Fighting a False Restraining Order in Massachusetts

Restraining orders force a person to refrain from engaging in specific behaviors, such as contacting or assaulting the person who has requested the order. Domestic violence, physical abuse, harassment, stalking and sexual assault are the most common reasons for seeking restraining orders.

In different types of cases, courts can impose restraining orders that prevent a person from contacting a non-family relative or intimate partner, or from visiting a certain firm or office. Click here to learn more about different kinds of restraining orders. At times a plaintiff may seek a false restraining order against you. It is extremely difficult to challenge a restraining order, but it is possible. No matter what the circumstances are, you need to fight a false restraining order issued with the help of an experienced attorney at the Bellotti Law Group, P.C.

If you've been served with a restraining order, it is a major problem that requires immediate action. Nevertheless, you do have certain essential rights. You have the right to be informed of a restraining order request or to be informed about a court appearance. If a person requests a court to issue a restraining order against you, you also have the right to defend yourself. You have the right to be heard by an attorney. However, in restraining order hearings, you are not eligible for free counsel or a court-appointed attorney.

A court can issue the restraining order ex parte, without the defendant's knowledge or involvement. The defendant is then served with the order and given 10 days to appear at a contested hearing to determine whether or not the order should be extended. The Commission of Probation keeps a permanent record of any such order, even if it is not extended during the 10-day hearing. Unless an order was granted owing to "fraud on the court," courts have declined to delete such records. The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently decided in M.C.D. vs. D.E.D. that the bar for expungement is not fulfilled even when a court discovers that a party committed perjury to secure an order.

A restraining order request should never be ignored. Instead, you should learn about your rights and choices, speak with an attorney, and engage in the legal process. If the protected party accuses you of breaching the restraining order after it has been issued, you may be criminally prosecuted. If you receive a permanent order, you will be barred from owning a firearm while it is in force, and the order will appear on background checks.

False claims of domestic violence or criminal behavior, as well as genuine allegations of criminal activity, can result in restraining orders, unjust punishment, and long-term consequences for individuals accused. At times, the plaintiff may seek a false restraining order against you to blackmail you or for ulterior motives.

If you've been accused of domestic abuse or a criminal act, the first thing you should do is get legal advice. Working with a trained expert from the start ensures that you will be able to offer the strongest possible defense, especially in instances involving domestic violence charges, which are notoriously tough to clear. One of the most startling facts regarding restraining orders is that in nearly half the cases necessitating a restraining order, no allegations of physical violence are made. A restraining order can be issued against someone who is suspected of harassing someone else and causing them emotional distress. This might involve making numerous phone calls or causing a disturbance or a scene in a public location. It can even encompass the mere threat of violence; for example, if a man is accused of threatening to commit physical assault or harassment, a restraining order may be issued. You must abide by the restraining order, irrespective of how odd those false accusations are or if your spouse lied when he or she filed it. If you have been issued a restraining order, you should not approach your spouse since you might wind up in jail.

A restraining order can be obtained for a variety of reasons. Some example of false restraining orders are when disgruntled spouses file during a particularly ugly divorce case, or a parent seeks to isolate a kid from his or her other parent. Even if the claims that led to the restraining order are shown to be incorrect, the accused individual will still face negative outcomes.

In Massachusetts, there are two kinds of restraining orders: abuse prevention orders and harassment protection orders. In certain contentious family law matters, one party would seek a restraining order against the other based on false claims of abuse or harassment to win custody or control of the home. You have your legal options for fighting a false restraining order.  It might be tough to fight against a false restraining order, depending on the unique circumstances surrounding the restraining order allegation. To challenge a restraining order in Massachusetts, the first important thing you can do is learn the laws of the state.

To have a chance of winning a restraining order case, you must give clear and believable defense testimony while simultaneously undermining the plaintiff's credibility with genuine evidence or cross-examination. It's frequently in your best interest to engage an attorney to guide you through this often complex and arduous procedure, or at the very least to talk with an attorney in Massachusetts who can explain the restraining order process to you.