Restraining Orders

On the day of the hearing, you must go to court to ask to have your temporary order turned into a final PFA order. A final order can last for between one and two years.¹

If you do not go to the hearing, your temporary order will expire, and you will have to restart the process. If the abuser does not show up for the hearing, the judge may enter a default order and may give you what you requested in your petition. The judge could also decide to postpone the date of the hearing to be able to hear testimony from the abuser. If the judge postpones the hearing, make sure that your temporary order is extended until the next court date.

You may wish to hire a lawyer to help with your case, especially if the abuser has a lawyer. If the abuser shows up with a lawyer, you can ask the judge for a “continuance” so that you have time to find a lawyer. Go to Kansas Finding a Lawyer to find help in your area.

You can also read through the At the Hearing section for ways you can show the judge that you were abused - this may be especially helpful if you are representing yourself. You can learn more about the court system in our Preparing for Court – By Yourself section.

¹ Kan. Stat. § 60-3107(e)