If your welfare or the welfare of your child is in jeopardy, it is your right to seek a temporary restraining order.
Divorce and legal separation can sometimes bring out the worst in people. As emotions run high, it is not uncommon for one party to feel threatened or intimidated. When these behaviors jeopardize your welfare and/or your children, it is your right to seek protection from the aggressor, even if it is your spouse.
David Betz was great to work with. He was patient, listened carefully, and was able to make non-biased, rational recommendations that both parties would agree to. I could tell he has a lot of mediation experience as he cut right through the emotional vomit and laid out the facts. His wisdom greatly expedited a resolution to my case and avoided a costly trial. I would highly recommend the Betz Law Firm to anyone seeking a sensible, professional mediation experience.
Unfortunately, I found myself in a difficult situation and in need of mediation; Mr. Betz stepped up with only a moments notice. My previous experience with mediation was horrific, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the experience with Mr. Betz. His calm demeanor and efficiency was greatly appreciated, not to mention his willingness to step into an unknown situation and make it better, so very thankful.
I experienced a very difficult divorce process 6 years ago. There's no need to get into the details, but calling it difficult is quite an understatement. My now former spouse had unlimited funds for attorney's fees, and I did not. The whole process took 20 months from start to finish.
My primary concern was for the future of both children. David made his decisions on facts and what he believed to be best for the kids. He did an incredible job of remaining objective amidst all the distractions and what I'll call the antics of the other three attorneys, yes, three attorneys employed by the opposing side at different times during the 20 months.
David's recommendations to the judge never wavered from what was best for the kids. I am writing this review now because I can definitely state that David's recommendations were what was best for the kids. The kids are now 17 and 15, and they are thriving. Yes, I did my part as a parent, but I would never have had the chance to do so without the intelligence and integrity of David. He has the right combination of life experience, courage, and intelligence to earn the trust of anyone representing their children. I cannot say enough good things about David's commitment to being an exemplary GAL.
I will close by saying that I am a paramedic and have been for a long time. Paramedics judge each other on whether we would want a particular paramedic working on our children in an emergency. Using that benchmark, I trust David to work on behalf of my kids, and if you have the opportunity to have David represent your children, you can trust him to advocate for the most vulnerable individuals in a divorce who need protection the most.
I contacted the Betz Law Firm to handle changing my name this year.
The firm was very professional and returned my inquiry quickly. I worked with Debbye and she handled everything with accuracy and kindness.
Everything was handled quickly and easily. Debbye displayed her excellent knowledge of the process as she walked me through everything. Overall, they took great care of me. Truly a white glove experience! I cannot recommend Betz highly enough and will be back to any future legal needs.
Attorney David Betz was appointed Guardian ad Litem to represent my minor child during a highly contested divorce proceeding. Attorney Betz developed a structured and safe plan during the proceeding and recommended a final arrangement that was in the best interest of my minor child to keep him protected and ensure his safety.
David was very helpful and respectful all around. He took the time to hear my Son’s concerns and made him feel comfortable sharing these concerns. He was always on time and ready to handle our case, always prepared. I appreciate that, to me it shows that he really does care about the families he’s helping. I highly recommend him if you are considering a GAL for your case.
I appreciate Mr. Betz taking the time and effort to get to know everyone, especially including by being a part of depositions, and helping to facilitate an opportunity for us to move forward amicably in a co-parenting dynamic. I would recommend him.
I have known David for many years, working on cases and outside of work. He is a fantastic advocate, has high standards, is well respected and sticks to his principles. He gets the struggles parents can face raising kids these days. I really admire his courage and how he fights to make a positive difference in people's lives, especially for his clients.
The Betz law firm did an amazing and efficient job executing on my non-contested divorce. My ex drug his feet and the law firm kept on him and even was prepared to go forward with a non-response judgement. My ex responded the day before we went for a non-responsive judgement and agreed, finally. The judge signed off within the week and I was notified via email that my divorce was final a few days prior to receiving the email. I never had to go to their office or to court to face my ex. From start to finish, this took 6 months almost to the day. Again, my ex drug his feet, this could have probably gone faster. Thank you Debbye Laskey for keeping the paperwork straight and to Mr. Betz for the legal components.
Mr. Betz is an exceptional attorney who has been an advisor for me and represented many of my clients. He is well respected within the legal community and trusted by all.
David and his team are excellent to work with. The care, expertise, along with the ease and frequency of communications always kept me well informed and aware of the status of my situation. I cannot recommend The Betz Law Firm enough and I won’t hesitate to call them again in the future if I ever require their services again.
Mr Betz worked with both of us for us with our mediation, no matter how frustrating she was becoming. He handled the situation very calmly and professionally. Thank you for helping it come to a resolution.
