Source: http://dev.womenslaw.org/laws/tx/restraining-orders/all
Timestamp: 2019-10-22 17:00:52
Document Index: 545034939

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 82', 'Art. 7', 'Art. 7', 'Art. 7', 'Art. 7', 'Art. 7', 'Art. 7', '§ 87', '§ 88', '§ 88', '§ 88', '§ 88', '§ 88', '§ 88', '§ 88', '§ 88', '§ 88']

causing, permitting, encouraging, engaging in, or allowing sexual performance by a child;
forcing or coercing a child to enter into a marriage;*** or
Yes. If you request it (or your family or household member can request it), the judge can order the address and phone number of the following places to be removed from the protective order:
your home (or the home of anyone protected by the order) - the order will only state the county in which you live;
your workplace (or the workplace of anyone protected by the order); and
the daycare center or school of any child protected by the order.*
The judge can also require the court clerk to:
remove the address and phone number of the three places mentioned above from the public court records and keep a confidential record of them for court use only;
remove your mailing address from the public records of the court (if different than your home address), keep a confidential record of it for court use only, and not show it to the respondent. (Note: If you choose to keep your mailing address confidential, you will have to include the mailing address of someone else, such as a family member or friend, that can be shown to the respondent for the purpose of receiving mail associated with the case.)**
Therefore, if you do not want the abuser to know this type of personal information, make sure to tell that to the clerk when filing your petition and/or check the box to keep addresses and telephone numbers for residences, workplaces, schools, and childcare facilities confidential.
** Tex. Fam. Code §§ 82.011; 85.007(b)
A household member;
The first two orders are issued by the civil court upon your application. The abuser does not have to be arrested for you to get one of these orders. The third order is issued by the criminal court after the abuser is arrested. Each order is explained in more detail in the following questions.
Read the application carefully and ask questions if you don’t understand something. Describe in detail how the abuser (respondent) injured or threatened you. If you are using the pro se protective order kit online, TexasLawHelp.org has an available chat function at certain hours during the week so you can ask an attorney questions about the forms. Explain when and where the abuse or threats occurred. Write about the most recent and severe incidents of violence, using descriptive language (slapping, hitting, grabbing, choking, threatening, etc.) that fits your situation. Be specific. Include details and dates that relate to the abuser’s violence and threats, if possible. If you are in immediate danger and want to apply for a temporary ex parte order, you must include a detailed description of the facts and circumstances concerning the family violence and the need for the immediate protective order.
It is very important that you attend the court hearing. If you find out you absolutely cannot attend, you can contact the court clerk immediately and ask how you can get a "continuance" for a later court date.* If you do not show up, the judge may dismiss your case and you will lose your protective order. You do not need an attorney at the hearing; however, having an attorney can be to your advantage. Also, if you think the respondent will have one or if it would make you feel safer, you can consider getting one. If the prosecutor files the protective order on your behalf, s/he will usually represent you in court. If the prosecutor is not filing on your behalf, you may be able to get free legal representation through a legal services program. Go to our TX Finding a Lawyer page for legal referrals. Also, your local family violence program can give you more information about what to expect at the hearing, and may be able to send an advocate with you for support, and provide an attorney referral. Go to our TX Advocates and Shelters page for organizations in your area.
first, read the questions on this page to see if judges in Texas have to power to remove guns as part of a temporary or final order;
If the judge grants a protective order after a hearing, the order can last for as long as the lifetime of the perpetrator or the victim or for any shorter period specifically stated in the order. If the order does not state the termination date, the order ends two years after the date it was issued.***
Note: If the perpetrator is confined or in prison on the date the order is set to expire, it's possible that the order could automatically be extended until one year after the date s/he is released. However, this only applies if the order was issued before September 1, 2017. This law was repealed (is no longer in effect) and so it does not apply to any orders that were issued on or after September 1, 2017.****
*** Tex. C.C.P. Art. 7A.07(a)
**** Tex. C.C.P. Art. 7A.07(c)
Victims of any of the following crimes can qualify for this type of protective order, regardless of the relationship between the victim and the offender:
If you are an adult or minor victim of sexual assault (including aggravated sexual assault); stalking; indecency with a child; continuous sexual abuse of young child or children; trafficking (including continuous trafficking); or forced prostitution, you may:
apply on your own;
have a prosecutor apply for you; or
retain your own lawyer to help you file the petition.*
Also, the parent/guardian of a minor child victim can apply on his/her behalf if the child is below a certain age. For victims of sexual assault (including aggravated sexual assault), stalking, indecency with a child, continuous sexual abuse of young child or children, a parent/guardian can file on behalf of a child who is under age 17. For victims of trafficking (including continuous trafficking) or forced prostitution, a parent/guardian can file on behalf of a child who is under age 18.**
Note: Even though a prosecutor can file on your behalf, the law does not require a criminal case or police report to apply for the order and it is up to you to decide if you want to file, not the prosecutor.
