Grapevine Protective Order Attorneys

Skilled Lawyers Assisting With Protective Orders in Grapevine, Texas

If you have suffered family violence at the hands of a close relative or a member of your household, you can seek relief in the form of a protective order. A protective order can be issued on short notice, and potentially extended into a long-term order after a courtroom hearing, imposing various sanctions against your abuser.

At Powell Law Offices, P.C., our Grapevine family law attorneys can provide you with legal assistance and advocacy while you seek a protective order. With over 50 years of shared legal experience, you can trust our legal team to carefully investigate your situation to build a case on your behalf. If you are in immediate danger, we advise you to seek refuge at a domestic violence shelter or at the home of someone you trust and call 911.

What Counts as Family Violence in Texas?

Under Texas law, family violence encompasses acts or threats of physical harm committed by a member of the family or household against another. This definition includes assault, sexual assault, stalking, and terroristic threat when the victim is a spouse, former spouse, parent, child, or person with whom one shares a household. Family violence also extends to acts that constitute bodily injury or create fear of imminent harm.

By gathering police reports, medical records, and witness statements, our skilled attorneys can assemble a comprehensive portrait of the risk to your safety and well-being.

Obtaining a Temporary Ex Parte Protective Order

A temporary, or ex parte, protective order may be issued without prior notice to the alleged aggressor when the court finds there is an immediate and present danger of family violence. To secure such relief, an application must include a sworn affidavit describing recent acts or threats of violence, along with any available supporting documentation.

A judge will review the application and, if convinced that the risk is urgent, they may sign an order that can prohibit the respondent from contacting or coming within a specified distance of the protected person, his or her home, workplace, or children's school. That order may also grant possession of the family residence and require the respondent to surrender firearms.

Our attorneys can guide you through every stage of this process. We can draft the affidavit to emphasize the most compelling facts, assemble medical records or photographs that document injuries, and prepare supporting declarations from witnesses. The temporary order remains in effect until the date set for the full evidentiary hearing, typically no later than 20 days after issuance.

Obtaining a Permanent Protective Order

At the hearing on the permanent protective order, both sides appear before the court to present evidence and testify under oath. The judge considers whether family violence occurred and whether ongoing protection is necessary to prevent further harm. Permanent orders may impose the same restrictions found in ex parte orders—such as no-contact directives, residence possession, and firearm prohibitions—while also addressing child custody and visitation, counseling requirements, and payment of attorney's fees.

Our attorneys can help you prepare for the hearing by compiling evidence including police and medical records, photographs, and witness statements. During the hearing, we can cross-examine witnesses, challenge inconsistencies in your abuser's testimony, and emphasize the history of violence or threats. If the court grants a permanent order, it may remain in force for up to two years, with the option to renew before its expiration.

Meet With a Grapevine, TX Protective Order Lawyer

At Powell Law Offices, P.C., we are ready to serve as devoted advocates in a petition for a protective order. To schedule a free virtual or in-person consultation, call our offices at 972-584-9382 or contact our Grapevine protective order attorneys.