Restraining Orders

If the abuser violates the order, s/he can be arrested. You can call law enforcement and report that you have a dating violence protective order and that the abuser has violated the order.

For a non-violent violation of certain terms of a family violence protective order, the abuser can be convicted of a misdemeanor crime of violating a dating violence order.¹ It can also be possible to be convicted of the felony offense of aggravated stalking if the abuser follows you, places you under surveillance, or contacts you without your consent for the purpose of harassing and intimidating you.²

Another way to enforce an order is to file a motion for contempt in the court that issued the order. For more information about contempt, including the difference between criminal contempt and civil contempt, go to our general Domestic Violence Restraining Orders page. For legal advice on your particular situation, you may find a lawyer on our GA Finding a Lawyer page.

¹ O.C.G.A. § 16-5-95(b), (c)
² O.C.G.A. § 16-5-91