I have worked with Mr. Betz a number of times and have always found him to be a wonderful GAL and mediator. He does the work, gets things done, and cares about the tasks and people involved. I highly recommend him as both a GAL and mediator.
I hired the services of David Betz for purposes of getting a name change and him and his paralegal Debbye were professional, answered emails promptly, and were able to handle a complication in my case with no problems. Would highly recommend Mr. Betz.
David was very professional and helpful for our child during a recent litigation. I would highly recommend his firm for GAL service or attorney service!
I was very impressed with Mr. Betz’s service. He was the GAL for my children. He was very professional, fair-but-caring and advocated tireless for the children’s best interests. He took his time to talk to them about their wishes, giving us sound advice and guided us through an otherwise contentious process. I appreciated his professionalism, ethics and would highly recommend him.
My son and I have worked with David Betz for several years in custody matters concerning my grandson. I have found him to be genuinely concerned with our situation and responsive to our needs. He listens carefully and handles matters promptly. He is realistic in evaluating situations and helps us to arrive at the best possible alternatives. I highly recommend him for family law matters.
I am a transfeminine nonbinary person that used The Betz Firm to get my name changed. They were extremely affirming, and excited to work with me through this as it was an immensely huge deal for me. Thank you Betz Firm, for making this a reality for me!
Joel and David are extremely helpful and helped with everything I needed. They are kind and worked with me with all of my needs regarding my case! I would recommend to everyone!
Our team of family law attorneys is here to help you during these difficult times. We will ensure that the court understands your dire need for this type of protection for you and your children. Understanding the urgency, we handle the need for a temporary restraining order with compassion and discretion.
Many people equate a restraining order with a criminal case and do not realize that it can also help ease tensions in a household undergoing a major upheaval. What is best for you and your child should always be your first priority, even if that means you have to limit the amount of time spent with a spouse or the extent to which your children can spend time with their other parent.
What is a Restraining Order?
A restraining order is a court order which, at its core, is designed to prevent an illegal act from being committed. In the cases we deal with, that act would be the physical or emotional abuse of family members during divorce proceedings. A temporary restraining order directs the person in what they are not allowed to do, such as approaching the petitioner or entering their home. Once the temporary restraining order is in place, the aggressor is aware that if they disobey its terms, they are at risk for more serious legal consequences.
Our team of family law lawyers can help you fill out the paperwork required for a St. Louis temporary restraining order to make sure that you are provided with protection. If children are involved, we can also assist you in filing on their behalf.
Who Can File for a Temporary Restraining Order?
A spouse who is being threatened, abused, or bullied may file for a temporary restraining order while a divorce proceeding is underway. When we help you complete the paperwork, you must consider how much you want the order to provide protection. Some common conditions that a spouse may insist on in a temporary restraining order are:
No phone calls, e-mails, letters, or any other contact form.
Restricting their access to your home or denying access completely.
Taking the children out of a certain vicinity.
Disallowing them to sell any marital property.
Carry or purchase any firearm.
We can help you review your situation and decide which terms should be outlined in your temporary protection order case.
What Effect Will a Temporary Restraining Order Have on My Spouse?
There can be consequences to your spouse when you file a temporary restraining order. For this reason, we carefully review your case’s particularities to determine how severe you need the order to be. Depending on how you proceed, your spouse may:
Be ordered to move out of your home immediately.
Be prohibited from any communication with the children.
Be barred from carrying a service pistol if he or she is a police officer or in the military. This could affect their standing at work and be used against them when pursuing career opportunities.
Before acting out of anger, you must take all of these under advisement and try to do your best to protect your spouse from undeserved consequences.
How Do You Get a Restraining Order?
Obtaining a temporary restraining order is a two-step process. A judge will usually grant a petition quickly before the respondent is given the opportunity to defend himself or herself. The order is in effect until a full hearing can be held to hear from both parties, which usually takes 10 to 14 days.
Can I Ban My Spouse From Spending Our Assets?
While divorce proceedings are underway, one spouse is usually responsible for seeing the family finances. If you believe the money allocated for household expenses is being squandered, you can request a temporary restraining order to freeze any bank accounts or relinquish their control to a 3rd party.
St. Louis Temporary Restraining Order Lawyer
Our firm takes the mental and physical well-being of our clients very seriously. If you believe a temporary restraining order is your only recourse to protect yourself, your children, and your assets, we are here to help you get one. We understand the delicate nature of these proceedings and will be at your side during the process to ensure your family’s needs are considered.
Speak With an Experienced Attorney
Our firm uses experience, good communication, and availability to help families navigate life-changing events.
