Walk It Through: The Ex
A credible threat, an order that can last five years, and a misdemeanor to break it.
After a breakup, the partner a nurse used to live with keeps calling and messaging at all hours and waits outside the hospital after shifts.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One nurse and one former partner. Civil harassment orders between strangers, custody orders in the same case, and criminal threats are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Civil harassment orderA court order against unlawful violence, a credible threat of violence, or a course of harassing conduct, which can last up to five years after a hearing.
- StalkingWillfully, maliciously and repeatedly following or harassing someone and making a credible threat intended to place them in reasonable fear for their safety.
- Disturbing the peaceUnlawfully fighting in public, maliciously disturbing others with loud and unreasonable noise, or using offensive words in public inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction. Up to 90 days in county jail, a fine of up to $400, or both.
- Domestic violence restraining orderAn order after a hearing barring abuse, contact and disturbing the peace, which can last up to five years and be renewed without a showing of further abuse.