* Tex. C.C.P. Art. 7A.01(a)(1),(2),(5)
** Tex. C.C.P. Art. 7A.01(a)(3),(4)
You can file an application for a protective order in district court, juvenile court, statutory county court, or constitutional county court. It can be filed in the county where you live, where the perpetrator lives, or any county where an element (part) of the crime occurred. Also, if there is a current family violence protective order between the same parties that would be involved in this protective order, you have the option of filing it in that court as well.*
The steps for filing for a sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking protective order are generally the same as the steps for a domestic violence protective order.
* Tex. C.C.P. Art. 7A.01(b)
Nothing. You (or an attorney representing you) cannot be charged any fees or costs by a district or county clerk, a sheriff, constable or other public official or employee for filing, serving, dismissing, modifying, transferring a protective order, or withdrawing a protective order. You also cannot be charged any fee for certified copies, comparing copies to originals, the court reporter, judicial fund fees, or for any other service related to a protective order.*
* See the Texas Attorney General's website
The following people may file an application with the court at any time to cancel the protective order:
a victim who is 17 years of age or older and received the order based on sexual assault (including aggravated sexual assault), stalking, indecency with a child, continuous sexual abuse of young child or children
the parent or guardian acting on behalf of a victim who is younger than 17 and received the order based on sexual assault (including aggravated sexual assault), stalking, indecency with a child, continuous sexual abuse of young child or children
a victim who received an order based on trafficking (including continuous trafficking) or forced prostitution;
the parent or guardian acting on behalf of a victim who is younger than 18 who received an order based on trafficking (including continuous trafficking) or forced prostitution.*
* Tex. C.C.P. Art. 7A.07(b)
Many states do have laws or regulations (rules) about registering or filing of out-of-state orders, which can make enforcement easier, but a valid protective order is enforceable regardless of whether it has been registered or filed in the new state.* Rules differ from state to state, so it may be helpful to find out what the rules are in your new state. You can contact a local domestic violence organization for more information by visiting our Advocates and Shelters page and entering your new state in the drop-down menu.
In some states, you will need a certified copy of your protective order. A certified copy says that it is a "true and correct" copy; it is signed and initialed by the clerk of court that gave you the order, and usually has some kind of court stamp on it.
If the original copy you received is not a certified copy, you would need to go to the courthouse where your protective order was issued and request one from the district clerk. There should be no fee for this service but you may want to call the courthouse to be sure. See our TX Courthouse Locations page for courthouse contact information.
To find a domestic violence advocate or an attorney in the state you are moving to, click the Places that Help tab on the top of this page and then choose your state from the drop-down menu.
If your contact information in your protective order is not confidential, you may file a notification of change of contact information (may be called a “change of address” form) to modify the order. If you file this notification, the court will send a copy to the respondent.* The clerk of court may need your new address to contact you if there is any change - for example, if the abuser asks a judge to dismiss the order or if your order is changed in any way. However, if you do not want the abuser to know your new address, you may want to tell the clerk that the address is confidential and ask what steps you have to take to keep it hidden from the abuser.
* See Tex. Fam. Code § 87.004
If you are unsure about whether or not you can take your kids out of the state, it is important to talk to a lawyer who understands domestic violence and custody laws, and can help you make the safest decision for you and your children before you leave. You can find contact information for local domestic violence organizations and legal assistance in the Texas area on our TX Places that Help page.
