Last night, the Sheriff woke me up to deliver a restraining order from a girl I ghosted a month ago. She accused me of stalking and hacking her phone, which I didn’t do.
We met through a group chat and hung out a few times as platonic friends. I stopped responding to her texts in September because of her anxiety and depression. Since then, she has been sending me long messages.
Now I have to go to court to fight this restraining order. Her evidence includes handwritten notes, phone data, and screenshots, but nothing proves her accusations. I have screenshots of our last text conversations showing her blowing up my phone.
Do I need a lawyer, or will my text evidence be enough? Should I file a restraining order against her or counter-sue?
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To protect you in this circumstance and to give you advice if things go worse, I would go in with legal counsel. A restraining order should not appear on your record.
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Hire legal counsel!
Presumably, you have a court date to determine if your temporary restraining order becomes permanent. Errors can undermine your argument because there are precise guidelines for submitting evidence and filing motions.
Background checks reveal restraining orders, which may cause problems when applying for jobs in the future.
You will also be in charge of following the directive. She might move near to where you live or work, which would require you to move or change jobs—something your employer might not be supportive of.
She has already demonstrated that she might abuse the protection order. This is not what you want on your record.
Think about whether you need a lawyer, but keep in mind that court days for restraining orders can be busy, and you might end up waiting a long time. It seems she doesn’t have solid proof against you.
Prepare by creating a clear, factual summary of the events. Use bullet points and a timeline. Address her accusations and include screenshots of her excessive texts. Organize everything neatly, like a well-prepared report.
Your goal is to make your side of the story easy for the judge to understand, especially compared to her disorganized evidence. Bring at least two copies of your documents: one for her if she has a lawyer and one for the court.
Be prepared to present your case clearly. Make notes to stay organized and calm. Dress appropriately, stay polite, and don’t react to any outrageous claims she makes.