violated by the harasser, that person can be charged with a crime. If at the hearing you are able to display that there is reason to extend the order, it will be.
And if you have a child who is being harassed, you can obtain a minor harassment restraining order on behalf of your child. Unfortunately, such harassment can occur to children when a family member makes threats or they are a teenager who dated someone, broke up with them, and now the ex girlfriend or boyfriend doesn’t want to leave them alone by issuing threats their way.
You can discuss with your attorney the harassment that you or your child is suffering and take the necessary steps toward stopping that behavior.