Civil Protective Orders in Long Beach, CA

Get a Civil Restraining Order with the Law Office of Peacock & Le Beau

If you have been the victim of civil harassment, you may be eligible for a civil protective order in Long Beach, California. Civil protective orders are also called civil restraining orders, and they can help you stay safe when someone you are not very close to starts to scare or bother you. When you get a civil restraining order, the judge will order the person who is harassing you to stay away from you, and there will be consequences for this person if they violate the order.

Do not face civil harassment in silence. Instead, call the Law Office of Peacock & Le Beau. We have more than 40 years of combined legal experience and have helped thousands of clients like you.

Call us at (562) 888-9148 today for a free initial case evaluation.

What Is Civil Harassment?

According to the Judicial Council of California, “civil harassment is abuse, threats of abuse, stalking, sexual assault, or serious harassment by someone you have not dated and do not have a close relationship with, like a neighbor, a roommate, or a friend (that you have never dated).”

Civil restraining orders may also apply when you are being harassed by a family member, and the harassment does not count as domestic violence. While abuse and harassment from your spouse would qualify as domestic violence, abuse and harassment from an aunt, uncle, or cousin would be considered civil harassment.

Per California law (Code of Civil Procedure section 527.6), harassment includes:

• Any unlawful violence (e.g., battery, assault, or stalking)
• A credible threat of violence
• Violence or threats that seriously scare, annoy, or harass someone without a valid reason

Harassment can look like someone stalking or following you, making calls to harass you, or even sending uncomfortable messages by phone, mail, or e-mail. In the appropriate context, even your roommate overfeeding your fish or your neighbor yelling at your dog could be construed as harassment.

If you are afraid for your safety or the safety of your family, do not hesitate to contact a civil protective order attorney near you. 

What Can a Civil Restraining Order Do?

A civil restraining order can help law enforcement protect you. It also places limitations on the person who is harassing you.

Under a civil restraining order, the restrained person may not:

• Contact you or any member of your household
• Go near you, your children, or anyone else who lives with you – at home and no matter where you go.
• Show up at your work, your school, or your children’s school
• Have a gun

If someone violates a civil protective order, they can be jailed and fined.

How Soon Can I Get a Civil Restraining Order?

There are several types of civil restraining orders, some of which can be issued immediately and others that require hearings.

Emergency protective orders (EPOs) are available 24 hours a day. Civil EPOs are only available for cases of stalking, so if you are being stalked, you can call the police and ask for an EPO. EPOs start immediately and can last for up to 7 days. From there, you will want to get a temporary restraining order (TRO).

To get a TRO, you must go to court and fill out paperwork telling the judge everything that has happened. If the judge believes you need protection, they will use a TRO that lasts for about 20 to 25 days – or until the date of your hearing.

Hearings are necessary for “permanent” restraining orders. These orders can last up to 5 years, so they are not really permanent.

If you need a restraining order that lasts longer, you should look into a criminal protective order or a “stay-away” order.

Do I Need a Lawyer?

You do not need a lawyer to ask for a civil restraining order, but the California Courts say it is a good idea to have a lawyer.

Always call 911 if you are in immediate danger or have an emergency, and do not hesitate to call the police if you need a civil EPO for stalking. Once you have contacted the authorities for protection, you may want to speak to an attorney to get legal help with your paperwork, hearing, and other parts of the restraining order process.

The Law Office of Peacock & Le Beau is always available to help you. We take a team approach and prepare every case with the utmost attention to detail. Each attorney at our firm will be on your side, and we will do everything in our power to protect you.

If you need to ask for a civil protective order, please call us at (562) 888-9148 or send us a message online – we can help you start navigating the legal system during your free consultation.