Restraining Orders

An ex parte family violence protective order can:

• order that the abuser not do or attempt to do any of the following to you or your family or household members:
  • injure;
  • mistreat;
  • bother;
  • follow;
  • harass;
  • harm; or
  • abuse;
• order the abuser not to interfere with your travel, transportation, or communication;
• order the abuser not to follow you, place you 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; Note: you can ask the court to have the sheriff or police go with you to enforce this part of the order;
• make the abuser provide decent alternate housing for you and a 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 temporary child support and spousal support;
• give you temporary custody of your children and set temporary visitation rights;
• decide possession of the personal property of the parties and order the abuser not to get rid of property of yours or that you share with the respondent;
• order the abuser to return certain property to you;
• decide who will have possession of any household pets and order the abuser not to:
  • harass or harm the pet;
  • take, give away, hide, or sell the pet; and
  • do anything that would be considered cruelty to animals;
• 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 and your children; 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, including all keys, proof of insurance, and registration.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.²

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

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