In a city the size of Atlanta, with so many people and so many doors, it can feel strange that you still feel utterly alone with what is happening to you. The crowd is not the same as support. We offer clear, private information about protective orders, cutting through the noise so one steady, understandable next step is in front of you.
Daniels & Taylor serves Atlanta families from our office in Lawrenceville.
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A big city can swallow you, so many agencies, hotlines, and forms that knowing where to begin becomes its own obstacle, and being one face in millions can make you feel unseen. You may not know which door is the right one, or fear getting lost in the shuffle. Which step actually matters first? Can someone cut through it for you? We listen, then turn the overwhelm into a small number of clear legal choices you can act on.
You are not alone. Georgia's statewide domestic violence
hotline is 1-800-33-HAVEN (1-800-334-2836),
free, 24/7, and confidential.
What most people pay for a case evaluation to learn
A Georgia protective order can do more than tell someone to stay away. In a
family violence case the judge may grant exclusive use of the home, temporary
custody of the children, temporary support, and can even include the family pet
(O.C.G.A. 19-13-4).
You do not need a police report or a criminal charge to ask for one. It is a
civil petition you file yourself, and the court can issue a same day ex parte
order to protect you right away, followed by a hearing (O.C.G.A. 19-13-3).
Family violence is broader than physical harm. It covers acts like stalking
and criminal trespass between people in the same household, former spouses,
parents of the same child, and others living or formerly living together
(O.C.G.A. 19-13-1). If you were in a dating relationship but never lived together
and share no child, your path is a separate stalking protective order (O.C.G.A.
16-5-94).
How a Georgia family violence protective order works
You file a civil petition, with no police report required, and the court can
grant a temporary ex parte order the same day, then set a hearing (O.C.G.A.
19-13-3). The order can reach beyond no contact to the home, custody, and support
(O.C.G.A. 19-13-4). You file in the superior court of the county where the
respondent lives (O.C.G.A. 19-13-2).
Common questions about protective orders in Atlanta
There are so many resources, where do I even start?
You start with one conversation. We help you sort the noise into the steps that actually apply to your safety, in order.
Will I just get lost in the system here?
Not with us guiding it. We keep your situation specific and walk each step with you, so nothing falls through.
Is what I am facing serious enough to bother with?
If you are afraid, it is worth a conversation. We help you understand whether the law addresses what you are living with.
You can ask about your options without committing to file or to hire anyone, and without him knowing. We make the next move simple. Reach out from a safe device when you are able.
Call (770) 285-1673 for a free case evaluation.
If an order was filed against you, the rush of paperwork and deadlines can feel like a lot all at once. Until the hearing, the smartest move is to follow the order exactly, even where you believe it is unfair. We help you understand what it requires and how to bring your side the right way, without missing a step.
If a protective order has been filed against you
Nothing lasting happens without a hearing. An ex parte order is temporary, and
the court sets a hearing, usually within about 30 days, where the petitioner has
to prove family violence by a preponderance of the evidence, and that burden is on
them (O.C.G.A. 19-13-3(b), (c)).
A final order can require no contact, order you to leave a shared home, and set
temporary custody or support; it can last up to one year and may be extended to
three years or made permanent (O.C.G.A. 19-13-4). Knowingly violating a protective
order is a separate crime (O.C.G.A. 16-5-95). A family violence finding can also be
weighed in a later custody case (O.C.G.A. 19-9-3(a)(3)(P), (a)(4)). If the petition
comes from a dating relationship, it may fall under the stalking statute instead
(O.C.G.A. 16-5-94).
Until the hearing, follow the order exactly as
entered, even if you believe it is unfair. The time to be heard is at the hearing,
not by contacting the petitioner.
Common questions if an order was filed against you
There is so much paperwork, what matters most?
The first thing that matters is following every term exactly. The next is preparing your side for the hearing. We help you with both.
Can I reach out to clear it up directly?
No. Any contact can violate the order and hurt your case. Save your account for the hearing through the proper channel.
What happens next?
A judge reviews the evidence and decides what, if anything, continues. A free case evaluation helps you understand the order and get ready.
Have the order and the hearing date in hand. A free case evaluation can help you sort what to do first and what to avoid.
Call (770) 285-1673 for a free case evaluation.