How to Deal With a Narcissist Filing Texas Protective Order
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Texas Bar verified. Reggie London (Texas Bar No. 24043514) and Njeri London (Texas Bar No. 24043266) are the co-founding partners of L and L Law Group, PLLC — based at 5899 Preston Rd, Suite 101 in Frisco, Texas (Collin County), with many 5-star Google reviews, and available 24/7 for criminal defense consultations.
Table of Contents
Recognizing narcissistic accusation patterns
DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) — narcissists often invert dynamics, claiming victimization while perpetrating it. Common patterns: filing protective orders during custody disputes; alleging escalating false claims when pursued; recording you while provoking; weaponizing children. Recognition matters because emotional response (defensive, angry, hurt) often reinforces the narrative they're constructing for court.
Texas Protective Order framework
Texas Family Code Chapter 85 governs protective orders. Applicant must show family violence has occurred AND is likely to occur in future. Two stages: Temporary Ex Parte (Article 83.001) — granted without your presence based on applicant's affidavit; lasts 20 days; you cannot defend yet. Permanent Protective Order — hearing required; both sides present evidence; can last up to 2 years (longer in specific cases). Standard of proof: preponderance of evidence (civil standard, easier than criminal).
Strategic response to false allegations
(1) Stop direct contact immediately — even if no order yet, assume one is coming; any contact can become "harassment" evidence. (2) Document everything — preserve all communications (texts, emails, voicemails); save metadata and timestamps. (3) Retain Texas family law counsel immediately — protective order hearings move fast; pro se defense often fails. (4) Gather witnesses — friends, family, coworkers who can attest to your character and the relationship dynamics. (5) Don't respond emotionally publicly — social media posts about the situation typically used against you in court.
Defending the protective order hearing
Texas Family Code § 85.001 requires applicant to prove: (1) family violence has occurred (intentional, knowing, or reckless act resulting in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, sexual assault, or threat of imminent physical harm); (2) family violence likely to occur in future. Defense strategies: (1) Challenge applicant's credibility through documented inconsistencies; (2) Present contemporaneous evidence contradicting allegations; (3) Witness testimony establishing your conduct; (4) Show legitimate purpose for contested events; (5) Establish ulterior motive (custody, divorce, financial). Cross-examination critical — applicant typically must testify and can be impeached.
Long-term considerations
Even unfounded protective orders create permanent records affecting: child custody under Family Code Chapter 153 (presumption against perpetrators of family violence); firearm ownership (federal disqualification under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8)); employment (especially law enforcement, military, security clearance); housing applications; future criminal cases. Even if defeated, allegations remain in court records permanently. Texas does not have expunction for civil protective order proceedings — records persist. Focus: defeat the order; minimize collateral damage; rebuild credibility with documented evidence.
Texas Marijuana Charges by Weight
| Weight | Offense | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 oz | Class B misdemeanor | Up to 180 days + $2,000 |
| 2-4 oz | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year + $4,000 |
| 4 oz - 5 lb | State jail felony | 180 days-2 years + $10K |
| 5-50 lb | 3rd degree felony | 2-10 years + $10K |
| 50-2,000 lb | 2nd degree felony | 2-20 years + $10K |
| 2,000+ lb | Enhanced 1st degree | 5-99 years/life + $50K |
| Hemp products with delta-9 THC ≤ 0.3% are legal under HB 1325 (2019) | ||
Have a Texas legal question?
Call L and L Law Group for a free, confidential consultation. We handle criminal defense across Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties.
Call (972) 370-5060In our practice defending Texas criminal cases, we have represented clients in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant County criminal courts on the full Texas Penal Code and Health & Safety Code spectrum. Reggie's prosecutor background in Dallas County means we know the State's evidentiary playbook; Njeri's trial-trained motion practice anchors the suppression-driven defense work.
Key Legal Terms
- Penalty Group
- Texas Health & Safety Code § 481.102-481.105 classification of controlled substances by abuse potential and accepted medical use. Determines weight tiers and punishment ranges.
- Article 38.23
- Texas Code of Criminal Procedure exclusionary rule. Evidence obtained in violation of any federal or Texas constitutional or statutory provision is inadmissible against the accused.
- Aggregation
- Texas H&S § 481.002(5) rule that the total weight of any controlled substance, including adulterants and dilutants, counts toward the offense weight tier.
- 3g Offense
- CCP Article 42A.054 list of offenses ineligible for judicial probation and requiring 50% sentence served before parole eligibility (formerly Article 42.12 § 3g).
- Pretrial Diversion
- Pre-charge alternative under CCP Article 32.02 in which the prosecution agrees to dismiss charges upon successful completion of conditions (counseling, community service, restitution).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone file a Texas protective order falsely?
Yes — temporary ex parte orders (Article 83.001) granted based on applicant's affidavit alone; you cannot defend until hearing 20 days later. False allegations common in custody disputes. Defense requires evidence-based response at hearing; emotional rebuttal often counterproductive.
What's DARVO?
Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender — pattern often used by narcissistic individuals to invert dynamics, claiming victimization while perpetrating harm. Recognition important because emotional response (defensive, angry) often reinforces the narrative they're building for court.
How quickly do I need a lawyer?
Immediately upon notice of protective order filing. Hearings typically scheduled within 20 days. Defense requires evidence gathering, witness preparation, legal strategy development. Pro se defense in protective order cases often fails — Texas family law counsel essential.
What evidence helps defend protective orders?
Contemporaneous documentation (texts, emails, voicemails with metadata); witnesses (friends, family, coworkers); records contradicting specific allegations; evidence of ulterior motive (custody dispute timing, financial pressure); documented inconsistencies in applicant's statements over time; legitimate purposes for contested events.
What's the impact of a Texas protective order?
Permanent court record. Affects: child custody (presumption against perpetrators of family violence); firearm ownership (federal disqualification); employment in law enforcement/military/security clearance positions; housing applications; future criminal cases. Texas doesn't allow expunction of civil protective order proceedings.
