In Kennesaw, a growing Cobb County college town anchored by Kennesaw State, many young adults and students are navigating serious relationships, and the fear that can come with them, for the first time. We offer clear, judgment-free information about protective orders so you can understand your options without pressure.
Daniels & Taylor serves Kennesaw families from our office in Lawrenceville.
Choose an option above to see information for your situation.
Whatever you choose is not saved, and reloading this page clears it. The
emergency help above stays available either way.
You may be balancing classes, exams, and a part-time job while a relationship has turned frightening, and unsure whether what you are living with even has a name. Can a court protect you, your home, or your children quickly? What if you share a major, a study group, or a campus you cross every day with the person you fear? Can you ask questions confidentially? We listen, then connect each legal question to where you are in life right now.
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 Kennesaw
What if we are young or were only dating?
Tell us your situation. Protections differ for dating versus household relationships, and we explain which path fits yours.
Do I need proof gathered before I ask?
No. Keep messages, photos, and dates only when it is safe to do so.
What if I am unsure it counts?
Describe what happened and how you know the person. You do not need the legal term first.
You can ask about your options confidentially, without committing to file or to hire anyone. Reach out from a safe device whenever you are able.
Call (770) 285-1673 for a free case evaluation.
You may feel blindsided, or that the order landed in the middle of a hard semester and a relationship under strain. What are you still allowed to do? When is the hearing? How do you respond without making things worse? 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
Can I contact them to explain?
Not if the order prohibits it. Follow the terms exactly and use the hearing to respond.
What should I keep?
The order, the hearing notice, messages, class or work schedules, and the names of any witnesses.
Could this affect school or a custody case?
It may touch related matters, but nothing is automatic. Each rests on its own facts.
Have the order and hearing date ready. A free case evaluation can help you understand the limits and the next steps.
Call (770) 285-1673 for a free case evaluation.