Legal Advocate
Navigating the legal system and courts can be overwhelming. Legal terms, processes, and federal, state, and municipal laws are often confusing and frustrating. We are here to help.
Legal Advocacy:
Green Haven’s legal advocate can help domestic violence survivors by answering many of the questions about the court processes or assist in obtaining a Restraining Order. They advocate for you within the legal system.
Located in Monroe, our legal advocates provide a variety of support services when dealing with a civil or criminal court case. If you need formal, legal protection from family or intimate partner abuse, our legal advocate can help you apply for a Restraining Order to prevent your partner from directly or indirectly contacting, harassing, stalking or abusing you in anyway. If your partner has been charged with a domestic violence offense, you may need support through the court process. Our legal advocates can access information about your partner’s case, a pending release, bail conditions, the specifications on no-contact orders, and other court related matters.
How do I get a restraining order?
The process begins by requesting papers for a temporary restraining order (TRO). These papers are called the petition. The person completing the petition is called the petitioner. The person you file against is called the respondent. Once you file a TRO petition, the court decides whether or not to issue a TRO based on the information you write in the petition. If the court grants the TRO, the court will schedule a hearing for you to come back to court within 14 days. This hearing is called an injunction hearing. At that hearing you will ask the court to order a final order of protection, which is called an injunction. An injunction can be granted for up to four years for child abuse, and up to four years for domestic abuse, harassment, and individuals at risk.
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