Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders in Pennsylvania directly protect victims of abuse under the Protection from Abuse Act. This Act details applicable court processes, defines qualifying domestic relationships, and gives courts the authority to address abuse. If you face domestic abuse, your safety comes first. A Harrisburg protection-from-abuse lawyer at McDonald Myers Law can support you.
The Person Named in Your PFA Order
In Pennsylvania, you can seek a protection-from-abuse order against an intimate partner or a family member, including all the following:
- Your spouse or ex-spouse
- Your former or current domestic partner
- A parent
- A child
- Anyone related to you by blood or marriage
- Any current or former intimate partner, including anyone with whom you had a dating relationship
In Pennsylvania, you cannot get a PFA against a stranger or a roommate with whom you had no intimate relationship.
The Legal Protections Afforded
A PFA protects victims of abuse and helps ensure their safety and well-being.
No Contact Requirement
A PFA order can stop your abuser from contacting you in any way, including in person, by phone, mail, or electronic means.
Financial Support Requirement
Your PFA order may require your abuser to pay temporary support, such as child support, mortgage, or rent payments. Your PFA order may also require the abuser to pay for damages caused by their actions, such as:
- Medical treatment
- Counseling
- Lost earnings
- Relocation
- Legal fees
Child Custody Requirements
The court considers your children’s safety. If your children’s other parent is a risk, the court may deny or supervise visitation. Your custody arrangement may also change.
A Prohibition against Firearms
A PFA order can require the person named to relinquish all firearms and to refrain from acquiring additional firearms for the duration of the order. This requirement can extend to other kinds of weapons and to ammunition.
An Experienced Harrisburg Protection from Abuse Attorney Can Help You Protect Yourself
Allissa McDonald Myers is a knowledgeable Harrisburg protection from abuse attorney at McDonald Myers Law who understands how important it is to have a solid PFA in place for you and your children and will leave no stone unturned in her focused efforts to make a difference. Our dedicated legal team is here to help you. Please do not put off reaching out; contact us online or call us at 717-799-8546 for more information about what we can do for you today.
