The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act in New Jersey was promulgated to effectuate the Legislature’s intent “to assure the victims of domestic violence the maximum protection from abuse the law can provide”. See N.J.S.A. 2C:25-18. A victim of domestic violence as defined under the Act can seek protection on the grounds of a number of statutorily classified offenses including, but not limited to, assault, terroristic threats, false imprisonment, harassment, stalking, and many others.

To obtain protection under the Act, a victim of domestic violence must file a Complaint with either the Superior Court of New Jersey, Family Part or, alternatively, the appropriate municipal court. In the event permanent protection is granted under the Act, the court has the authority not only to restrain the defendant from further acts of domestic violence but to grant the victim exclusive possession of the parties’ residence and address issues of custody and parenting time as well as temporary support and even compensatory and/or punitive damages.

New Jersey’s domestic violence laws are considered to be some of the strongest in the country. If you need the protection of a restraining order or, conversely, if you believe an order has been wrongfully entered against you, make sure you consult a domestic violence lawyer New Jersey trusts immediately.