If you are pregnant or have a new baby in Bethlehem and the person you fear has turned that against you, the worry doubles, for yourself and for your child. You should not have to carry that alone. We offer clear, private information about protective orders, with care for what protection looks like when you are expecting or caring for an infant.
Daniels & Taylor serves Bethlehem families from our office in Lawrenceville.
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Carrying a child or caring for a newborn while you are afraid is its own exhausting weight. You may worry about the baby's safety, about custody, about how you would manage a hearing in this season of your life. Can a protective order account for a child on the way or just born? Can it address custody and the home for the baby too? We listen, then connect each legal question to protecting both you and your child.
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 Bethlehem
Can a protective order protect my baby too?
A protective order can include children, including a newborn, and can address custody and contact. Tell us your situation and we will explain how.
I am due soon, can the court work around that?
We help you understand the process and timing so it fits where you are. Your pregnancy does not put protection out of reach.
What about custody of the baby?
A protective order can address temporary custody and the residence. We walk you through how that protects your child.
You can ask about your options without committing to file or to hire anyone, and without him knowing. We will keep your situation, and your child's, at the center. 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 and a child or pregnancy is involved, the conditions about contact and custody can feel especially hard. Until the hearing, follow the order exactly as written, even where you believe it is wrong, including any terms about the child. We help you understand what it requires and how to handle it the right way.
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
The order limits contact with my child, what do I do?
Follow it exactly, including the custody terms, and raise your concerns at the hearing. That is where a judge decides what continues. We help you prepare.
Can I reach out about the baby?
No. Even contact about the child can violate the order and hurt your case. Bring those questions to the hearing through the right channel.
What happens next?
A judge reviews the evidence and decides what, if anything, continues, including custody terms. A free case evaluation helps you get ready.
Have the order and the hearing date in hand. A free case evaluation can help you sort what to do first, including anything about the child, and what to avoid.
Call (770) 285-1673 for a free case evaluation.