If you’re like most people who have been accused of domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery, or if someone has taken out an order of protection against you, you’re wondering what to do next. You’re definitely not alone. You’re facing some tough choices right now, and if you take the wrong course of action, you may be extremely sorry. The fact is that a domestic battery conviction will stick with you the rest of your life, barring a pardon from the governor (or the president of the United States, if you happen to know someone who knows someone). What a Domestic Battery Conviction Can Do to Your Future A domestic battery conviction will stay on your criminal record, regardless of whether you were sentenced to fines, probation, or jail time.

False accusations of domestic violence can be life-shattering. In fact, you can’t even assume that things will “all come out in the wash.” You need to know that if someone accuses you of committing domestic battery or

Few things are more frightening than being accused of committing domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery.

If you’re accused of aggravated domestic battery, your first instinct may be to deny responsibility to the police or investigators who are questioning you. However, that can be a huge mistake—and in most cases, you’re better off keeping your innocence to yourself until you’ve spoken with your

If you’re like many people facing domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery charges, or if someone has taken out an order of protection against you, you may be wondering whether you could be sentenced to participate in domestic violence counseling.

If you’re on the receiving end of an order of protection, you probably have several questions—but one of the most basic may be, “Is an order of protection the same thing as a restraining order?” What is a Restraining Order in Illinois? An order of protection is commonly called a restraining order, and the terms are somewhat interchangeable. A restraining order essentially restrains you from doing certain things (under the prospect of legal punishment). A restraining order under Illinois law is a legal document that a judge signs to order you to stop certain behavior and stay away from the petitioner (the person who asked for the restraining order).