A Temporary Protective Order (TPO) is a legal document issued by the court to help protect an individual from someone who is abusing or harassing them. Legal requirements for applying for a TPO:
- 18 years or older
- Gwinnett County resident; or the incident occurred in Gwinnett County
- Plaintiff must have an accurate address for the defendant
- Plaintiff and defendant must have a qualifying family relationship:
- Past or present spouses
- Parents of the same children
- Parents and children
- Stepparents and stepchildren
- Foster parent and foster children
- Other persons living or formerly living in the same household
If the parties do not have a qualifying family relationship, the plaintiff may only seek a TPO under the stalking portion of the Family Violence Act. Under Georgia law, stalking is defined as placing another person under surveillance or contacting them without their consent for the purpose of harassing and intimidating them.
Harassing and intimidating are defined in the law as a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes emotional distress by placing such person in reasonable fear for his or her safety or the safety of a member of his or her immediate family, by establishing a pattern of harassing and intimidating behavior that serves no legitimate purpose.
Family Violence Unit
Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office
2900 University Parkway
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
770.822.3150
GCSOFamilyViolence@GwinnettCounty.com