Most people are familiar with a restraining order, or have at least heard the term before.
In Georgia, a Temporary Protective Order (TPO) is essentially the same thing as a restraining order. A TPO in Georgia is a court order designed to help victims of family or dating violence obtain protection from the individual or individuals who are abusing, harassing, or stalking them.
A TPO in GA can help victims in the same way a restraining order does: by prohibiting contact between the party seeking the order and the alleged abuser. A TPO may also order the alleged abuser to vacate the family's residence or refrain from visiting a certain place or residence.
How long does a TPO last in Georgia? As indicated by the name, TPOs are temporary, commonly lasting up to one year. However, under certain circumstances, a TPO may be extended for up to three years and may even be extended permanently.
Before a court will issue a Georgia protective order, specifically a TPO, the following must occur:
Most divorce lawyers handle temporary protective orders in Georgia by requiring you to pay an initial payment or retainer (typically $2,500 to $5,000). After that, they submit a bill to you for every hour they work on your case. This makes it impossible to predict the price.
At Meriwether & Tharp, we believe there's a better way. For TPOs between two married parties, we charge flat fees. You pay one upfront cost, and we handle your entire TPO. No more surprise monthly bills or unknown costs.
You're dealing with enough as it is; don't settle for expensive TPO with an unknown cost.For TPOs between two unmarried individuals, or TPOs that include multiple parties, we charge a $2,500 initial payment.
We charge flat fees for TPOs in GA. Under this option, you select your flat fee amount based on the category of lawyer that you select (Attorneys, 10+ Years Experience, and Partners). You will pay a one-time flat fee, and Meriwether & Tharp's experienced family law attorneys will handle your Georgia TPO.
We offer traditional representation for Georgia protective orders between unmarried parties and when more than two parties are involved. Under our traditional representation model, you pay an initial payment $2,500 so that our attorneys may get started on your case. Under this option, attorneys will bill by the hour for all of the work done on your case.
Learn more about TPOs in Georgia from our family law attorneys. In about 80 seconds, we cover the most important points about TPOs, from the purpose of TPOs to the timeline and the protections these orders offer.
Below, we have outlined the Georgia TPO process step by step, from filing to court order. Our goal is to help you better understand how to get a TPO in Georgia, taking the confusion out of an important process.
Many TPOs stem from emergency situations. As a result, the TPO process will often move very quickly.
At a general level, the Temporary Protective Order prohibits contact between the abuser and the victim. In addition, the Temporary Protective Order may provide other forms of relief, such as
