If this is your first serious relationship and you are in Oxford wondering whether what you are living with is normal, that question alone is worth listening to. Fear, walking on eggshells, being controlled, these are not the price of love. We offer clear, private information about protective orders so you can understand what is happening and what your options are, with no pressure.
Daniels & Taylor serves Oxford families from our office in Lawrenceville.
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When you are young or new to serious relationships, it can be hard to know where the line is, especially if the person swings between loving and frightening. You may wonder if you are overreacting, or if anyone would take you seriously. Can a court help someone your age? Is what you are describing really abuse? We listen without judgment, then connect each legal question to helping you see your situation clearly.
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 Oxford
I am young, will a court take me seriously?
Yes. Your age does not lessen your right to protection. Tell us what is happening and we will explain how the law applies to you.
What if I am overreacting?
If you are afraid, that matters. There is no harm in asking. We help you understand whether what you are describing is something the law addresses.
I have never done anything like this, where do I start?
You start here, privately, with no obligation. We walk you through it one step at a time.
You can ask about your options without committing to file or to hire anyone, and without the other person knowing. No question is too small. 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, maybe in your first serious relationship, the whole thing can feel overwhelming and unfair. Until the hearing, the smartest move is to follow the order exactly, even where you believe it is wrong. We help you understand what it requires and how to bring your side the right way, without making it worse.
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
I do not even understand this, what do I do?
Follow every term exactly while you sort it out, and raise your side at the hearing. That is where a judge listens. We help you prepare it.
Can I just talk to them and fix it?
No. Any contact can violate the order and hurt your case, even a text or a message through a friend. Save your account for 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.