Restraining Orders

In Tennessee, there are two types of protection orders.

Temporary Protection Orders (TPOs)
Temporary protection orders can be issued for “good cause,” which usually means that the judge believes that there is an immediate and present danger of abuse. Temporary protection orders are short-term orders that are designed to protect you until you are issued an extended protection order. The order can be granted ex parte, which means that the order is issued without prior notice to the abuser and without him/her being there in court. You can ask for a temporary protection order at the same time as you ask for an extended protection order. A temporary protection order lasts 15 days, or until the full hearing for your extended protection order.¹

Extended Protection Orders (EPOs)
Extended protection orders are issued after a full court hearing where both sides have the opportunity to appear in court. An extended protection order lasts up to one year and can be extended for one-year periods.² 

It’s possible, however, that you can get a lifetime order of protection if the abuser was convicted of committing any of the following against you:

• a felony assault crime;
• a felony homicide;
• a felony kidnapping crime;
• a felony sexual offense;
• harassment (subsection (b) only);
• aggravated stalking (subsection (c)); or
• especially aggravated stalking (subsection (d)).³

If the abuser has been charged with one of these crimes, you have the option of filing your petition asking for the lifetime order of protection directly with the criminal court holding the abuser’s trial. The court will serve the petition on the abuser and then hold it pending the outcome of the criminal trial. If the abuser is acquitted, your petition will be dismissed. If the abuser is convicted, the court will then hold a hearing on your petition after the criminal judgment is final.⁴

¹ Tenn. Code § 36-3-605(a), (b)
² Tenn. Code §§ 36-3-605(b); 36-3-608(a)
³ Tenn. Code § 36-3-627(a)(1), (e); see the crime definitions linked here to confirm what is considered a felony and what is considered a misdemeanor
⁴ Tenn. Code § 36-3-627(b)(2)