The imposition of a civil restraining order against you can have very serious consequences. You can be forced out of your home and lose your child custody rights and your right to own a firearm. A criminal conviction for violating a restraining order can result in jail time.
In either situation, you need a strong and effective advocate who protects your rights. Your family relationships, your career, and possibly your freedom are at risk.
The Jeff Gilbert Law Office helps clients charged with domestic violence throughout Southeast Texas.
Following the issuance of a temporary restraining or protection order, a hearing will be scheduled within two weeks regarding the issuance of a final protection order. It is essential to have legal representation at this hearing. Trying to represent yourself may produce an adverse result.
Jeff Gilbert represents clients in this hearing to protect their rights and present their side of the story. The goal is to prevent the issuance of a final order. If that is not possible, we seek to limit the restrictions that are placed on our clients.
Police have very little flexibility in cases involving domestic disturbances. If they are called to the scene of an incident, they will arrest one of the parties in the dispute. It may be possible for our firm to obtain an affidavit of non-prosecution, or it may be necessary to aggressively defend the charge at trial.
We may be able to develop evidence in your favor that counters the allegations made in the criminal complaint, in order to obtain a dismissal or not guilty verdict. In situations where this is not feasible, it may be possible to mitigate the penalties you face through your participation in a treatment program or anger management course.