Restraining Order Law Firm
Restraining Order Law Firm Attorney

Restraining Order Attorneys
in Los Angeles


Domestic violence against a spouse or another household member, harassment by an overzealous boss or coworker, and exploitation of the elderly can jeopardize a person's safety and cause extreme anxiety. California laws offer protection in the form of restraining orders to persons faced with these situations and other cases where individuals face domestic violence, like child abuse or abuse by a romantic partner.

Restraining orders also protect people from harassment, threats, intimidation, and stalking by caregivers, neighbors, and others. If you want to obtain a restraining order against someone, contact an experienced restraining order lawyer for help and legal counsel.

On the other hand, your life can be significantly impacted if a protective order is issued against you. A restraining order can strip you of everything valuable and compel you to keep your distance from the people who matter most to you. For example, the order may require you to move out of your house, avoid contact or communication with your spouse, and be prohibited from visiting particular areas. Also, when someone seeks to restrain you through a protective order, it may severely impact your legal rights. For example, you might need to give up your child custody, visitation, and firearm rights.

However, note that whereas everybody is entitled to obtain a restraining order for protection, not all accusations made to support the issuance of protective orders are true. The power of restraining orders to safeguard people can be utilized as a weapon by victims seeking to have the upper hand in a child custody or divorce case if they are ready to make wrongful accusations. Consequently, if you feel a protective order has been unjustly issued against you, seeking the counsel of a qualified restraining order lawyer can significantly impact the final result.

Protective orders are quite prevalent but are often challenging to tackle once issued. Often, courts side with victims to avert further violence, stalking, harassment, and other kinds of abuse, which could be detrimental to victims of exaggerated or false allegations. Additionally, you could face criminal charges if you violate a restraining order issued against you. A lawyer can help you determine whether the protective order was legally issued and, if so, what you can do to avoid violating it.

At the Restraining Order Law Firm, we have handled hundreds of restraining order cases throughout Los Angeles County and the neighboring counties. Our experience entails both defending and seeking protective orders of all types. For those seeking to defend a restraining order, we understand what is on the line and strive to protect them from the stigma an order comes with. We review the case to establish the most suitable strategy to minimize consequences or seek for the order to be withdrawn if the court issued it unfairly.

And for those seeking to obtain a protective order, we work with them to handle every aspect of the process, from drafting relevant paperwork to filing any necessary motions to providing representation throughout the protective order hearing. We are highly skilled in developing solid strategies and will fight aggressively to defend your legal rights. If you have a restraining order case, call us at 424-600-7691 today for a complimentary consultation.

About Attorney Leah Naparstek

Leah Naparstek specializes exclusively in criminal defense. She is one of California's most talented and aggressive lawyers, representing clients accused of criminal offenses, both misdemeanors and felonies. She has in-depth knowledge of restraining order matters and achieves outstanding outcomes in this practice area.

Leah's longest career was in Jewish administration and education. Afterward, she enrolled for her law studies at Abraham Lincoln University School of Law, graduated in 2008 with the highest distinction, and was named class valedictorian. After obtaining a degree in law and being licensed to practice the same, attorney Neparstek vowed to apply her law knowledge and skills to helping people and impacting their lives positively.

While still studying law and for many years after graduating, Attorney Naparstek also worked for an immigration law firm, where she gained invaluable experience and insight. Her keen attention to detail, intelligent comprehension of state and federal law, tireless energy, and compassionate nature enabled tens of immigrants to reside in the U.S.

Attorney Naparstek’s devotion to assisting people in improving their lives made her an expert criminal defense lawyer. She believes anyone who advocates for criminal defendants must be knowledgeable, experienced, and have the necessary determination and urge for justice. Attorney Naparstek has this determination and drive, as she is aggressive with prosecuting attorneys and is precise with the case details.

Leah effortlessly earns her clients' trust and makes them feel comfortable. Thanks to her background, she can interact with various clients. She treats her clients with the utmost respect and importance. She is available 24/7 and ensures every client knows their situation is a personal matter for her and not just business. She understands that when a person is faced with a criminal offense, the stakes are too high. Therefore, she is considerate and sensitive toward them as she helps them navigate legal challenges.

Bar Admissions

  • United States Tax Court.
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
  • U.S. District Court Central District of California.
  • California State Courts.

