Restraining Orders

A DVPO can:

• order the abuser not to assault, threaten, abuse, follow, harass, or interfere with you and your children in person, at work, on the telephone, or by other means;
• allow you to live in the home where you and the abuser have lived together and order the abuser to move out and not return, no matter who owns the home or is on the lease;
• order the abuser to provide suitable alternative housing for you;
• tell the police to remove the abuser from the home and help you to return to the home;
• give you possession of personal property including a car and household goods, except for the abuser’s personal belongings;
• order the abuser to stay away from any place you request including your school, your children’s school, your work place, your friends’ homes, or any place where you are seeking shelter;
• order the abuser not to cruelly treat or abuse a pet owned or held by you, the abuser, or a minor child living in the home;
• give you possession of any pet owned or held by you, the abuser, or a minor child living in the home;
• give you temporary custody of a minor child, order the abuser to pay temporary child support, and establish temporary visitation;
• order your spouse to pay temporary spousal support;
• order the abuser to hand over any firearms and prohibit the abuser from purchasing a firearm;
• order the abuser to attend an abuser’s treatment program;
• order the abuser to pay attorney’s fees; and
• order the abuser to do anything else you ask for and the judge agrees to.¹

Whether a judge orders any or all of the above depends on the facts of your case.

¹ NCGS § 50B-3