Marietta Domestic Violence & TPO Lawyer
When safety is at stake, hours matter. We help you obtain — or respond to — a Temporary Protective Order quickly and clearly.
When safety can't wait
A Temporary Protective Order (TPO) under Georgia's Family Violence Act can provide immediate protection for you and your children. We help victims obtain protection quickly — and help those facing accusations protect their rights — with the urgency these cases demand.
What a protective order can do
A protective order can require an abuser to leave the home, grant you temporary custody, order no contact, set temporary child support or alimony, require the surrender of firearms, and award attorney's fees. Violating a TPO is contempt of court and can mean jail.
How the process works
A judge can issue an ex parte (emergency) order right away, followed by a hearing — typically within about 30 days — where the court can enter a family-violence protective order lasting up to 12 months, and renewable. We move fast and prepare you for that hearing.
How it affects custody and divorce
Evidence of family violence weighs heavily under Georgia's custody factors (O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3) and often results in sole custody to the non-abusive parent with supervised visitation. If you are in immediate danger, call 911; the Georgia Commission on Family Violence hotline is 1-800-334-2836.
Questions & answers
Domestic Violence & TPO: common questions
How do I get a TPO in Georgia?
You petition the Superior Court. A judge can issue an immediate ex parte order, followed by a hearing — usually within about 30 days — where the court can grant a protective order lasting up to 12 months.
What can a protective order do in Georgia?
It can order an abuser to leave the home, grant temporary custody, prohibit contact, set temporary support, require firearm surrender, and award attorney's fees.
Does domestic violence affect custody in Georgia?
Yes — significantly. Family violence is a major factor in the best-interest analysis and often leads to sole custody for the non-abusive parent with supervised visitation for the other.
Talk to a Marietta family lawyer.
Tell us what's going on — we'll explain your options in plain language, no pressure.
Schedule a consultation →