Injunction Against Harassment Archives

The Scottsdale family law attorneys at Canterbury Law Group have expertise on Arizona protective orders. According to our state law, protective orders can be issued against a person for reasons including making repeated unwanted phone calls, emails, texts, physically injuring a person, threatening physical injury, trespassing on a person’s property or sending a person unsolicited and constant messages.

If you are in need of a restraining order, call us immediately. If someone you know may need protective help, here is some information to consider:

Restraining orders are often issued to abusers that have recently lived in the household of another or who have lived in the same household as the victim in the past. Household members could be but are not necessarily limited to ex-spouses, ex-partners, past boyfriends or girlfriends, siblings, children or parents.
There is a legal procedure for obtaining a restraining order in the state of Arizona including requiring the victim to complete legal forms. Canterbury Law Group helps clients navigate these often- tedious legal forms. Afterwards, a hearing is conducted to determine if a restraining order is indeed necessary.
Arizona restraining order laws cover a wide variety of issues. Some are more temporary than others, and the exact length of time of each order which is granted depends upon the severity of the facts of the case.
According to Arizona restraining order laws, it is possible for another person to file a restraining order on a victim’s behalf. This can be done if the victim is incapacitated as a result of injury not necessarily directly related to the abuse and/or if the victim is a minor and the parent or guardian wishes to file. A person can file for another person if the person desiring the order is in some other way temporarily or permanently unable to file for the order.

If you are dealing with a restraining order or are thinking of filing for one, contact Canterbury Law Group today. Our dedicated litigation attorneys in Scottsdale will ensure thorough preparation for your restraining order and help you navigate the legal issues that arise. If you seek to quash an order issued against you, the firm is equally well versed in defending protective orders.

Canterbury Law Group specializes in obtaining orders of protection in Scottsdale. In Arizona there are five types of protective orders:

Order of Protection – A person who believes her/his safety is in danger due to domestic violence or harassment can ask the court for an Order of Protection or an Injunction Against Harassment. An Order of Protection is a legal restraint used to prohibit a person from committing acts of domestic violence or from contacting people protected by the order. It also provides several kinds of protective relief, such as removing firearms from the home, adding other people to the protective order, and exclusive use of the home. However, it is only a piece of paper. You must also take steps to insure your safety.

Emergency Order of Protection – An Emergency Order of Protection is also a legal restraint to prevent domestic violence. An Emergency Order may be granted by an authorized judicial officer in writing, verbally or by telephone for the protection of a person in “imminent and present danger of domestic violence.” An Emergency Order may be used to order a person not to commit acts of domestic violence or contact people protected by the order. Similar to the Order of Protection, it also provides protective relief, such as exclusive use of the home and removing firearms from an abuser. Unless continued by the court, an Emergency Order is valid only until the close of the next day of judicial business following the day that the Emergency Order was issued.

Release Order -In rural counties where it is not required that a judicial officer be designated to issue Emergency Orders when the courts are closed, emergency protection is available through a registered Release Order. Arizona law provides that, when a person arrested for an act of domestic violence is released from custody, any Release Order shall include pretrial release conditions necessary to protect the alleged victim and other specifically designated persons. Within twenty-four hours after a defendant is arrested for an act of domestic violence, the court must forward a certified copy of the Release Order to the sheriff of the county in which the Order was issued for registration. The sheriff must maintain a central repository for Release Orders so the existence and validity of the Release Order may be easily verified. Law enforcement agencies are required to advise domestic violence victims where registration and the conditions of a Release Order may be verified. Faced with a violation of a Release Order, a victim may summon a peace officer to enforce the conditions of the Order against the defendant.

Injunction Against Harassment – The Injunction Against Harassment orders a person to stop harassing, annoying or alarming another person. Injunctions can be used for disputes against neighbors, strangers, and people who are or were dating. Harassment is defined as: “a series of acts over any period of time that is directed at a specific person….” The relationship between you and the other person determines which protective order will be used for your situation. The Injunction Against Harassment differs from the Order of Protection in that exclusive use of the home cannot be ordered and the police are not mandated to serve the Injunction.

What is the Injunction Against Workplace Harassment – The Injunction Against Workplace Harassment is the newest protective order available in Arizona. It allows an employer or an agent of an employer to file for relief on behalf of all employees at the workplace, any person who enters the employer’s property and any person who is performing official work duties. This allows the inclusion of numerous people under the protective umbrella of this Injunction, whereas the “personal” Injunction Against Harassment is usually between two people. Harassment for this injunction is defined as: “a single threat or act of physical harm or damage or a series of acts over a period of time that would cause a reasonable person to be seriously alarmed or annoyed.” A qualification was included which ensures that the employer may not seek an injunction primarily to accomplish a purpose for which it was not designed (i.e. prohibit free speech or other activities that are constitutionally or otherwise protected by law.)

It is essential to contact an attorney to evaluate and invoke your rights when dealing with domestic violence. Contact our Scottsdale lawyers today to schedule your consultation.

Obtaining a Restraining Order in Arizona

5 Types of Protective Orders in Arizona