PROTECTIVE ORDER

A protective order is a legal document that is granted by a judge.  The order may state that your abuser can not come within 100 yards of you, and may not have any communication with you which includes:  phone conversations, emails, text messages, or third party contact.  The judge can also order that your abuser cannot go to your work place.  In order to qualify for a protective order there must be a relationship between you and your abuser such as:  husband/wife, dating relationships, or family relationships.  A temporary protective order can last up to thirty days.  The judge will set a court date at which time you and your abuser will go before the judge.  At this time, the judge will decide whether or not to grant you a permanent protective order, which can last up to eighteen months.  During the time the protective order is active, if the abuser violates the order, he (she) can be arrested.  In order for the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office to know that a violation has occurred, you must contact Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office to let us know.

In order to obtain the forms for the protective order, you can go to the Clerk of Court’s Office, Police Social Services, or the Domestic Violence Shelter of your choice.