Restraining Orders

An ex parte family violence protective order can:

• order that the abuser not do or attempt to do any of the following: injure, mistreat, bother, follow, harass, harm, or abuse you or your family or household members;
• order the abuser not to interfere with your travel, transportation, or communication;
• order the abuser not to follow, place under surveillance, or contact you for the purpose of harassing and intimidating you;
• give you possession of the house and force the abuser to leave – you can ask the court to have the sheriff send someone home with you to enforce this part of the order;
• make the abuser provide decent alternate housing for a spouse, former spouse, parent, or child that you share with the abuser;
• order the abuser to stay a certain number of yards away from you and/or your children, your residence, workplace, children’s school, etc. and to have no contact with you, directly or indirectly;
• award either party temporary child support and spousal support;
• give you temporary custody of your children and set temporary visitation rights;
• order the abuser not to get rid of pets or property of yours or that you share with the respondent;
• decide possession of the personal property of the parties and order the abuser to return certain property to you;
• order the abuser not to:
  • disconnect or have disconnected home utilities; 
  • change, have changed, cancel, or have canceled auto, health or life insurance for you, your children or for the respondent; and
  • interfere with your mail or your children’s mail;
• order law enforcement to help you get your personal property if you are not given possession of the home; and
• give you possession of a car.¹

A final family violence protective order can:

• order all of the protections listed above; 
• order the abuser to go to counseling to try to prevent future family violence or go to drug or alcohol counseling; and
• award costs and attorney’s fees to either party.²

Whether a judge orders any or all of the above depends on your need for protection and the facts of your case.

¹ O.C.G.A. § 19-13-4(a); Georgia Courts website, petition for family violence ex parte protective order
² O.C.G.A. § 19-13-4(a); Georgia Courts website, petition for family violence twelve month protective order