A person accused of domestic violence may find themselves in a difficult situation with the law. Domestic violence charges can make a person's life incredibly complicated. Accusations of domestic violence can cause a person to suffer consequences across several areas of the law, including any matters they have pending in the realm of family law, such as custody or divorce negotiations. What many people do not expect, however, is for domestic violence accusations to cause them to suffer consequences in their career path. This is especially the case if a person has a PFA order filed against them.
What Is A PFA Order?
A PFA order, or a protection from abuse order, is a court order approved by a judge that is meant to protect a victim of domestic violence. The person who files a PFA will be known as the plaintiff in these situations, while the person who is the subject of the PFA order will be known as the defendant. There are several different types of PFA orders that can be imposed on a defendant. The first type of PFA order is an emergency PFA order. These are issued by an on-call judge in the event of an emergency involving domestic violence. These are issued at the judge's discretion, depending on the situation. Emergency PFA orders are temporary and will last a certain amount of time before being finalized through a hearing. Similarly, an "ex parte" PFA order is another temporary PFA order. These are filed without the defendant present to defend themselves against the allegations. In either case, the defendant will be notified of a court date for the hearing for the final PFA order.
A final PFA order is a finalized PFA order that lasts for a longer term than other temporary PFA orders. In order for a PFA order to be finalized, it must be argued at a hearing. At PFA hearings, a defendant will be able to offer evidence and arguments in support of their own case. Even if a PFA against the defendant is finalized, they will still be able to impact the terms of the finalized order.
What Professions Can Be Threatened By A PFA Order Filed Against A Person?
A PFA filed against a person can have drastic impacts on several areas of a person's life. One of the most serious impacts a PFA can have is on a person's career. Many careers that require a person to hold a professional license can be endangered by a PFA being filed against them. Domestic violence charges may qualify as an example of professional misconduct, which can cause a person's status of licensing to come under review. Some careers that involve state licensing that can be impacted by a person having a PFA filed against them can include:
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When a person has a PFA order filed against them, their career may be on the line. Because domestic violence charges often coincide with the filing of a PFA order, a defendant may be unable to continue work if further matters escalate. For this reason, it may be best to get in touch with an experienced attorney as early on as possible. An attorney can defend and defendants interests at both their PFA hearing and their criminal charges if the need arises.
If you or a loved one is facing a PFA order or domestic violence charges, contact our Criminal Law Team today.
