Restraining Orders

A judge may be able to order the abuser to stop filing cases against you or to stop filing motions in an existing case if the judge determines, after a hearing, that the abuser has filed “abusive civil actions.” An abusive civil action is designed to “harass or maliciously injure” you by doing things like:

• forcing you to use all of your financial resources;
• trying to force you to make financial child-custody concessions; or
• other acts that are not in your best interests.¹

The judge can order the abuser to stop filing additional abusive lawsuits against you for a period of four to six years. The judge can also order that the abuser stop a lawsuit that was filed before the judge determined that the abuser was filing abusive civil actions.²

You can read more about abusive civil actions on our TN Suing an Abuser for Money page.

You can contact a lawyer in your state or the clerk at the courthouse to find out what forms to file to request that the judge hold a hearing if the abuser is filing abusive petitions or motions in a case. You can find lawyers on our TN Finding a Lawyer page and courthouses on our TN Courthouse Locations page.

¹ TN ST § 29-41-101
² TN ST § 29-41-107