Last reviewed . Law current as of October 2026.
A New Jersey TRO takes effect when you are served and lasts until the final hearing, usually within 10 days. Obey every term, have no contact of any kind, and start preparing now: write your timeline, save evidence, list witnesses, and talk to a lawyer. The FRO hearing decides whether a permanent order is entered.
Key takeaways
- The TRO takes effect when served and lasts until the final hearing, usually within 10 days.
- Have no contact of any kind, even if the other person reaches out.
- Start preparing now: timeline, evidence, witnesses, and a lawyer.
I was served with a TRO in New Jersey. What does it mean right now?
A judge issued the TRO after hearing only the other person's side (N.J.S.A. 2C:25-28). It is not a finding that you did anything. But it is a court order, and violating it is contempt under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9(b), even if the other person invites contact.
What should I not do after being served with a TRO?
- Call, text, email, message, or post about the protected person, directly or through anyone else
- Reply to messages from the protected person
- Go to the home, workplace, or any place named in the order
- Ask friends or family to deliver messages
- Keep firearms or permits the order or police require you to surrender
- Delete texts, posts, or photos (they may help you)
What should I do before the FRO hearing?
- Day 1: Read the full order and complaint. Note the hearing date, time, and whether it is in person or virtual.
- Day 1–2: Call a lawyer. Ask whether to request an adjournment to prepare.
- Day 2–4: Write a detailed timeline of the events alleged and your relationship history.
- Day 2–5: Gather evidence: texts, emails, call logs, photos, receipts, location data. Print or export with dates.
- Day 3–6: List witnesses and ask whether they can attend.
- Day 5–8: Prepare with your lawyer: what you will say, what you will not say, and how a pending criminal case affects testimony.
- Hearing day: Arrive early or log in early, bring copies of evidence, and dress for court.
Can I go home or get my belongings if there's a TRO?
If you were removed from the home, do not return on your own. Ask the police department or the court about a supervised retrieval.
How soon is the FRO hearing after a TRO?
At the FRO hearing, the judge decides whether to enter a final order using the two-step Silver test. See also TRO vs. FRO.
Related guides
- The FRO hearing
How a New Jersey final restraining order hearing works: the Silver two-step test, evidence and witnesses, testifying when there is a criminal case, decisions, and appeals.
- TRO vs. FRO
The difference between a temporary restraining order and a final restraining order in New Jersey: how each is issued, the standard, how long it lasts, and what it can order.
- Contempt of a restraining order
Charged with violating a TRO or FRO in New Jersey? When contempt is a fourth-degree crime or a disorderly persons offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9(b), and how these charges are defended.
- Coercive control
New Jersey added coercive control as a factor in restraining order decisions in January 2024. What it is, what it is not (a crime or predicate act), and how it affects FRO hearings.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ask for more time before the FRO hearing?
You can ask the court for an adjournment, for example to retain a lawyer or gather evidence. The TRO usually stays in effect in the meantime.
What if the protected person contacts me?
Do not respond. The order restricts you, not them, and responding can be charged as contempt.
Do I have to go to the FRO hearing?
If you do not appear, the judge can hear the case without you and enter an FRO.
Where we handle these cases
Essex County · Hudson County · Bergen County · Passaic County · Union County · Middlesex County · Monmouth County · Morris County · Ocean County · Mercer County · Somerset County · Hunterdon County · Sussex County · Warren County
Sources
This page provides general information about New Jersey law. It is not legal advice, and reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different and no outcome is guaranteed.