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Temporary Protective Orders: A Temporary Protective Order is a legal document issued by a Court to help victims obtain protection from persons abusing, harassing, or stalking them. This order will generally state that one person is prohibited from having contact with another person and may even remove or restrict someone from a certain place or residence. This document is commonly referred to as a TPO. By law (O.C.G.A. 19-13-4), a protective order can: *direct a party to refrain from family violence acts; *grant a spouse possession of the residence or household of the parties and exclude the other spouse from the residence or household; *require a party to provide suitable alternate housing for a spouse and his or her children; *award temporary custody of minor children and establish temporary visitation rights; *order the eviction of a party from the residence or household and order assistance to the victim in returning to it, or order assistance in retrieving personal property of the victim if the respondent’s eviction has not been ordered; *order either party to make payments for the support of a minor child as required by law; *order either party to make payments for the support of a spouse as required by law; *provide for possession of personal property of the parties; *order a party to refrain from harassing or interfering with the other; *award costs and attorney’s fees to either party; and *order either or all parties to receive appropriate or services as a further measure to prevent the recurrence of family violence. (note: the following words are interchangeable: - defendant, batterer, respondent - victim, petitioner, plaintiff) For assistance in obtaining a Temporary Protective Order (TPO) please contact: The Domestic Violence Task Force: (678) 715-1196 OR The SHARE House: (770) 949-0626