October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Georgia

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). In Georgia, throughout the state and throughout the year, awareness efforts take place to remove the undeserved shame of victims of domestic or family violence and to provide safe shelter to protect the victims of domestic violence. Most people are surprised to learn that anyone can be an abuser. Abusers come from all cultures, all backgrounds, all religions, all economic levels, and all races. An abuser could be your neighbor, your pastor, your friend, your child’s teacher, a relative, a coworker — anyone. A study found that 90% of abusers do not have any criminal record and abusers are generally law-abiding outside the home.

• In the United States, an estimated 10 million people experience domestic violence every year.
• According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, about 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner.
• About 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, and/or partner stalking with injury, PTSD, contraction of STDS, etc.
• 35.1% of Georgia women and 39.9% of Georgia men experience intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence and/or stalking.
• Georgia ranks 10th in the nation for the rate at which women are killed by domestic violence.

If you are being abused and are the victim of family violence, an attorney can go to court and try to obtain a protective order. A protective order is also called a temporary protective order, commonly referred to as a TPO or restraining order.

The purpose of the TPO is to keep the abuser away from you by setting limits on where the abuser can go, keeping him or her away from you, your home and your job. The protective order usually prohibits the perpetrator from contacting you by phone, email, in person or through third parties.

Are You Required to Hire a Lawyer to File a Temporary Protective Order In Georgia?

Georgia does not require a lawyer to help you file a restraining or protective order.

• The victim must complete an application.
• The request for protection must be filed in the county where the abuser resides.
• The family violence generally has to occur but not necessarily within the last 30 days.
• Actual violence is not required. You may be eligible for protection if there have been threats of violence and other factors.

The TPO application is available from the court and there is no application fee. In some cases, the court may require the abuser to pay for your costs and attorney fees.  If children are involved, you need a lawyer to help safeguard your parental rights and help protect the best interest of your child while decisions are being made regarding temporary custody and visitation.

Also, if you are seeking financial support from the abuser or plan to divorce or legally separate from the abuser, we highly recommend that you consult an experienced family law attorney.

You Have The Right To Feel Safe In Your Own Home

Family violence or domestic violence is never OK. You and your children have the right to feel safe in your own home. Our law firm can help you determine what type of order to file, understand the factors the court will consider, and make recommendations on what steps you need to take after the order has been issued or denied.

If you are the victim of domestic violence and want a divorce or need to consult a family law attorney to discuss your rights and how to protect your family, book a consultation with Lawrenceville Family Law Attorney Sharon Jackson or call us at (678) 436-3636 concerning your domestic violence, divorce or family law issue.