Temporary Restraining Orders vs. Protective Orders

The answers to the questions that are posed by our fans are my personal opinions on things, they do not create a relationship between you and me individually, nor do they create a relationship with Scroggins Law Group. So the next question we get is, what’s the difference between a temporary restraining order and a protective order? Well, a protective order is something that is used. Typically, when you have had family violence, or there’s been a certain level of harassment, that’s going to give rise to almost a criminal prosecution type of scenario, okay? Protective Order typically is going to limit your ability to go within say 500 feet, or 500 yards, even if the other party can limit your ability to go within that same same distance of the kids. So it is going to have some other ramifications that go along with getting a protective order, which it can invalidate licenses that you have. You know, so if you have a professional license, that can be a big deal even if you’ve got a fishing or hunting license, that can be a big deal. A temporary restraining order is something that is going to restrain certain actions for a limited period of time. Generally, the other thing that you need to understand is a temporary restraining order only lasts for a period of 14 days. It can be extended once for another period of 14 days. And then at the end of that period, it expires by operation of law, a protective order, on the other hand, can last for up to a couple years at a time so it can list it can last for a pretty substantial period of time, and it is going to be something that’s going to be used when you’re dealing with much more aggravated type of behavior and a scenario such as this