Edwardsville Order of Protection Lawyer

Trusted Order of Protection Attorney in Edwardsville, IL

An order of protection can have immediate consequences on your life, reputation, family relationships, and future opportunities. If you are defending against allegations that led to a restraining order, it is critical to have experienced legal representation. An Edwardsville order of protection lawyer can help you gather evidence to support your side of the story while also defending your rights.

The Law Office of Jessica Koester, LLC: Work With an Edwardsville Criminal Defense Lawyer

Attorney Jessica Koester has decades of experience defending against serious state and federal charges. She has built her reputation on creating detailed, powerful defense strategies founded on the specifics of each client’s case. She also works tirelessly to safeguard the rights of those who have been arrested, investigated, or charged with a serious crime.

What to Know About an Order of Protection Case in Illinois

In Illinois, an order of protection is a court order that is designed to protect victims of domestic violence, abuse, assault, battery, or other similar offenses from a household or family member. A judge can order various restrictions through an order of protection. Depending on the circumstances, you may be restricted from:

• Sharing a residence with the victim
• Coming within a certain distance of the victim, their home, their workplace, or other specific locations
• Contacting the victim online
• Having physical custody or visiting your children
• Possessing a firearm

In Madison County, 2,013 orders of protection cases were filed in 2025. In Madison, victims can file a petition for an order of protection with the Circuit Clerk’s Office at 155 N. Main Street. Domestic violence is a common issue that prompts someone to file an order of protection. Each year, domestic violence results in about 2 million injuries. In 2024, the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline received 59,704 contacts.

Facing Orders of Protection and Criminal Charges Simultaneously

Many orders of protection cases involve allegations that may also result in a criminal investigation or criminal charges. For example, domestic battery and assault. An alleged victim filing a protective order may initiate an investigation into the case, which often results in criminal charges.

Statements made during an order of protection hearing can affect your criminal case. You may unintentionally provide evidence that can be used against you in a criminal trial. Because of this, you should hire an order of protection lawyer early on who can coordinate a strong defense against both your order of protection and criminal charges.

The Impact of Having an Order of Protection Against You

Many people assume that an order of protection is only a civil matter and thus has limited consequences. However, order of protection laws outline penalties that can have serious, long-lasting effects on your rights and freedoms. Potential consequences include:

• Limits On Your Daily Life: One of the most immediate consequences of an order of protection is the effect it can have on your daily routine. It is likely that you are prohibited from contacting the alleged victim and must stay away from their home and other frequently visited locations. This can make your daily routine difficult. In some cases, you can be barred from sharing a residence and must find alternate housing.
• Impacts On child Custody: The court may decide to restrict your ability to spend time with your children. This could mean suspending parenting time together or limiting interaction to supervised visits. Having an order of protection can also be used as evidence that you are unfit to care for the child, making it difficult to have child custody and parenting time in future family law matters.
• Professional And Employment Limitations: An order of protection can also create challenges in the workplace and when finding future employment. If you work for the same employer as the victim, you may be restricted from working in the same building or at the same time. Additionally, employers can see that you have an order of protection, which may make it difficult to obtain a job.
• Difficult Finding Housing: Beyond the immediate displacement, if you are barred from living with the victim, you may have a difficult time securing new housing. Landlords may be hesitant to rent to applicants who have been involved in domestic disputes or protective order proceedings.
• Firearm Restrictions: Protective orders restrict your ability to possess or purchase firearms. You may be required to surrender any firearms possession   you have.

Beyond the consequences of having an order of protection against you, there are also penalties if you violate an order of protection. Violating these court orders can lead to criminal charges, further limiting your future opportunities while leading to criminal penalties such as fines or jail time. An Edwardsville order of protection attorney can help you minimize these consequences.

How to Defend Against False or Exaggerated Allegations

Just because an alleged victim files a petition for an order of protection does not mean the allegations against you are fair or accurate. In some cases, allegations can be exaggerated, misleading, or even entirely false.

It can be difficult to defend against false allegations, as the court often issues emergency orders before hearing both sides of a story, meaning you may already be facing significant restrictions before having the opportunity to defend yourself.

However, there are hearings where you can challenge the allegations. An Edwardsville order of protection attorney can help you build a strong defense that challenges specific weaknesses in the case against you. Common defenses include:

• Challenging unreliable witness evidence
• Presenting an alibi
• Arguing that there is insufficient evidence against you
• Claiming self-defense

Evidence in an Order of Protection Case

The outcome of an order of protection case depends on the strength of the evidence presented to the court. Judges evaluate the credibility of witnesses and the strength of the evidence before determining whether a protective order is appropriate for the situation. Carefully analyzing evidence and challenging false or flawed evidence is key to building a defense.

Relevant evidence often includes:

• Witness testimony
• Phone records
• Surveillance footage
• Emails, text messages, or social media communications
• Medical records

Hire an Order of Protection Lawyer Today

If someone is attempting to file an order of protection against you, it can be difficult to know what to do to protect yourself from the harsh consequences. An Edwardsville order of protection lawyer can explain the relevant order of protection laws and can build a defense that supports your side of the story. Contact The Law Office of Jessica Koester, LLC, to set up a free initial case consultation.