Domestic Violence Attorneys in Kenton County

EPOs can impose restrictions on a respondent, including but not limited to: 

• forbidding further acts of violence against the petitioner;
• ordering the respondent to remain at least 500 feet away from the petitioner at all times;
• ordering the respondent to vacate a home that they share with the petitioner;
• forbidding the respondent from selling or destroying any property in a shared home; and/or
• specifying which forms of communication are acceptable between the petitioner and the respondent.

If the judge determines that there is sufficient evidence, they will grant the petitioner a domestic violence order (DVO) against the respondent. 

A domestic violence order is a type of long-term protective order, more commonly referred to as a restraining order. These orders impose restrictions on the respondent and can last up to three years at a time. The restrictions imposed by a DVO can include any of those imposed by the initial EPO. 

DVOs can also:

• grant temporary custody to the petitioner;
• grant possession of a shared animal to a petitioner; and/or
• order either or both parties to seek counseling.

The petitioner can request to maintain limited contact with the abuser and/or allow both parties to be in a common area together with specific restrictions laid out by a judge. 

Violations of an EPO or a DVO can be charged either as contempt of court (carrying a potential penalty of six months in jail) or as a class A misdemeanor (carrying a potential penalty of 12 months in jail). Further potential penalties are changes in custody and/or losing your right to own, purchase, or sell a firearm or ammunition.

If you have been served an EPO or DVO, call us at (859) 715-0466. We will consult you regarding the order and help you fight the allegations against you.