A New York Order of Protection (Family Offense) is a court order issued by a judge in New York State in response to a family offense such as domestic violence, harassment, stalking, or menacing. It is intended to protect the victim from further harm or harassment. The order can include terms such as requiring the offender to stay away from the victim, cease all forms of communication, and/or surrender any firearms. There are three types of New York Order of Protection (Family Offense): Temporary Order of Protection, Final Order of Protection, and Modified Order of Protection. A Temporary Order of Protection is issued ex parte, meaning without the offender being present, and is in effect until a hearing is held where the offender can present his or her side of the story. If the judge finds that the family offense occurred, he or she may issue a Final Order of Protection which is effective for up to two years or until it is modified or terminated. A Modified Order of Protection is an order that is issued during the two-year period of a Final Order of Protection. This order may modify or expand the terms of the existing order.