No one should ever have to live in fear of an assault or family violence. If your spouse has physically assaulted you or your children, or you are being threatened by someone, you may need legal protection from the person. You definitely need to consult with a compassionate, skilled attorney.

The court can issue a protective order on your behalf. A protective order prevents the person from coming into your home, your workplace, or anywhere near you or your children. A protective order can also stop your child from being taken away, stop a dangerous person from owning a gun, or stop anything else that can threaten you.

For especially severe cases of domestic violence, there is also a no contact protective order, in which the person threatening you cannot call you, write you, or contact you at all except through lawyers. If a person violates any protective order, he or she can go to jail.

Restraining orders are similar, except that, if violated, restraining orders don't carry jail sentences. Restraining orders are done in civil court, instead of criminal court, and are thus a good option for cases in which no law has been broken.