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5 years agoon
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FrimpongIn court cases, parties are entitled to notice and the opportunity to be heard. This is the basic concept behind due process, and everyone is entitled to it.
The exception to this rule is in emergency situations.
In cases where there is a possibility of immediate property destruction or extreme violence, you must petition the court to hear your case right away. You will be asking for an emergency protective order or restraining order , custody order, or an order preventing someone from destroying property.
There are other situations where emergency orders are appropriate, but these are the most common.
In a situation where getting an immediate order is urgent, you can petition the court without notifying and serving the other party.
This is known as an ex parte motion or application. What happens during this process varies in each state. In most cases, there is no notice or any opportunity to be heard by the other party during the first court appearance.
If the judge grants the ex parte order, the order is only temporary. The judge will hold a full hearing within a short period of time.
The procedure for an ex parte application
depends on the state. In some states, you submit an ex parte application or motion to the judge along with your affidavit and any exhibits you want to attach.
The purpose of this application is to convince the judge that you, as the petitioner, need an immediate order because of an urgent situation. The stronger your affidavit and supporting documents, the more likely you are to have an ex parte order granted.
In some States, the judge will review the application and supporting documents and either grant or deny the ex parte order on the strength of the documents without meeting you.
In other States, the judge will want you to appear and will ask you questions to determine whether your situation is a true emergency.
In many States, you present your ex parte application to the judge the same day you file it in court.
The clerk will ask you to wait in the courthouse until the judge can either review the papers or until the judge wants to speak with you. In other States, you must give notice to the other party the day before the emergency hearing or there’s a risk of having the request denied.
Reviewing the Ex Parte Motion
The judge can grant the ex parte motion and issue a temporary order, such as a temporary full custody order or a temporary restraining order. Because the other party was not present, the order is only temporary. Some examples of ex parte orders are orders that:
a) Prevent the other party from taking a child out of the country or state;
b) Prevent the other party from destroying property;
c) Prevent the other party from removing assets in a divorce proceeding;
d) Require the other party to stay away and not harass you
The court has to hold a hearing, with both sides present, within a reasonable amount of time. Some states require a full hearing to occur within 10 days, while others require a full hearing in 14 to 20 days.
Law enforcement officers serve the respondent, who is also known as the defendant in some states. The purpose of the hearing is to make sure the other party has been given his or her due process rights.
If the judge denies your ex parte application, a hearing may still be held shortly after the denial. You and the respondent both must appear at the hearing.
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