Source: https://www.versustexas.com/criminal/protective-orders/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 22:19:33+00:00

Document:
A protective order is a court order issued to stop continuing acts of family violence, human trafficking, or stalking.
A threat reasonably placing the victim or applicant in fear of imminent physical harm.
This includes acts committed against individuals married to or dating a person with whom the actor has been married to or has dated. Dating relationships must be or have had a continuing romantic or intimate nature. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 71.0021 (West).
There are three types of orders: temporary ex parte orders, permanent protective orders, and emergency protective orders.
A temporary ex parte order lasts for up 20 days and may be extended for another 20 days upon request. Tex. Fam. Code § 83.002. To issue a temporary protective order, the judge must find there is a clear and present danger of family violence to the applicant or a family member. Tex. Fam. Code § 83.002.
The same applicant has had two or more protective orders issued against the same abuser in the past and in both cases the judge found the abuser committed family violence and was likely to commit family violence in the future.
Tex. Fam. Code § 85.025(a-1).
An emergency protective order is an order issued by the criminal court after an assailant is arrested for committing family violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Texas C.C.P. Art. 17.292(a). An EPO is generally valid between 31 and 61 days. The EPO may last between 61 to 91 days if the abuser was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. Tex. C.C.P. Art. 17.292(j).
The Department of Human and Regulatory Services.
Tex. Fam. Code § 82.002. Texas C.C.P. Art. 17.292(a).
To seek a protective order in Tarrant County, either the applicant or the abuser must live in Tarrant County. An applicant may contact the Protective Order office at (817) 884-1623 between 7:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
What if there is an EPO Against Me?
Go near the residence, workplace, residence, school, or child-care facility of the victim or a member of the victim’s family or household.
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 17.292(c).
Additionally the magistrate may also order a defendant to participate in a global positioning monitoring system (GPS tracking). Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 17.292(c-1).
Furthermore, the order shall suspend the defendant’s concealed handgun license and prohibit the defendant from possessing a firearm for the duration of the order. Tex. Penal Code § 46.04.
The EPO does not require the defendant to stay away from the victim, but does prohibit the defendant from going to or near the places listed above. To be clear, the provisions apply to places, not people. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 17.292(c)(3).
With regards to communicating with the victim, the defendant is not prohibited from communicating with the victim or members of the victim’s family or household. But communicating in a threatening or harassing manner either directly or indirectly may be prohibited. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 17.292(c)(2).
Can the Victim Get an EPO Lifted?
Most judges will not allow a victim to lift an EPO. Simply put they are not going to risk putting the victim in harm’s way. If something were to happen after a judge lifted an EPO while a criminal case was pending, the result could affect the judge remaining on the bench. Understand as much as a victim may want the EPO lifted, the chances of having the EPO lifted while there is a pending criminal case are slim to none.
Modification of an EPO may be possible, but it is an expensive proposition and few applicants get the relief they are seeking. Also understand that conditions of an EPO are separate from any bond conditions. The conditions of bond and conditions of EPO are set by different judges in different courts.
To first see if the criminal case can be resolved. If the criminal case is dismissed or no-billed, your chances of getting relief on the EPO are considerably higher.
To have your attorney find out if the victim will sign an Affidavit of Non-Prosecution or a Motion to Modify Protective Order.
Have your attorney contact the municipal court and ask for a Modification of Protective Order. This is generally not part of the criminal representation of your assault case, so you will want to talk to your attorney about how much it will be to present this motion and any costs of a hearing if the court requires a hearing on the motion.
A violation of a protective order may be classified as either a Class A misdemeanor or—under certain circumstances—a third-degree felony.
Tex. Pen. Code §§ 25.07 and 12.21.
The defendant has violated the order or a bond condition by committing an assault or the offense of stalking.
If you or your child have been a victim of any of the above acts and the assailant has been arrested and there has been no Emergency Protective Order issued, please consider requesting one immediately.

References: § 71
 § 83
 § 83
 § 85
 Art. 17
 Art. 17
 § 82
 Art. 17
 Art. 17
 Art. 17
 § 46
 Art. 17
 Art. 17