You have been living under the terms of the “temporary” Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order since you were served with the paperwork. Seeing that there is a “final hearing” scheduled by the Court, you might be wondering “how long does a PFA Order last?”
The answer to the question (“how long does a PFA Order last”) is in general, while your “temporary” PFA Order that came with the PFA Complaint paperwork is in effect until the PFA Hearing, the “permanent” PFA Order or consent agreement you sign onto at the PFA Hearing is normally in effect for a period of two (2) years. This means that for two (2) years after the “permanent” PFA Order goes into effect, you are required to adhere to the terms of the order. The terms of the PFA Order can include things like no contact with the plaintiff and no possession of firearms along with other requirements.
What if the plaintiff wants the PFA to be longer?
Two years having to deal with adhering to requirements can feel like a long time. But what happens if the plaintiff wants the PFA Order to be in effect for longer than that?
The PFA plaintiff cannot unilaterally decide that the PFA Order should be in effect for longer than two years without a Court Order. This means that if the plaintiff wants the Order to be longer, then the plaintiff needs to file a motion with the Court for an extension of the “permanent” PFA Order. Within that motion, the plaintiff needs to state a good reason for needing an extension. The Court will not grant an extension without a compelling reason for needing the extension. “I just want the Order to be longer” without supporting evidence will not suffice.
After the motion to extend is filed, then a court hearing is held to decide whether or not an extension is granted. The Judge makes the final determination.
Our determined legal team is committed to take immediate action to seek a positive case outcome. If you or someone you know is facing a PFA matter in Maine, I encourage you to contact The Nielsen Group for your free legal consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney. We will take the time to answer your questions and to put your mind at ease as we work with you to determine a defense strategy.
It is well worth your time to check out:
If you would like to call us now at (207) 571-8555, we can begin to develop your case strategy.
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