Abuse

A PFA stands for Protection From Abuse. It is a civil procedure available to someone who is a victim of domestic violence from an intimate partner, household member, or family member. Abuse is defined as physical injury or the threat of physical injury.

You can file a petition to terminate the PFA order and it will be scheduled for a hearing. However, even if granted he will still have the finding of abuse on his record permanently.

Temporary (ex parte) protection from abuse orders. An emergency PFA can protect you from the time you file for the final order until your full court hearing can take place. (However, by law, the judge can take three business days to decide whether or not to grant you an ex parte temporary order.)

1Reconciliation. Strangers do not perpetrate DV, someone they love does. When someone you love is the perpetrator, leaving for good is the hardest part.2Children. Kids miss their parents, and parents miss their kids. There is a constant pressure for a parent to return to being a "family."

A PFA Order is an order of Family Court ordering someone to stop abusing another person, and may include other relief, such as ordering the abuser to stay away from the person being abused. Abuse is defined as any threatening or harmful conduct including serious emotional harm.

If you believe the protection order was granted improperly or that it is no longer needed, you can file a motion asking the court to dissolve (terminate or cancel) the protection order.If the court schedules a hearing and grants the motion, the protection order will become immediately void and unenforceable.

A PFA is not a criminal action, and will not appear as a conviction on your record. However, an active PFA does impose limitations on your freedom and it is essential that you talk to an attorney before your PFA hearing.

This remedy is known as a Protection from Abuse Order, or commonly referred to as a PFA. A PFA Order is a court order that prohibits any contact between the aggressor and the victim. This may include contact at the home, school or place of employment. A parent can also seek a PFA Order on behalf of minor children.

At a Default hearing, the Petitioner will tell the Court what the Respondent has done to cause the Petitioner and/or the Petitioner's children harm or fear of being harmed. The Judicial Officer will make a decision about whether or not to grant the PFA Order based on the evidence and testimony.