Civil Protection Orders and Protections

Are you involved in a divorce or child custody case involving a civil protection order (CPO)? An experienced Colorado Springs divorce and child custody lawyer can guide you through the legal process and assist you in exploring your options. You have one bite at the apple in the court system so make it count.

Civil protection orders (CPOs) can offer important protections to those who fear harm to themselves from others. They are sometimes also called restraining orders. A protection order is a court order protecting one party from acts of another, such as harassment or assault and offering remedies for violation of the order. The purpose of a CPO is to promote safety, reduce violence and other types of harm, and to prevent serious injury or death. It is important to have evidence when requesting the issuance of an order.

County courts have jurisdiction to issue temporary and permanent civil protection orders against adults or juveniles ten years of age or older for any of the following:

“(I) To prevent assaults and threatened bodily harm;

(II) To prevent domestic abuse;

(III) To prevent emotional abuse of the elderly or of an at-risk adult;

(IV) To prevent sexual violence; and

(V) To prevent stalking.” C.R.S. 13-14-104.5(1)(a)

CPOs are intended to aid in the protection of victims against domestic violence and other harms. Though they are a deterrent, in and of themselves, they can not prevent violations. However, violating a protection order can result in serious consequences. One protection offered through a protection order is the removal of firearms from the perpetrator.

Civil protection orders differ from mandatory protection orders issued in some criminal cases. They are not automatically issued and must be requested by the harmed party. CPOs are not limited to domestic violence, although most protection orders do relate to it. For example, those who have been harmed by neighbors, may also obtain a CPO if harmful acts have been committed and they are in imminent danger. CPOs begin as temporary orders and then can be made permanent after an evidentiary hearing. A temporary CPO can also be extended from 14 days to one year. Criminal protection orders, on the other hand, terminate once the criminal case is concluded. Thus, even if there is a criminal protection order, it may be good idea to obtain a CPO as well.

A highly knowledgeable and experienced Colorado Springs divorce and child custody lawyer can guide you through Colorado Springs divorce and child custody matters by negotiating, mediating and litigating on your behalf. You can focus on moving to a better future instead of spending your time attempting to navigate complex legal rules and procedures.

Sabra Janko from Janko Family Law has more than 20 years of legal experience and has written “the book” on Colorado divorce and family law – “Colorado Family Law With Forms”, published by LexisNexis, which you can find at https://store.lexisnexis.com/products/colorado-family-law-with-forms-skuSKU02903. Contact us at 719-344-5523 or complete our online scheduling request for a free 30-minute informational consultation. We also offer paid one-hour advice sessions for a more in-depth analysis of your case.