Restraining Orders

Facing a restraining order or a violation charge?

A 209A order can force you from your home and jeopardize your job, your firearms, and your record. Violating one is a crime. Attorney Reinhardt defends both the order and the charge.

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What's at stake

Massachusetts has two main civil protective orders: abuse-prevention orders under G.L. c. 209A (between family or household members) and harassment-prevention orders under c. 258E (for harassment or stalking outside a domestic relationship). Although the order itself is civil, its consequences are severe: you can be ordered to leave your home, stay away from your children, and surrender your firearms.

And a violation of either order is a criminal offense under c. 209A, § 7 — even an accidental or minor contact can lead to arrest and prosecution. These matters move fast: a temporary order can issue without you present, with a full hearing just days later. What happens at that hearing shapes everything.

How it works

How we handle restraining-order cases

Two fronts: keeping an unjustified order from being extended, and defending any violation charge.

01

Step 1

Prepare for the hearing fast

The window between a temporary order and the full hearing is short. We move immediately to gather evidence and prepare your testimony.
02
Step 2

Contest the order

We challenge whether the legal standard for abuse or harassment is actually met, and present the other side of the story the court did not hear.
- Does the evidence meet the 209A/258E standard?
- Are there messages or witnesses that rebut the account?
- Is the order being used for leverage in a dispute?
03

Step 3

Defend violation charges

A violation charge requires proof you knew of the order and intentionally violated it. Accidental contact and lack of notice are real defenses.
04

Step 4

Protect your rights going forward

We address firearms surrender, housing, and custody impacts, and work toward vacating or narrowing the order where possible.

Restraining-order questions

A temporary order was issued without me there — is that legal?

Yes. Massachusetts allows a temporary (ex parte) 209A or 258E order to issue based on one side's testimony, with a full hearing within about 10 days. That hearing is your chance to be heard — and it is critical to be prepared for it.

What happens if I violate a restraining order?

Violating a 209A order is a criminal offense that can lead to arrest and jail. The Commonwealth must prove you knew about the order and violated it intentionally — but you should never rely on "it was accidental" without counsel. If you are charged, call immediately.

Can a restraining order be removed?

Orders can be contested at the hearing and, later, challenged through a motion to modify or vacate. The stronger your evidence and preparation, the better your odds of keeping an order from being extended or getting it lifted.