GET THE ADVANTAGE THAT AN ATTORNEY CAN GIVE YOU

An injunction is a civil proceeding in which a person seeks to have a court order for protection. The injunction procedure in Florida is complex and happens quickly. Therefore, if you are defending an injunction you likely need an attorney and you need one quickly. An attorney can get extensions of time to prepare for the final hearing, can take depositions and obtain witnesses who are favorable to you. Additionally, an experienced injunction defense attorney can discredit witnesses, find inconsistencies in stories, and thoroughly cross-examine witnesses.

However, most important of all, our Jacksonville injunction defense attorneys are often able to get the petitions themselves dismissed. In fact, we have been able to get a surprisingly large percent of the petitions against our clients dismissed because of fatal flaws in the petitions. A party in civil litigation who is represented by an attorney has a significant advantage over the non-represented party.

DO NOT GO TO COURT ALONE. WE CAN HELP! 

What happens if an injunction is enforced against a person?

Loss of Your Rights

If a final injunction for protection is granted against you in Florida, serious consequences can result including the following:

1. It will show up on your criminal record background check. Despite the fact that an injunction is a civil proceeding, it will be on your background check and can be seen by potential employers, landlords, scholarships, or an organization, including youth sports leagues that run you for a criminal record.

2. The injunction is enforceable nationwide.

3. You will not be able to buy a firearm or weapon, and you would be required to surrender any firearms or weapons you own.

4. The court can compel you to move from your house is you live with the person who is seeking the injunction.

5. You may be prevented from having unsupervised visitation or in some cases any contact with your children.

6. If the petitioner is a co-worker you could lose your job or be forced to get another job.

7. The court may on its own award child support without a full hearing on the matter, and that child support order can become permanent.

8. Further contact after the injunction is entered can result in arrest for offenses ranging from violation of a protective order, stalking, and perhaps even aggravated stalking.

9. If you have a professional license, you may be required to report the entry of the injunction and you may face discipline depending on the allegations of the petition.

10. If you are a member of the military you can be confined to quarters while not on duty, be kicked out of military housing, or if the person who gets the protective or want to become

11. If you are not a citizen of the United States, you could be deported or prevented from getting citizenship.

The effects of an injunction being entered against you go far beyond simply not being able to be near the person who filed the petition. An Injunction can change your ability to see or have relationships with your spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, children, family, friends, and neighbors. Unlike in a criminal proceeding, you do not have a right to have an attorney in an injunction proceeding. However, representing yourself puts you at a huge disadvantage, while being the only one with a lawyer may tilt the balance of power in your favor.