Protective order defense in Kaufman County

This page covers protective order cases in Kaufman County: where they are heard, who prosecutes them and the local programs the county and its prosecutors run. Our office is in downtown Dallas at 325 N St. Paul Street; we handle cases in the Kaufman County courts. For Texas-wide law, see our protective orders guide, and for other charges see the Kaufman County criminal defense page.

Where are Kaufman County protective order cases handled?

In Kaufman County, protective orders are civil cases granted by a district court judge. The Criminal District Attorney's Office notes that it does not issue protective orders itself. Hearings are held at the Kaufman County Justice Center, 1902 E. US Hwy 175, Kaufman.

How does the Kaufman County prosecutor handle protective orders?

The Criminal District Attorney's Office represents many applicants. After a phone screening, the applicant completes an application and meets with a protective order prosecutor, who handles the case from intake through filing and disposition. The county's published answers say the office can file at no cost for an applicant who has no pending criminal case with the DA's office. The county also says the process takes at least two weeks, at least one appointment and one court appearance.

What happens after you are served in Kaufman County?

If the DA's office takes the case, it files the application and usually a request for a temporary ex parte order, which lasts 20 days unless extended. The county's guidance says the respondent must be served with notice of the hearing at least 48 hours before the setting. Follow any temporary order from the moment you are served.

How should you prepare for a Kaufman County hearing?

Gather texts, call logs, photos and witness names before the hearing, and think carefully before testifying if there is also a criminal case, since your words can be used there. A final order after a hearing usually lasts up to two years, and violating it is a criminal offense. Agreed orders can carry the same firearm and housing consequences as contested ones.

How does a protective order case work in Texas?

A family violence protective order is a civil case under the Family Code, but it carries criminal consequences. A court can sign a temporary ex parte order without a hearing, valid for up to 20 days and extendable (Family Code 83.002). The court generally must set the hearing on the application no later than 14 days after it is filed (Family Code 84.001). A final order is usually effective for up to two years, and in some cases longer (Family Code 85.025).

You have the right to appear at the hearing, present evidence and cross-examine witnesses. What you say there can be used in a related criminal case, so it is worth planning before the hearing. Violating an order can be charged under Penal Code 25.07, and a protective order can affect firearm rights and custody and housing arrangements.

What can a final protective order prohibit?

Under Family Code 85.022, a court that finds family violence can order the respondent not to commit family violence, not to communicate in a threatening or harassing way (or, for good cause, at all except through a lawyer), not to go to or near the protected person's home, workplace or a child's school or child-care facility, not to engage in harassing conduct such as following, and not to possess a firearm, with a narrow exception for certain peace officers. It can also order a battering intervention program.

What should I do now?

• Read the order and follow it from the moment you are served.
• Write down the hearing date, time and court.
• Do not contact the applicant, directly or through friends or social media.
• Save messages, call logs and photos, and list possible witnesses.

How do I get started?

The first consultation is free. It is with a Director of Client Engagement, not an attorney. Clients who hire us work with an attorney. Call (214) 239-2013 or start a chat. Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free.

Last updated October 2026