Reviewed August 2026
Protective Orders in Georgia
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. Georgia calls its civil protection order for family or household abuse a Family Violence Protective Order. The Family Violence Act, O.C.G.A. 19-13-1 and following, authorizes it. A person abused by a spouse, family member, someone they live with, or a co-parent can petition superior court for this order. There is no filing fee. A Georgia court can grant an ex parte protective order the same day if the petition shows immediate danger. A final order issued after a hearing can require no contact. It can also order the respondent out of a shared home and set temporary custody terms for shared children.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how protective orders works under Georgia law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Georgia paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Who qualifies for a Family Violence Protective Order
Georgia's Family Violence Act covers past or present spouses. It also covers people related by blood or marriage who live or lived in the same household. Parents of the same child qualify. So do people who are or were living together as a couple. Someone in a dating relationship who never lived with the other person or had a child with them generally falls outside the Family Violence Act. They may need Georgia's separate stalking protective order process instead.
Ex parte orders and the final hearing
A petitioner who shows immediate danger can get an ex parte temporary protective order the same day, before the respondent is notified. That order takes effect once served and stays in place until the full hearing. Georgia law directs the court to hold that hearing within 30 days of the temporary order. A final protective order in Georgia can last up to a year, or longer if the court finds good cause. It can be renewed.
The exact hearing date depends on the superior court's calendar in that county. Confirm scheduling and any local paperwork with the clerk of superior court.
Filing is free, and where to file
Georgia does not charge a filing fee for a Family Violence Protective Order petition. Petitions are filed in the superior court of the county where the respondent lives. In some cases, filing is possible where the petitioner lives if the respondent cannot be found there. Georgia's court self-help resources provide the standard petition forms for filing without an attorney.
Firearms provisions
Georgia law allows a judge to order a respondent to surrender firearms as part of a Family Violence Protective Order. Federal law separately bars firearm possession for a person subject to certain qualifying domestic violence protective orders. Violating a Georgia protective order, including a firearms provision, is a criminal offense.
Protective orders and divorce or custody cases
A Family Violence Protective Order in Georgia is a separate civil case from a divorce or custody case. A petitioner does not need either open to request one. The order can still set temporary custody, visitation, and support terms for shared children while it is active. If a divorce or custody case already exists, tell that court about the protective order so the terms can be coordinated.
Sources: Georgia General Assembly, Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Georgia Courts, Self-Represented Litigants, Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, hotline 1-800-33-HAVEN (1-800-334-2836)
Not independently confirmed
- Exact filing venue rules can shift depending on whether the respondent can be served in the petitioner's county; confirm with the clerk of superior court.
- Whether every superior court schedules the 30-day hearing at the outer edge of that window or sooner; confirm with the filing court.
Protective Orders in Georgia: frequently asked questions
What is a Family Violence Protective Order in Georgia?+
It is Georgia's civil protective order under the Family Violence Act, O.C.G.A. 19-13-1 and following. It applies to spouses, family members, co-parents, and people who live together or lived together as a couple. It can order no contact while it is active.
Where do I file for a protective order in Georgia?+
File in the superior court of the county where the respondent lives, or where the petitioner lives if the respondent cannot be located there. Georgia's court self-help resources provide the petition forms needed to file without an attorney.
Does it cost money to file in Georgia?+
No. There is no filing fee for a Family Violence Protective Order petition in Georgia.
How fast can I get protection in Georgia?+
A judge can grant an ex parte temporary protective order the same day if you show immediate danger, without notifying the other person first. Georgia law then requires a full hearing within 30 days of that temporary order.
How long does a protective order last in Georgia?+
A final Family Violence Protective Order issued after a hearing can last up to a year in Georgia, or longer if the court finds good cause. It can be renewed if the petitioner still needs protection.
Can a protective order affect custody in Georgia?+
Yes. It can include temporary custody, visitation, and support terms for children the parties share, even without a separate custody case open. If a divorce or custody case already exists, tell that court about the protective order.
This page is general information about protective orders in Georgia, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Georgia's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Georgia. Virdix does not prepare or file Georgia divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Georgia.
More Georgia divorce guides
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