A restraining order is a type of order issued by the court that directs a party to either refrain from certain actions or directs him or her to take certain actions. A failure to follow the requirements of a restraining order can result in legal consequences. In general, a restraining order offers protections to both men and women in domestic violence situations and provides consequences for violating the restraining order.
A restraining order may prohibit contact for a specified period of time. If a party violates a restraining order, he or she may face additional consequences and criminal charges. Georgia refers to a restraining order as a “Family Violence Protection Order.” In Georgia, it is possible to obtain a temporary restraining order or a protective order. The legal process to obtain either a temporary restraining order or protective order varies, so it is important to be familiar with the legal process for both. A temporary restraining order can be valid for 30 days.
Domestic violence can impact parties on all sides of a family violence incident. It is important that all of those parties are familiar with the legal protections available to help them, which can include resources to help obtain or enforce a restraining order or protective order, or criminal defense resources if an individual has been accused of domestic violence or violating a restraining order or protective order. All parties involved in a family violence incident have legal resources to consider and be aware of.
The legal system is in place to protect citizens, which includes those impacted by domestic violence and those accused of domestic violence. Understanding how to obtain a temporary restraining order or protective order when needed is an important part of the legal system and is important to individuals involved in family violence.
Source: Statelaws.findlaw.com, “Georgia Temporary Restraining Order Laws,” Accessed Sept. 26, 2016
