If you've been served with a restraining order in Middlesex County recently, you will need to visit the courthouse in New Brunswick. Being served with a restraining order can feel jarring to anybody, which is why having a skilled attorney on your side is so important. Like our attorneys here at Lento Law Firm, an experienced attorney will work tirelessly to build a strategic defense to ensure the court fully upholds your rights.
Types of Restraining Orders
There are two types of restraining orders in Middlesex County: a temporary restraining order and a final restraining order.
Temporary Restraining Order
A temporary restraining order, or a TRO, is issued after an incident of domestic violence. When victims report domestic violence, they can request a temporary restraining order be served on the defendant. A TRO acts as a short-term attempt, usually with an expiration date, to protect the victim from further domestic violence. Law enforcement officials will serve the defendant with the TRO, and within ten days, the defendant will have to show up for their hearing.
Final Restraining Order
While a TRO is temporary, a final restraining order (FRO) is precisely what it means – final. After ten days of a TRO, the parties will present their cases before a judge in New Brunswick, and the judge will determine if a FRO is necessary. To find a FRO necessary, the judge must find (1) the parties were in a domestic relationship, (2) the defendant must be found to have committed a predicate act of domestic violence, and (3) the judge has found there is an immediate need for a restraining order so that it can protect the victim from further domestic violence.
What Are the Potential Consequences of a Restraining Order?
Final restraining orders have serious consequences outside of their movement limitations. For instance, depending on the domestic relationship between the defendant and the alleged victim, the FRO can cover child custody determinations, removal from shared spaces, and how much support the defendant might have to pay. The defendant might also be subject to certain fines, photographed, fingerprinted, and entered into a police database. Further, a FRO determination can affect where the defendant can work, how they can work, if they will be promoted.
Restraining Order Hearing in New Brunswick
Finding the right building for your case can be a struggle, especially if you are already overwhelmed with the idea of having to attend a restraining order hearing. For individuals served with a restraining order in Middlesex County, you want to head over to the Middlesex County Courthouse at 56 Paterson Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Make sure you leave and arrive at the courthouse early. There is nothing worse than not having enough time to get there, find parking, and then locating your particular courtroom. And this is not a hearing you want to be late for.
Experienced New Brunswick Restraining Order Attorney
Being served with a restraining order is an unsettling experience, but having an attorney can protect your rights and insulate you from unnecessary consequences. At the Lento Law Firm, attorney Joseph D. Lento and his team of attorneys are skilled professionals who work around the clock to create defenses that will help mitigate the effects of a final restraining order. Call 888.535.3686 today to schedule your consultation. The Lento Law Firm is here to help.
