Protective Orders

Travis County Protective Order Defense

Tell us about your case.

Have you been shut out of your own life because of a protective order? Have you recently been arrested and charged with violating an existing protective order? In either case, the sooner you contact a lawyer, the better your chances will be to achieve a positive outcome.

At Bristol Myers & Associates, P.C., part of our domestic violence practice includes representing clients in civil protective order hearings and in criminal cases involving alleged acts of domestic or family violence.

While neither you nor your accuser need be present for an emergency protective order to be granted by a magistrate, more permanent orders lasting anywhere from a few months to two years require a full hearing. Civil hearings for protective orders, although difficult to "win," can be a good way to gather evidence for trial in the event criminal charges are brought against you.

Another problem that prosecutors face in these matters is that accusers are often reluctant to testify in protective order hearings. The recent Supreme Court decision (Crawford v. Washington) dealing with the rights of individuals to confront their accusers means that if your accuser decides not to testify—for whatever reason—any statements they may have made previously are considered hearsay and are often inadmissible in court.

Contacting Our Law Firm

Bristol Myers & Associates, P.C. handles both criminal and civil matters related to protective orders and represents clients in the Austin area and throughout the state of Texas. If you would like to talk about your situation with an experienced criminal defense attorney—call or contact us in Austin, Texas, to schedule a consultation.