Protection From Abuse (PFA)

Ensuring safety and quality of life with a Protection from Abuse Order
Relationships can be complicated. A good relationship can morph into something all together different. Sadly, there are situations in which a person involved in a relationship may become the victim of abuse. The need may arise for a protection from abuse order.
Abuse comes in many forms. These include physical, psychological and emotional abuse. A spouse or other significant other may be the target of abuse. In addition, children may also be in the crosshairs of an abuser. No matter the specific circumstances, a protection from abuse order or PFA may be necessary.
Changes in Montgomery County PFA filing procedures enable a quicker turnaround time of the issuance of a temporary protection from abuse order. A temporary PFA provides protections to the person seeking relief but also ensures the other party has the right to be heard in court.
Specific criteria must be met to support the filing for a protection from abuse order from the court. Our firm works closely with clients to ensure that these factors exist and are satisfied. One of the key factors is the nature of the relationship between the person seeking a PFA and the alleged abuser.
The Law Offices of Michael Kuldiner, P.C., is home to a skilled legal team experienced with protection from abuse procedures. We guide a person seeking a PFA through the process, providing them with realistic expectations all along the way.
The PFA Statute in PA is codified here.
This section defines abuse for the purposes of getting a protection from abuse order. Abuse is the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between family or household members:- Attempting to cause or causing (with or without a deadly weapon):
- Bodily injury or serious bodily injury;
- Rape;
- Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (oral sex, anal sex, vaginal or anal penetration with a foreign object performed under force or the threat of force, or while unconscious);*
- Sexual assault or statutory sexual assault;
- Aggravated indecent assault (vaginal or anal penetration with a finger or other body part under force or threat of force, or while unconscious);**
- Indecent assault (touching a person’s intimate parts for the purposes of arousal without consent, under force or threat of force, or while the person is unconscious);***
- Incest; or
- Placing another in reasonable fear of immediate serious bodily injury;
- False imprisonment;
- Physical or sexual abuse of a child; or
- Engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts toward another person, including following the person, under circumstances which place the person in reasonable fear of bodily injury.****
For the exact definitions of the legal terms listed in this section, please go to our PA Statutes page.
* 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3123(a) ** 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3125(a) *** 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3126(a); 3101 **** 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 6102(a)A person unsure whether a particular situation warrants the filing of a PFA, can schedule an initial consultation with an attorney from our firm. The appointment can be scheduled by calling (610) 624-2300 or by completing the inquiry form on the left and one of our staff members will contact you shortly. Please use care when providing contact information.