If you are an older person in Mansfield being hurt or controlled by a spouse, an adult child, or someone you let into your home, you may feel too proud, too tired, or too ashamed to say so. You should not have to live in fear in your own home at any age. We offer clear, private information about protective orders, with care for what protection looks like later in life.
Daniels & Taylor serves Mansfield families from our office in Lawrenceville.
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Being mistreated by someone you raised, or by a partner of many years, carries a particular grief. You may worry about being a burden, about losing the help you rely on, or about what people would think. Can a court protect you from your own family member? Can it help you keep your home and your independence? We listen, then connect each legal question to your safety and your dignity.
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 Mansfield
Can a protective order be used against my own adult child?
Yes. Family violence protection can apply to a family or household member, including an adult child. Tell us your situation and we will explain how.
I depend on them, what happens to me?
We can talk through what the court can address for your care and your home, so protection does not leave you without support.
Is it too late for me to do something?
No. Your right to safety does not have an age limit. Reach out and we will walk through your options.
You can ask about your options without committing to file or to hire anyone, and without them knowing. We will keep your independence in view. 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 by a parent or older relative, the situation can feel painful and complicated. Until the hearing, follow the order exactly as written, even where you believe it is unfair, including any term about the home or contact. We help you understand what it requires and how to respond 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
It came from my own parent, what do I do?
Follow the order exactly regardless of the relationship, and raise your side at the hearing. That is where a judge weighs it. We help you prepare.
Can I go check on them or get my things?
No. Going to the home or making contact can violate the order. Arrangements go through the court. Bring your account 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. 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.