In Colorado, individuals may seek a civil protection order restraining another person from having any contact, direct or indirect, with them. These protection orders begin as temporary, and can become permanent. If a civil protection order action has been initiated against you, it is essential that you contact an experience civil protection order attorney immediately so that you can prevent the restraining order from becoming permanent and successfully defend against the case.
If an individual chooses to seek a civil protection order against you, their first step will be to obtain a temporary restraining order (TRO). A temporary restraining order lasts up to 14 days, and will state the date and time the petitioner must return to court in order to make that order permanent. If the order does not become permanent on that day, it will expire and there will no longer be a restraining order in place.
Hire an Attorney to Defend You at a Permanent Protection Hearing
In order to obtain a temporary restraining order against you, all someone needs to do is make an allegation that you hurt or threatened them, and you are likely to do it again if an order of protection is not imposed. No proof or evidence is required to support any such allegations. Once the Judge approves their request, they will need to serve the documents on you in so as to require your appearance at a permanent protection order hearing. If you do not appear at that hearing, the order will become permanent. If you do appear, you can contest the allegations and the imposition of the protection order. It is highly recommended that you fight the imposition of a permanent protection order, and that as soon as you receive notice of the hearing you immediately locate a lawyer to defend you at that hearing.
Once a permanent protection order enters against you, you cannot petition for its removal for four years. A permanent protection order can have vast and serious consequences. It will appear on many background checks and may affect your ability to obtain a passport and even to travel. It can even cause you to lose your job and affect your ability to obtain housing.
