In Jonesboro, a busy and diverse Clayton County community near one of the world's busiest airports, it can feel like just another address in a place where people are always coming and going, and easy to assume no one will take your situation seriously. We listen carefully and give you clear information about protective orders, because your safety matters here.
Daniels & Taylor serves Jonesboro families from our office in Lawrenceville.
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You may feel overlooked in a crowded, fast-moving area, or unsure whether anyone will really hear your situation. Can a court protect your home or your children quickly? What if you are far from family or a support network? Can you ask questions and be taken seriously? We listen closely, then connect each legal question to your specific circumstances.
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 Jonesboro
Will my situation be taken seriously here?
Yes. Everyone who reaches out deserves a careful, respectful response, and we give you that.
Do I need proof lined up before I call?
No. Keep messages, photos, and dates only when it is safe to do so.
What if I cannot tell whether it qualifies?
Tell us what happened and your relationship to the person. You do not need the legal term first.
You can ask about your options and be heard without committing to file. Reach out from a safe device whenever you are able.
Call (770) 285-1673 for a free case evaluation.
You may feel the allegations are one sided, or worry that in a busy court you will not get a fair chance to respond. What are you still allowed to do? When is the hearing? How do you respond without worsening things? Taking the order seriously does not mean conceding every claim.
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
Will I get a fair chance to respond?
Yes. The process includes a hearing where the petitioner must prove the claim, and we help you prepare for it.
What should I keep?
The order, the hearing notice, messages, schedules, and the names of any witnesses.
Will this decide a custody case?
It can overlap with custody, but no outcome is automatic. Each rests on its own facts.
Have the order and hearing date ready. A free case evaluation can help you prepare a clear, organized response.
Call (770) 285-1673 for a free case evaluation.