Associations

  • Private Defenders of California, Inc.
  • Criminal Courts Bar Association.
  • San Fernando Valley Bar Association.
  • L.A. County Bar Association.
  • American Bar Association.
  • California Bar Association.
About Attorney Image

Types of Protective Orders

California has various types of protective orders covered under different statutes. That means different protective orders have somewhat different standards and procedures for evidence that must be satisfied. This is why you want to hire a lawyer knowledgeable about the laws governing your particular protective order. Our lawyers aggressively and competently handle all protective orders within Los Angeles County.

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs)

A DVRO refers to a court order requested by an individual against someone they are dating or have dated before, have a child or children with, have been or are married to, or have another kind of intimate relationship with. If you are a victim of stalking, domestic violence, or any form of harassment by a former romantic partner, we can assist you in obtaining the safety you require by requesting a DVRO. Conversely, if a DVRO has been served against you, call us, and we can assist you in defending your rights.

Elder Abuse Restraining Orders (EAROs)

An EARO is a protective order requested by someone over 65 against a party engaging in financial or physical abuse. It can also be issued to protect someone over 18 with a qualifying mental disability.

If a caretaker is taking financial advantage of your elderly parents, an elder abuse restraining order can help them (the parents). If children in the neighborhood deliberately intimidate your grandfather when he is out taking a walk, your grandfather can obtain an EARO for the protection he needs. If a caretaker is maltreating or isolating your mentally disabled niece and you are concerned, an elder abuse restraining order can protect them.

Civil Harassment Restraining Orders (CHROs)

A CHRO refers to a protective order an individual requests against someone not covered under a DVRO. If you are facing harassment from your neighbor, you can prevent that harassment by filing a civil harassment restraining order. If someone has been stalking you, a civil harassment restraining order can stop the behavior. If someone does not stop contacting you even after you request that they stop bothering you, obtaining a civil harassment restraining order could be the perfect answer.

If you believe you are facing unlawful harassment by somebody you might or might not know in person, our lawyers can help you obtain the necessary protection by filing for CHRO. And if there is a CHRO  against you and you wish to defend your legal rights, we can also offer expert legal representation.

Workplace Violence Restraining Orders (WVROs)

A WVRO is not a common protective order in that an employer requests it on behalf of an abused worker. Additionally, a workplace violence restraining order can be issued to safeguard other workers at the workplace and in other places where the restrained worker might work later.

If a customer assaulted your salesman, you might obtain a WVRO to bar the aggressive customer from coming to your store. If someone calls your warehouse threatening violence, you can file for a WVRO to keep the individual far away from the warehouse and keep all your workers safe.

If any of your employees have suffered any form of violence at work or are facing threats that could be fulfilled at the place of work, our lawyers can help you file a workplace violence restraining order to help them. We can also offer legal representation if a WVRO has been issued against you and you wish to fight to protect your rights.

A CHRO refers to a protective order an individual requests against someone not covered under a DVRO. If you are facing harassment from your neighbor, you can prevent that harassment by filing a civil harassment restraining order. If someone has been stalking you, a civil harassment restraining order can stop the behavior. If someone does not stop contacting you even after you request that they stop bothering you, obtaining a civil harassment restraining order could be the perfect answer.

If you believe you are facing unlawful harassment by somebody you might or might not know in person, our lawyers can help you obtain the necessary protection by filing for CHRO. And if there is a CHRO  against you and you wish to defend your legal rights, we can also offer expert legal representation.

A DVRO refers to a court order requested by an individual against someone they are dating or have dated before, have a child or children with, have been or are married to, or have another kind of intimate relationship with. If you are a victim of stalking, domestic violence, or any form of harassment by a former romantic partner, we can assist you in obtaining the safety you require by requesting a DVRO. Conversely, if a DVRO has been served against you, call us, and we can assist you in defending your rights.

An EARO is a protective order requested by someone over 65 against a party engaging in financial or physical abuse. It can also be issued to protect someone over 18 with a qualifying mental disability.

If a caretaker is taking financial advantage of your elderly parents, an elder abuse restraining order can help them (the parents). If children in the neighborhood deliberately intimidate your grandfather when he is out taking a walk, your grandfather can obtain an EARO for the protection he needs. If a caretaker is maltreating or isolating your mentally disabled niece and you are concerned, an elder abuse restraining order can protect them.

A WVRO is not a common protective order in that an employer requests it on behalf of an abused worker. Additionally, a workplace violence restraining order can be issued to safeguard other workers at the workplace and in other places where the restrained worker might work later.

