In Peachtree City, where a beloved family pet is part of so many homes, the fear of leaving an animal behind with someone dangerous can be the very thing that keeps you from getting help. Georgia protective orders can now include pets, and we offer private information so you do not have to choose between your safety and theirs.
Daniels & Taylor serves Peachtree City families from our office in Lawrenceville.
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You may be holding on because you cannot picture leaving a dog or cat alone with the person you fear. In Georgia a protective order can address the care and possession of a pet, alongside your home and your safety. Nothing has to be decided all at once, and this is a worry we have helped people through before. Tell us what is keeping you stuck, and we will build the legal options around it.
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 Peachtree City
Can a protective order keep my pet safe too?
Yes. Georgia law lets a family violence protective order address a pet's care and possession, and we explain how that can work for you.
Do I need proof gathered before I reach out?
No. Save messages, photos, and dates only when it is safe to do so.
What if I am unsure it qualifies?
Describe what happened and your relationship to the person. The legal label is our job.
You can ask about your options 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 the account is one sided, even as you worry about a home, children, or animals you share. The order spells out what you can and cannot do now, and that may include contact and shared property. The hearing is where you respond. Staying away from any contact until then protects you. Taking the order seriously is not the same as agreeing with it.
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
What happens to a pet or belongings we share?
The order may speak to them directly. Do not act on your own; follow its terms and raise anything shared through the court.
What should I gather?
The order, the hearing notice, messages, records of anything shared, and the names of any witnesses.
Does this settle custody?
It can overlap, but settles nothing by itself. Custody is decided on its own facts.
Have the order and the hearing date ready. A free case evaluation can help you understand what the order covers and prepare your response.
Call (770) 285-1673 for a free case evaluation.