Orders for Protection and Harassment Orders
An Order for Protection (OFP) is a court order, when physical abuse or the threat of physical abuse is involved, that orders the abuser not to hurt you. It can also: make the abuser leave your home, order the abuser not to have contact with you, order temporary custody, parenting time or visitation, order child support or spousal maintenance, order use of property.
An OFP is not a criminal case. It is a family court case. If the police have been called, they may also start a separate criminal matter because it is against the law to hurt or threaten people. For more information about OFP's or to fill out paperwork for an Order for Protection, stop in at our office or go to: www.courts.state.mn.us/ctforms and scroll down until you find Domestic Abuse. The intructions will walk you through the process. If you need any help, feel free to call us.
A Harassment Order (HRO) is also a court order that provides protection from harassment or stops another person from bothering you. Some behaviors do not meet the legal definition of domestic abuse, but do meet the definition of harassment. The court can order the harasser to leave you alone and have no further contact with you. This includes stopping the phone calls, letters, email and text messages. Harassment Order papers are available at our office and are at: www.courts.state.mn.us/ctforms, scroll down and find Harassment. Follow the instructions, if you need assistance please call us or stop in.
Friends Against Abuse
Nobody Deserves To Be Abused
