Threats & Intimidation

A Protection Order is a civil order that involves the protection of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or other serious matter. This could involve spouses, ex partners, significant others, boyfriends/girlfriends, roommates, or other family members.

Anti-Harassment or Stalking Orders are civil orders that involve harassment, stalking, electronic surveillance, bullying (including narcisstic behaviours that create a sense of intimidation or deliberate dsitress) or related behaviors designed to significantly annoy or distress an individual.

Restraining Orders are civil orders that are usually obtained within a domestic relations case, such as a divorce or a legal separation. These orders can prohibit certain behaviors or ensure distance is maintained between people. They can also be mutually binding on both parties.

No Contact Orders are criminal orders that are only issued in criminal cases. Usually, their terms are more severe and the consequences for breaching them more serious, than other protective orders. They may only be sought by the State or County prosecutor.

We appreciate that being involved in any situation where your safety feels under threat is scary and confusing. The steps for filing an anti-harassment order for threats and intimidation are:

1. The party files a petition in Distrcit or Superior court – generally in the county where the respondent lives. This petition needs to include any relevant documents and testimony in support of the petitioner’s case. Once filed, the court will generally set a hearing to review the petition within two weeks.
2. Temporary Protection. Sometimes, the court will review the petition and determine that interim protection is necessary before the scheduled hearing takes place. In these cases, the court will order a temporary protection order, restricting the Respondent from certain behaviors until the matter can be adjudicated. These orders will automatically expire after a few weeks.
3. Process Service. After the court has received the petition, it is the duty of the Petitioner to serve all corresponding documents and notices on the Respondent as soon as they can. If the court has issued a temporary protection order, that must be served on the Respondent as well.
4. Responding Documents. Once the Respondent is served, they have an opportunity to produce documents in their defense. These might include photos, declarations, third party testimony, or other written submissions explaining why a protection order shouldn’t be granted against them. Responding parties must produce their materials before your hearing; usually this ‘Response’ is required a few days before hand, it will vary based on county.
5. Reply Documents. After the Respondent serves the Petitioner with their defense documents, the Petitioner has a chance to address the Respondent’s Responsive submissions with their own evidence. This is called a ‘Reply.’
6. The Hearing. Finally, after both parties have exchanged documents, the hearing will be held. At the hearing, in addition to the written materials, each party will have a few minutes to testify before the court. Having reviewed all the evidence, the court will then decide whether to grant a protection order. These protection orders generally expire after one year.
7. Weapons Surrender. If protection is granted, the court might also make the decision to issue a weapons surrender order. These orders prohibit the restrained individual from acquiring or posessing dangerous weapons, like firearms or knives. The restrained party will also have to surrender any weapons they own to their local police department within a specified time frame.
8. Weapons Surrender Hearing. A few weeks after the protection order is granted, the court will hold a hearing to ensure that the restrained party has surrendered their weapons. If they have surrendered their weapons, or if they don’t own any, no further hearings will need to be held.

1. Protection Extension. If it deemed after the protection order expires that there is still a risk of danger. Sometimes the restraining order for threats can be extended. In circumstances where the Respondent is likely to continue their threats and intimidation, and dangerous behavior, Petitioners can re-petition to have the terms of the protection order extended or modified.

Yes we can  – Hemmat Law Group’s restaining order lawyers can help to explain your options and support you through the legal process to seek protection.

If you are being harassed by another person, and they are threatening or intimidating you, Hemmat Law Group can help you understand the options available to you for your protection.

In any protection matter, start by assembling a clear timeline of events. When did the person first start to act this way towards  you? When did you first tell them to stop or leave you alone? Have you ever been injured by this person, or have they damaged your property? How many times have you felt unsafe since? Do you have any photo evidence or documents to support your story?  Having a detailed chronology will really help your case.

Domestic violence is legally defined in Washington state as physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of the same. This can also include emotional or financial abuse, threats, intimidation and narcissitic control.

Domestic violence is not gender specific and can be committed by anyone. Everyone deserves to feel safe, expecially at home, and Hemmat Law Group are committed to help those dealing with threats and intimidation to get the protection they need.

Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPO) are issued by the court to protect a petitioner and/or child, depending on the nature and circumstances of the facts involved in your case. Orders can restrain the abuser from certain thretening actions, ban them from certain locations, limit behaviors, or ensure they stay away from named individuals, and will subject them to arrest should the order be violated.

Usually a protective order lasts for one year. If a DVPO is about to expire after running it course, your threats and intimidation lawyer can petition to have it renewed or modified if your safety concerns remain. Each case is different, and your specific circumstances will determine what options are available for prolonged protection. We strongly recommend speaking with a threats and intimidation lawyer to understand what avenues are available to you.

A Temporary Protection Order is an order entered for a short period of time before the dispute can be adjudicated. Often, they are used to protect individuals in potential emergency circumstances and are only valid until a full hearing can be set and heard. This usually takes about two weeks.

If you are served with a Petition and a Temporary Protection Order, it is really important that you read it carefully to understand its requirements. There is only a limited period of time in which to respond, so if you want to make sure you fully understand your rights, speak to our restraining order lawyers quickly.

Being wrongfully accused can be extremely distressing. Your options for defense depend on the facts available and the claims the Petitioner has made. Have there been any witnesses? What documentation has the Petitioner given to the court? The key to any defense is locating the inconsistencies in the opposing story. Our restraining order lawyer would be happy to help your understand the process for creating a reply submission in Washington State.

Protective orders usually last for one year. The Petitioner can later ask the court to extend a protective order if they can prove that the danger is ongoing.