Relating to conflicts between a protective order and certain other orders and to the transfer of a protective order.

Contracts

• Retainer Agreements: Family law and civil litigation retainers must be amended to reflect that protective order proceedings will likely be consolidated with divorce/SAPCR suits. Scope of representation clauses should account for the mandatory transfer hearings.
• Settlement Agreements: Drafts must acknowledge that protective order terms legally supersede conflicting terms in concurrent family law orders.

Hiring/Training

• Litigation Staff: Paralegals and associate attorneys require training on the new "Shall Transfer" standard. The burden of proof has shifted: you must now affirmatively prove a transfer is *unsafe* to stop it, rather than arguing it is inconvenient.
• Docketing: Staff must be trained on the new statutory deadline for contesting transfers: The first Monday after the 20th day after service.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Mandatory Template Update: All Protective Order templates (including Ex Parte) must be updated immediately to include the following statement in boldfaced, capitalized, or underlined type:

> "DURING THE TIME IN WHICH THIS ORDER IS VALID AND SUBJECT TO TRANSFER, THE ORDER PREVAILS OVER ANY OTHER ORDER RENDERED IN A SUIT FOR DISSOLUTION OF A MARRIAGE OR A SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP TO THE EXTENT OF ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ORDERS."

• New Filing: Create a standard "Safety Impact Affidavit" for client intake. This document is now required to oppose a venue transfer.

Fees & Costs

• Litigation Costs: Anticipate increased billable hours related to "Safety Impact" hearings. Because transfers are now presumptive, opposing them requires a higher evidentiary threshold, increasing preparation costs.