While all Kentucky divorces are adjudicated in civil court, not all divorces are civil — and some are downright nasty. When soon-to-be ex-spouses must interact with each other over custody exchanges, financial matters, etc., things can get heated sometimes.
It is also possible for one spouse to misrepresent the actual circumstances of the confrontation and make it appear worse than it was. If that occurs, you could find yourself slapped with a domestic violence order (DVO).
Repercussions of a DVO
Both a DVO and an interpersonal protective order (IPO) can have a major and immediate negative effect on your life. This is particularly reprehensible when the accuser exaggerated the incident to portray themselves as the victim or outright lied to gain the upper hand in court.
Below are some of the consequences and losses of having a protective order against you:
- You may have to leave your house
- You could be barred from unsupervised (or any) contact with your own children
- You will not be able to contact your accuser in any way, including through third parties
- Not get within 500’ of your accuser
- Lose custody of your pet(s)
That list is not all-inclusive, and the penalties are harsh. Depending on your career or industry, you could lose your job as a result of the protective order.
Be prepared if your divorce leads to criminal charges
Forewarned is forearmed. If you have any inkling that your spouse could make false accusations of abuse to the court, make sure that you alert your family law attorney to that possibility so that they can better protect you and your rights.