If a customer assaulted your salesman, you might obtain a WVRO to bar the aggressive customer from coming to your store. If someone calls your warehouse threatening violence, you can file for a WVRO to keep the individual far away from the warehouse and keep all your workers safe.

If any of your employees have suffered any form of violence at work or are facing threats that could be fulfilled at the place of work, our lawyers can help you file a workplace violence restraining order to help them. We can also offer legal representation if a WVRO has been issued against you and you wish to fight to protect your rights.

What Is a Restraining Order?

A restraining or protective order refers to an order issued by the court to protect a person from pain, physical injury, abuse, harassment, stalking, and threats of bodily injury, harassment, and abuse. A restraining order can restrain a family member, household member, or any party threatening another's safety.

Protective orders aim to prevent harassment, stalking, abuse, and violence in civil and criminal cases. They are generally issued depending on the petitioner's sworn testimony. In criminal-related situations, protective orders prohibit behavior or movement to stop one person from inflicting harm on another party.

In civil-related cases, protective orders aim to prevent a person from contacting another or engaging in any conduct that may constitute a public annoyance. A judge must approve a restraining order and have it served to the restrained party for it to be legal. That means a party cannot be deemed to have violated a restraining order if they do not know about the order being issued.

A prevalent aspect of protective orders is the limitation on how much space the parties involved must give each other. For example, a restrained person may always be required to remain 100 feet from the protected party. A restrained party can also be forbidden from going to certain locations. Another common aspect involves restrictions on contacting the protected party by email, phone calls, text messages, through a third party, or other means.

A protective order can severely affect your public and personal lives. Aside from the requirement to keep a distance from the victim, having a protective order against you can affect you in other ways, including:

  • Loss of housing and employment opportunities: a restraining order is a public record in California, meaning anyone can see it. That means any prospective landlord or employer who conducts a background check against you can see the protective order, making them hesitant to rent you an apartment or consider you for a job position, respectively.
  • Loss of firearm rights: one of the terms of a restraining order is surrendering any weapons. If you own a gun, you will be required to relinquish it and will not be allowed to buy another one, losing your rights to guns.
  • Loss of child custody and visitation rights: a protective order can significantly affect your ability to win child custody and visitation rights. And if you are paying alimony, the amount could be increased.
  • Immigration consequences: if you wish to obtain legal immigration status, the court can bar you from completing the process if there is a protective order against you. The court could also restrict your travel.

Levels of Protection Restraining Orders Provide

Restraining orders provide three different protection levels. These protection levels define the particular duration a protective order should last. Based on the facts surrounding the case, an order could last days or years. The levels of protection restraining orders provide are as follows:

An emergency protective order (EPO) offers emergency protection. These orders are often requested by police officers when responding to a scene of domestic violence. If police officers reach a domestic violence scene and suspect that a person faces imminent danger, they will call a judge to issue an EPO. The officer then notifies the perpetrator about the EPO, which is effected instantaneously.

A person who is in the middle of obtaining a PRO but requires protection pending the finalization of the process can also request an EPO. An emergency protective order stays good for one week, and a judge might or might not replace it with a TRO or PRO.

Temporary restraining orders (TROs) provide temporary protection. They are usually good for a maximum of three weeks. They are meant to grant protection until a judge hears the case. Before the expiration date of a TRO, a judge will hold a hearing to determine whether they should issue a PRO.

At the hearing, the respondent can give their account of events. However, a TRO will be issued based entirely on the supposed victim's word and reasonable evidence of immediate danger or harm. A temporary restraining order will be granted if the petitioner can prove the alleged abuser's conduct would inflict emotional distress on them.

A permanent restraining order (PRO) provides more permanent protection. Once a hearing is over, a judge may issue a PRO if they determine the supposed victim needs further protection. During the hearing, the judge hears from both sides before deciding whether a permanent restraining order is necessary.

If the court does not state the validity period of the PRO, it will remain good for three years. But depending on the judge's discretion, a PRO can last at least three years and a maximum of five years. The victim can request a renewal of the PRO within the last three months of the order's expiration. If there is a restraining order against you, the terms may include:

  • Avoiding contact or communication with the victim.
  • Moving out of your residence.
  • Paying the protected person's attorney's fees.
  • Keeping a certain distance away from the victim.
  • Surrendering any weapons you possess.

