If the thing keeping you with the person you fear in Forest Park is the simple, terrifying question of where you would go, you are not weak for staying. Having nowhere to land is a real barrier, not a character flaw. We offer clear, private information about protective orders, including how the law can address the home, so that nowhere-to-go is not the thing that traps you.
Daniels & Taylor serves Forest Park families from our office in Lawrenceville.
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When leaving means you and maybe your kids could end up with nowhere to sleep, fear of the streets can outweigh fear of home. You may wonder how you would manage rent, or whether you would lose the roof entirely if you spoke up. Can a protective order let you stay in the home instead of him? Can the court help with support so leaving does not mean losing everything? We listen, then connect each legal question to the very real question of where you would be safe.
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 Forest Park
Can an order let me keep the home and make him leave?
A protective order can address who stays in the residence. Tell us your situation and we will explain what is possible for you.
If I leave, where would my kids and I even go?
We can talk through what the court can address for the home and support, and point you toward resources, so it is not just the street or staying.
I cannot afford a place on my own, does that trap me?
It does not have to. A protective order can address temporary support and the residence. Reach out and we will walk through the options.
You can ask about your options without committing to file or to hire anyone, and without him knowing. We will keep the where-would-I-go question front and 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 it touches the home you share, you may be facing where to stay yourself on short notice. Until the hearing, follow the order exactly as written, even where you believe it is unfair, including any term to leave the residence. We help you understand what it requires and how to handle the logistics 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 makes me leave my own home, what now?
Follow it exactly, arrange somewhere to stay, and raise your side at the hearing. That is where a judge weighs it. We help you prepare.
Can I go back for my things?
Not on your own. Going to the residence can violate the order. Retrieval is arranged through the court. Bring it to the hearing.
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, and line up somewhere to stay. A free case evaluation can help you sort the first steps and what to avoid.
Call (770) 285-1673 for a free case evaluation.