How will my husband know that an order has been made against him? Do I have to give him a copy?
It
is important to note that orders made under the Protection Against
Family Violence Act are of no force unless the person named
in the order knows that it exists. He or she must therefore be served
with a copy as soon as possible after it is made. Service is the
legal term for giving him or her a copy.
When a judge makes an emergency protection order, three copies of
the order are made either by the judge or by the person applying
for the order such as a peace officer. The peace officer or anyone
else directed by the judge must then serve a copy of the order on
your husband as soon as reasonably possible. Make sure that you
check that the order has been served. Once the order is served,
whoever served it must complete a sworn statement as to how and
when they served it. This document is called an Affidavit of Service
and is also filed with the court.
If
someone else applies for the order on your behalf, but the order
is to protect you, then you must also be served with a copy of the
order.
WARNING:
The contents of these FAQs are intended as general legal information
only.
If
you have a personal problem, please consult a lawyer.
July 2003
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