What are the consequences if I have a protective order against my boyfriend, but later get back together with him without dropping the protective order?
In Utah (where I practice), based upon my experience in these matters, if person who has a protective order against a boyfriend or girlfriend (but especially in situations where a woman has a protective order against a man), then later gets back together with that boyfriend/girlfriend, but does not drop the protective order, the consequences for the man and woman are starkly different:
For the woman: pretty much nothing. She is not committing any crime if she gets back together, or tries to get back together, with her boyfriend, even though there is a protective order against him.
For the man: if the police get wind of the fact that a man with a protective order against him is having contact with his girlfriend (whether that be over the phone, in writing by text message or e-mail, or in person), the man WILL BE ARRESTED. Not might be arrested. He will be arrested for violating the protective order. He will be prosecuted for the crime of violating the protective order.
So if you have a protective order against your boyfriend and want to get back together with him and don’t want him to risk arrest and prosecution, then FIRST get the protective order dropped before you have any kind of contact with him that is currently prohibited by the protective order.
Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277