Temporary Protective Order (TPO)

What is a Temporary Protective Order (TPO)?

A temporary protective order (TPO) in Georgia, is a civil court order that provides protection if someone is hurting you, threatens to hurt you, or is stalking you. Protective orders are court orders that prevent individuals from contacting you (both directly or indirectly), from harassing you, from threatening you, etc.

Types of TPOS:

Family Violence Temporary Protection Order

Family Violence TPOs are between family members or parties that have lived or are currently living together. Please review the following necessary criteria for a Family Violence TPO:

1. The other party must live in Rockdale County to file the TPO in Rockdale County. If the other party lives in another county, you must contact the appropriate agency and Court where the other party resides;

2. You must have the other party’s complete address;

3. You must be:

• • present or past spouses;
  • parent of the same child/ren;
  • parent and child/ren;
  • persons who used to live in the same household;
  • persons currently living in the same household;
  • foster parent and foster child;
  • stepparent and stepchild.

Note: If none of the above apply to your situation, please refer to the qualifications of a Stalking TPO and fill out that paperwork

4. There must have been an incident of violence, threats against your life, criminal damage to your property, unlawful restraint, criminal trespass or incidents of stalking;

5. You must be 18 years of age or have someone who is 18 years of age or older to file the petition on your behalf;

6. The person you are filing against must be 18 years of age or older.

Stalking Temporary Protective Order

Stalking Temporary Protective Order covers anyone who does not qualify for the Family TPO (meaning, the parties are not family members and have never lived together). The following criteria are necessary for a Stalking TPO:

1. The other party must live in Rockdale County to file the TPO in Rockdale County. If the other party lives in another county, you must contact the appropriate agency and Court where the other party resides;

2. You must have the other party’s complete address;

3. There must have been incidents of stalking. Stalking occurs when a person follows, places under surveillance, or contacts another person without that person’s consent for purposes of harassment and intimidation. One act alone generally does not constitute stalking;

4. You must be 18 years of age or have someone who is 18 to file the petition on your behalf;

5. The person you are filing against must be 18 years of age or older.

PROCESS

The steps below explain what will occur when you seek to obtain a TPO in Rockdale County..

Step 1:

Read and complete the petition paperwork and submit the required forms to the TPO Coordinator, Adrienne Cooper at 922 Court Street Conyers, GA 30012 Room 215C, MONDAY-FRIDAY between 9:00 -11:30 A.M and 1:30-3:00 P.M.

Note:

• Any petition accepted after 3 P.M. will be processed the next business day
• Your petition must be notarized or verified. Notary services are available at the courthouse
• If no one is available or in the office and you are unable to wait, you may slide the completed paperwork under the door of Room 215C

Step 2:

The office is responsible for processing the application and petition and presenting the petition to the presiding judge.

Step 3:

Judge will review the petition and the circumstances of the incident based on the provided documentation and paperwork. If the petition is granted, an Emergency Ex-Parte Protective Order is prepared based on the Court’s instructions (after). Once the Court has signed an order, the forms are filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court.

Step 4:

You will be given a copy of the signed Ex-Parte Protective Order with a date scheduled for an in-person hearing. The in-person hearing will be held within 10-20 days of filing A Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office deputy will personally serve (ie. deliver) the petition and order on the Respondent.
The Ex-Parte Order that includes certain conditions against the Respondent is not valid until the respondent has been served. Once the TPO is served, it is valid until the scheduled hearing date.

Step 5:

At the scheduled in-person hearing, the Court will hear from both parties and determine the conditions of a final order. You will receive a copy of the final order on the day of the hearing.
If you do not appear at the scheduled in-person hearing, the petition will be DISMISSED.

**If you have any questions you may contact the TPO Coordinator Adrienne Cooper at (770)278-7696 or Adrienne.cooper@rockdalecountyga.gov**