The Protective Order Process

The procedure for obtaining any type of protective order is essentially the same. The only primary differences lie in what forms must be filed, what details must be included on those forms, and who can apply for what type of restraining order against whom. However, in all cases, the process entails more or less the following steps:

First, you must request a protective order at the local county courthouse. This step entails filling out and filing paperwork. You must tell the judge why you need a protective order, to begin with, and why a restraining order would be appropriate in your case.

Once you file for the protective order, the court will deny or grant a TRO the same day or the next business day. Irrespective of whether the court denies or grants the TRO, it will schedule a date for a hearing on the merits of the case.

At least five days before the court hearing, you must serve the respondent (the person you want the order to restrain) with all the necessary paperwork. The service should be performed by what is known as "personal service." That means somebody other than you must personally deliver all the required paperwork to the restrained person and provide evidence of service to the court.

During the hearing, you will make your case before the judge, explaining why a court-issued order is necessary. The respondent can then deny your claims and prove why the judge should not issue a protective order.

Whether you or the respondent wins depends significantly on how intelligently each side made its case, the available evidence, and which side the court sees as more credible. The first reason makes hiring an experienced lawyer for legal representation particularly critical. A judge might rule against a legally justified party merely because they did not argue their case coherently.

Once the hearing is over, the judge might grant a PRO for up to five years. After a PRO is granted, having the judge reexamine the case and withdraw the order is more challenging.

Conversely, a judge might dismiss your case with prejudice. That means they have denied your request for a PRO, and you are not permitted to request another PRO contingent on the supposed conduct. Due to the severe nature of restraining orders, you want to hire a skilled attorney to defend or seek the order. We at the Restraining Order Law Firm will do our best to represent you.

Statute of Limitations on Restraining Orders

There is no timeframe within which a person can file a protective order. However, there could be time limits on the underlying crimes that would trigger a request for a protective order. Additionally, the longer you wait to file a restraining order after the underlying incident, the more challenging it could be to collect enough evidence, locate witnesses, and persuade the police and judge to grant your protective order request.

However, some special scenarios may allow a judge to approve a protective order contingent on a long ago threat or incident. These include if a person seems to be doing something to make good on criminal threats made several months ago, if any kind of body language or innuendos show indirect threats, or if a previous abuser has just been released from incarceration and had threatened to take revenge years earlier after their conviction.

The bottom line is that whereas protective orders are often issued very soon or immediately after an incident occurs, they can be authorized much later, considering the right circumstances.

Testimonials

I am extremely grateful that I had Leah Naparstek and her team fighting for me to obtain a protective order. This was one of the most challenging life experiences I have ever faced, and it was overwhelming. But knowing I had a lawyer with a good heart and in-depth knowledge about securing restraining orders put me at ease. If you need help and guidance in obtaining a restraining order, I highly recommend you call Leah.

Amanda J.

Leah Naparstek and her team represented me when I was charged with a protective order violation. I was frightened of ending up in jail and facing hefty fines. Thankfully, my decision to hire the Restraining Order Law Firm saved me.

The attorneys here are highly professional. They reviewed my case thoroughly and advised me accordingly. They are very direct, responsive, and respectful. My lawyer managed to have the judge dismiss my case, and I did not have to face any consequences. I highly recommend this law firm.

Brandon M.

Professional and responsive team! I was in the process of a bitter divorce, and my wife filed a protective order against me full of wrongful accusations. I was confused and at my lowest point, not knowing what to do or how to free myself from the allegations. The attorneys at the Restraining Order Law Firm were by my side from the beginning and helped me tackle everything professionally.

They kept me updated and promptly responded to my text messages and calls. They were highly knowledgeable and knew what strategy to use at what stage of the case. Their experience made me relax, and the protective order had been withdrawn by the time the divorce case was over. Thank you so much, Restraining Order Law Firm.

Eric B.

Contact Us

At the Restraining Order Law Firm, we deal with all issues pertaining to restraining orders. Call us for a consultation immediately to learn your legal options regarding a restraining order issue. It could be that you want to file a restraining order against someone else, a person has unfairly filed a restraining order against you, or you have been accused of violating a restraining order.

Regardless of your situation, we will fight for the best possible option. We serve clients seeking restraining order services in Los Angeles County and the surrounding counties. As we are skilled in securing and fighting protective orders, we can find ways of representing you in either area. Contact us at 424-600-7691 today to learn about our legal strategies.