When Is It Actually Time to File a Restraining Order against Your Partner?
A common instinct for couples following a heated dispute is often to forgive and forget. It is natural to want to believe the best about your partner; however, if you find yourself always apologizing for things you don’t believe you should have to apologize for or your partner is constantly criticizing you about things you believe are okay or, worse yet, you don’t feel physically or emotionally safe in the relationship – a restraining order may be necessary for you to consider. Unfortunately, there are times when legally sanctioned distance between partners is the best course of action to protect you and your children. It seems as though every day there’s a news story about a dysfunctional or unhealthy relationship that ended in tragedy, the most recent of which included the Neptune police sergeant who allegedly gunned down and killed his wife in front of their daughter before nearly turning the gun on himself.
The fact is that people change during the course of relationships. Sometimes these changes result in your partner not being the person you thought he/she was. When this happens, a restraining order might be necessary in order for you to protect yourself while leaving the relationship. You should consider filing for a restraining order if:
Your Partner Physically Assaults You
As obvious as this may sound, many who experience it are so shocked and horrified that their loved one could actually lay a hand on them that they assume it’s a one-time thing. The fact is, however, that most incidents of domestic violence are part of a repetitive pattern of behavior and will likely become more frequent if the relationship continues.
Your Partner Threatens You
You never know when words will give way to action. If your partner threatens to kill you or cause you serious bodily harm, this is not the time to pretend that they were kidding or convince yourself that they didn’t mean it. This is especially important if there are children involved.
Your Partner Fails to Respect Your Request for Space
Perhaps you’ve tried to create separation between you and your partner without involving the legal system and they’ve ignored your request for time apart. When they repeatedly fail to respect your request for space and wind up doing things like parking their car outside your house or following you wherever you go or texting/calling you multiple times a day, it’s time to consider filing for a restraining order.
You don’t have to live in fear of an abusive or unstable partner. Contact an experienced attorney today to help initiate the process of filing a restraining order.
Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC can walk you through the process of filing a restraining order to protect yourself and your children. If you’re in immediate danger, call the police. Otherwise call us today.