Served with an injunction? The hearing comes fast.
A temporary injunction can bar you from your home and limit contact with your children before you have said a word. The full hearing is usually set within days, and what happens there can shape your custody case for years.
In Florida, a temporary domestic violence injunction can be entered without notice to the respondent, and it lasts no more than 15 days, with the full hearing set before it expires; the court may continue the hearing for good cause and extend the injunction meanwhile (Fla. Stat. 741.30(5)(c)). At the full hearing, the judge decides whether to enter a final injunction, which can affect time-sharing, firearm possession, and the parent's position in later family cases.
Do this now
- Follow the temporary injunction exactly. No contact, no messages, no third parties carrying messages.
- Write down the hearing date, time, and courtroom from the paperwork you were served.
- Gather texts, call logs, photos, and names of witnesses who saw the events described.
- Book a strategy session immediately. Preparation time is short.
Why fathers should not handle this hearing alone
The petitioner's account goes in first. Cross-examination, witness preparation, and evidence rules decide these hearings, and a final injunction can follow you into every later time-sharing dispute.
Need to petition for one yourself?
Fathers seek protection too. We prepare petitions and represent petitioners at the hearing.
Questions fathers ask
Can I see my kids while a temporary injunction is in place?
Only as the temporary injunction allows. Some orders address temporary time-sharing; many limit contact. Read it carefully and follow it.
Can the hearing be continued?
Continuances are possible for good cause, and the temporary injunction usually stays in place meanwhile.
Will a final injunction affect custody?
It can. Courts consider domestic violence findings when deciding time-sharing and parental responsibility.
Get a plan before your next court date.
Start with a one-on-one strategy session with Attorney Fraser. You leave with a written plan: what the court is likely to look at, what to file, what it costs, and the timeline. No surprise bills.
Prefer email? mail@fraserlawfl.com. Divorce or alimony? See our full family practice at FirstCoastFamilyLawyers.com.