If you are planning to move to Texas or are going to be in Texas for any reason, your protection or restraining order can be enforceable.
Yes. Your protective order can be enforced in Texas as long as:
All terms of a valid out-of-state protective order are enforceable in Texas, even if your order contains relief not available in a Texas order.
Although some states have laws regarding registering an out-of-state protective order, Texas does not require you to register your protective order for it to be enforced.*** Your protective order can be enforced in Texas by a police officer even if it is not registered in the NCIC – it can be enforced if the officer has a reason to believe that a valid protective order exists and has been violated (even if you do not have a certified copy of your order.)**** To find out more about NCIC, see What is the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Registry? Who has access to it?
**** Tex. Fam. Code § 88.004(a)-(c)
If you report a violation in Texas of an out-of-state protective order that was never served on the abuser, the officer is not necessarily required to arrest the abuser for the violation. The officer has to inform the abuser of the order and make a reasonable effort to serve the order on him/her. Then the officer has to allow the abuser a reasonable opportunity to follow what the order says before enforcing it.* Therefore, s/he might not be arrested for the first violation that you report since s/he had not been served with the order at the time s/he “violated” it. However, the officer can still arrest the abuser for any other crime committed at the time.
* Tex. Fam. Code § 88.004(d)
No. Only the state that issued your protective order can change, extend, or cancel the order. You cannot have this done by a court in Texas.
If your order expires while you are living in Texas, you may be able to get a new one issued in Texas but this may be difficult to do if no new incidents of abuse have occurred. To find out more information on how to get a protective order in Texas, visit our TX Family Violence Protective Orders page.
Yes. As long as the child custody provision complies with certain federal laws,* Texas can enforce a temporary custody order that is a part of a protection order.**
** Tex. Fam. Code § 88.003(b)
The National Crime Information Center Registry (NCIC) is a nationwide, electronic database used by law enforcement agencies in the U.S, Canada, and Puerto Rico, that contains information on protective orders. It is managed by the FBI and state law enforcement officials.
You do not have to register your protective order* however it might make enforcement of the order easier if you do so. To register your protective order, you must take a certified copy to either the local Sheriff’s Department or to the Department for Public Safety office. You may be asked to sign an affidavit stating that you believe the protective order is valid. You should be given a certified copy of your registered order.**
If you need help registering your protection order, you can contact a local domestic violence organization in Texas for assistance. You can find contact information for organizations in your area here on our TX Advocates and Shelters page.
* Tex. Fam. Code § 88.004(e)
** Tex. Fam. Code § 88.005
No. Texas state law says an order does not have to be registered to be enforced, but the protective order must be valid.*
A police officer must treat an order as valid as long as it appears to be valid.** A order appears valid if it:
contains your name and the abuser’s name;
is not expired;
the court that issued it had the authority (jurisdiction) to issue the order; and
the abuser was given notice of the protective order hearing and the opportunity to attend the court hearing before the order was issued or, in the case of an ex parte temporary order, soon after the order was issued.***
** Tex. Fam. Code § 88.003(e)
*** Tex. Fam. Code § 88.004(d)
However, remember that there may be a possibility that the abuser could somehow find out what state you have moved to. It is important to continue to safety plan, even if you are no longer in the state where the abuser is living. We have some safety planning tips to get you started on our Staying Safe page. You can also contact a local domestic violence organization to get help in developing a personalized safety plan. You will find contact information for organizations in your area on our TX Advocates and Shelters page.
Maybe. In Texas, you do not have to register your protective order to get it enforced.* However, if your order is not entered into the state registry, it may be more difficult for a Texas law enforcement official to determine whether your order is real and therefore it could take longer to get your order enforced. Additionally, when you register your order in Texas, you will be given a certified copy of the registered order which should be easier for Texas law enforcement to recognize.** If you are unsure about whether registering your order is the right decision for you, you may want to contact a local domestic violence organization in your area. An advocate there can help you decide what the safest plan of action is for you in Texas. To see a list of local domestic violence organizations in Texas, go to our TX Advocates and Shelters page.
** Tex. Fam. Code § 88.005(b)
No. There is no fee for registering your protective order in Texas.*
* Tex. Fam. Code § 88.005(f)