Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers‘ legal war is heating up … the exes faced off in court for the actress’ restraining order request hearing, nearly 2 months after she first accused him of domestic abuse … and the fight is just getting started.

Monday’s hearing was continued to next month because Aaron got a new lawyer, Michael Findley, and his attorney needs time to look over all the case details.

In the meantime, Denise gets to go back to the family house … and Aaron’s not allowed within 100 yards of the home.

Remember, we broke the story … Aaron filed for divorce just after July 4, citing Independence Day as the couple’s date of separation. He listed “irreconcilable differences” for the reason for the split … but Denise responded to his divorce filing with an explosive accusation — that she was Aaron’s victim of physical and verbal abuse and shared gnarly photos of the alleged abuse.

Denise was granted a temporary domestic violence restraining order against her estranged husband in July, but Aaron has vehemently denied the accusations made against him.

He previously told TMZ … Denise’s claims of abuse are “not true” and that she has created “a story to save her image.”

Denise and Aaron’s love story started back in December 2017, when the “Wild Things” star began dating the holistic healer before his divorce to Nicollette Sheridan was finalized. The twosome then tied the knot less than a year later, in a Malibu-based ceremony captured by the ‘RHOBH’ cameras.

Denise and Aaron share daughter Eloise, 14 … who AP adopted in 2019. Denise shares daughters Sami, 21, and Lola, 20, with ex-husband, Charlie Sheen.