Sec. 85.025. DURATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDER    


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  • (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, an order under this subtitle is effective:

    (1) for the period stated in the order, not to exceed two years; or

    (2) if a period is not stated in the order, until the second anniversary of the date the order was issued.

    (a-1) The court may render a protective order sufficient to protect the applicant and members of the applicant's family or household that is effective for a period that exceeds two years if the court finds that the person who is the subject of the protective order:

    (1) caused serious bodily injury to the applicant or a member of the applicant's family or household; or

    (2) was the subject of two or more previous protective orders rendered:

    (A) to protect the person on whose behalf the current protective order is sought; and

    (B) after a finding by the court that the subject of the protective order:

    (i) has committed family violence; and

    (ii) is likely to commit family violence in the future.

    (b) A person who is the subject of a protective order may file a motion not earlier than the first anniversary of the date on which the order was rendered requesting that the court review the protective order and determine whether there is a continuing need for the order. A person who is the subject of a protective order under Subsection (a-1) that is effective for a period that exceeds two years may file a subsequent motion requesting that the court review the protective order and determine whether there is a continuing need for the order not earlier than the first anniversary of the date on which the court rendered an order on a previous motion by the person under this subsection. After a hearing on the motion, if the court does not make a finding that there is no continuing need for the protective order, the protective order remains in effect until the date the order expires under this section. Evidence of the movant's compliance with the protective order does not by itself support a finding by the court that there is no continuing need for the protective order. If the court finds there is no continuing need for the protective order, the court shall order that the protective order expires on a date set by the court.

    (c) If a person who is the subject of a protective order is confined or imprisoned on the date the protective order would expire under Subsection (a) or (a-1), the period for which the order is effective is extended, and the order expires on the first anniversary of the date the person is released from confinement or imprisonment.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 34, Sec. 1, eff. May 5, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1160, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 627 , Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.