Getting a no contact order (anti-harassment/ stalking, sexual assault, domestic violence) is, these days, pretty darn easy. All anyone must allege, essentially, is that they have been harassed, stalked, sexually assaulted or the victim of domestic violence. If the court finds by a ‘preponderance of evidence’ that the allegation is true, it will issue an order that prohibits the ‘respondent’ from contacting the ‘petitioner’ for a set period of time. The length of the order can be 6 months up to ‘permanent,’ i.e. forever. If the order is for a period less than ‘permanent,’ the petitioner may seek an extension of the order commencing three months before the order is set to expire. If the order is ‘permanent,’ the ball goes to the other side of the proverbial court and the ‘respondent’ may seek that it be removed/ lifted once every 365 days. The law applicable to no contact orders can be found at RCW 7.105. The law is very petitioner friendly. In short, it is not difficult to get a no contact order in Washington State, especially one related to domestic violence. More importantly, if an order is ultimately granted by a court, having it: (1) reissued is extremely easy, and (2) recalled by a respondent is extremely difficult - almost impossible.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge or is dealing with the imposition of a no contact order, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their situation. So, it should go without saying that someone dealing with a misdemeanor, felony or no contact order should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges and no contact orders can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime or facing the imposition of a no contact order in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.