Domestic Violence

Louisville Domestic Violence Protection: Legal Help When Safety Is Threatened

No one deserves to be the victim of domestic violence, and no one deserves to be falsely accused of committing domestic violence. If you’re facing domestic violence in Kentucky, your safety and wellbeing must be the top priority.

At Bowman Legal, Louisville’s trusted family law firm, attorney Jason A. Bowman provides compassionate, urgent representation for domestic violence victims seeking protection through Kentucky’s legal system — and equally vigorous defense for those facing allegations.

With extensive experience in Jefferson County Family Court, Jason A. Bowman guides clients through the protective order process, ensuring they understand their rights while taking swift action to safeguard them and their children from further harm.

If you’re in immediate danger, call 911. Then contact Bowman Legal at (502) 861-7414, or use the contact form for immediate legal assistance with protective orders.

EPO vs. DVO: How Kentucky Protective Orders Work

• Emergency Protective Order (EPO) — issued the same day a petition is filed, on an ex-parte basis, when the court finds probable cause to believe domestic violence has occurred or is threatened.
• Domestic Violence Order (DVO) — issued after a full hearing (typically within 14 days of the EPO) at which both sides may present evidence. A DVO can last up to three years and is renewable.
• Inter-personal Protective Order (IPO) — the dating-relationship counterpart to the DVO, available when the parties don’t share a qualifying domestic relationship.

What a Protective Order Can Do

• Order the abuser to stay away from you, your home, your workplace, and your children
• Award you temporary custody of children and set a temporary parenting time schedule
• Remove the abuser from your shared home
• Prohibit contact — including text, email, social media, and contact through third parties
• Order the abuser to surrender firearms
• Provide a foundation for divorce, custody, and child-support proceedings that follow

Defending Against a DVO

A wrongly entered DVO can affect your custody, your employment, your housing, your firearm rights, and your record for years to come. If you’ve been served with a DVO petition, contact us promptly — the hearing is typically set within 14 days and that’s the entire window to build your defense. Bowman Legal has reversed wrongly issued DVOs at the Kentucky Court of Appeals on multiple occasions.