Seattle Attorney for Protection Order Cases

Padlock on door

Jennifer Horwitz Law has extensive experience in King County and Seattle, Washington representing both petitioners and respondents in various types of protection orders cases. Whether you are the person who is requesting the order (the Petitioner) or the person defending oneself against the order (Respondent), Jennifer is a tenacious advocate for her clients. Her goal is always to clearly and forcefully argue for your position in a protection order case.

Protection order cases usually involve a complex history between the person seeking the order and the person defending themself against the order. The evidence in support of your position can include police reports, emails, text messages, photos, statements of witnesses who know something about the parties or their relationship, medical records and other information. Jennifer Horwitz is an expert both at investigating the relevant information and at organizing all of that information into a coherent narrative to present to the Court.

It should be noted that Protection Order cases that are tied to a family law proceeding should be handled by a family law attorney and will be referred out. Jennifer Horwitz Law handles all other Protection Order cases.

Process to Obtain Protection Orders

The person who feels they need a protection order completes a Petition for a Protection Order explaining why they need the protection of the Court. The Court typically sets a hearing and issues a temporary protection order while the case is pending. Often, the hearing date that is initially set is too soon to allow time for a complete presentation. In such situations, Jennifer will ask that the hearing date be continued for three to four weeks, to allow her to fully prepare your case. The Court will typically grant the request and extend the temporary order while the case is pending. Jennifer Horwitz will file your materials in advance of the final hearing date and will be prepared to present your case to the Court. The Court will decide whether a final protection order will issue at that hearing date.

Jennifer Horwitz Brings Special Skills to Your Protection Order Case

Jennifer Horwitz will take the time to understand how you found yourself in a situation where you either needed to petition for a protection order or defend yourself against one. If there are safety concerns, she will help you take additional steps to protect your safety. She will work with you to gather the most compelling evidence for your particular case and will often speak with witnesses and assist them in drafting sworn statements. She will organize the materials and evidence relevant to your position and present them to the Court. She is very familiar with the legal standard for granting an order and will be able to rally both the facts and the law to argue strongly for your position. Jennifer has extensive experience representing people who identify as part of the LGBTQ community.

Types of Protection Orders in Washington State

There are several types of Protection Orders available in the state of Washington, each designed with a particular purpose. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Jennifer Horwitz is well-prepared to assist you with either obtaining or defending yourself against, any of the following:

Domestic Violence Protection Orders involve family or household members, previous and current romantic partners, spouses and ex-spouses. Adults can also seek protection orders for the protection of children who are related to the respondent. Protection orders can be put in place on a temporary basis, for a single year or more, or permanently. Once the protection order is in place, the respondent may be ordered to stay away from certain locations associated with the petitioner or keep a certain distance from that person. Other conditions may be ordered or limited exceptions may be carved out allowing for limited contact around issues of co-parenting, for example. Domestic violence protection orders also involve orders to relinquish and not possess firearms.

Extreme Risk Protection Orders, or ERPOs are typically filed against individuals who are believed to pose an imminent risk. Such orders may be filed by the family or household members themselves or by law enforcement officials. These protection orders also address community safety concerns by prohibiting access to firearms.

Stalking Protection Orders are issued against those accused of intentionally following or otherwise harassing victims physically or through the internet in such a way that the victims fear for their personal safety, the safety of loved ones, or personal property. Once a stalking protection order is in place, whether for one year or on a permanent basis, the respondent will have to adhere to a firearm prohibition and surrender any firearms in their possession.

Anti-Harassment Protection Orders are typically filed against parties who are accused of engaging in harassment or other unlawful conduct that intentionally annoys, frightens or causes emotional distress to the party seeking the order. These proceedings often involve neighbors, co-workers or people who do not know each other well. This type of protection order, too, may be put in place on a temporary basis, for one or more years, or permanently, and may specifically restrict firearm purchase or possession.

Sexual Assault Protection Orders, unlike domestic violence protection orders, sexual assault protection orders (“SAPO”) may be filed against a person who is engaging in non-consensual conduct with someone who is not a family or household member. Be aware that one incident of sexual assault can be sufficient for such a protection order to be filed.

“No Contact Orders” should be distinguished from Protection Orders.  No contact orders are issued as part of a criminal case, whereas the protection orders discussed in this section are civil orders that issue after a petition and full hearing on the request.

Protection Orders Hearings Have Important Consequences for Both Parties

Protection Order proceedings have far-reaching consequences for both the petitioner and the respondent. For a petitioner who has serious safety concerns, obtaining a protection order is an important step in securing your future safety and ensuring that the person who poses a risk to your safety is held accountable if they violate the order.

For someone defending themself against false accusations by a petitioner, there is much at stake in a protection order proceeding. If the Court grants the order, you may be vulnerable to a later false allegation that you violated the order, which could give rise to criminal prosecution. Protection orders have consequences in family settings, resulting in one person having to leave a family home or being separated from their children. It can also have consequences in a work or school setting where both parties work or attend school in the same location. Protection orders can stigmatize someone and make it more believable if a later false allegation is made by someone against the respondent, since the respondent has already been found to pose a threat to someone by a court. Finally, the issuance of a protection order restricts your right to own and possess a firearm and for that reason will have especially serious consequences for members of the military and law enforcement.

Contact Jennifer Horwitz Law for Your Protection Order Case

Whichever side of a protection order you’re on, make sure you have Jennifer Horwitz Law on your side. Whether your physical safety or your civil rights and reputation are at stake, Jennifer Horwitz is the protection order lawyer to speak to. Contact her as soon as you either decide to file a petition or are served with notice of the protection order hearing so that she can evaluate your case and take the necessary steps to protect you from harm. 

Jennifer Horwitz helps clients obtain or respond to requests for protection orders in Seattle and all throughout Washington State and King County including Bellevue, Issaquah, and Sammamish.