Cobb Legal Aid explains how residents can seek protective orders in Cobb County

Charmaine Anwer, an attorney with Cobb Legal Aid, summarized how Cobb County residents can seek family violence, stalking, dating and employer protective orders and the remedies each type can provide.

Anwer said, "A protective order restrains the accused person from harassing, stalking, or threatening the physical safety of the person who filed the protective order." She described filing steps, evidence required, and how temporary (ex parte) orders move to a full hearing.

The presentation focused first on family violence protective orders, which Anwer identified by statute: "The family violence protective order is codified in OCGA section 19-13-1," she said. She explained that a petitioner may seek relief against a spouse, family member or household member and that a protective order can include remedies beyond no-contact restrictions. "It can also create other remedies such as creating a child custody order or some kind of financial support order as well," she said.

Anwer described the process: a petitioner files a verified petition (providing identification and information about the respondent and…