My Cousin Danny

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470-275-1500

Domestic Violence

ORDERS OF PROTECTION

Nobody likes to talk about domestic violence but it happens, and unfortunately it happens a lot. Let My Cousin Danny help you break the cycle of violence and get the protection you need to stop living in fear. Stop making excuses for him or her and realize that you are in danger.

The Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A) §19-13-1 defines family violence and talks about the relationships needed between the Parties to get a civil order of protection.  In general past or present spouses, parents of the same child, parents and their children, stepparents and stepchildren, foster parents and foster children, and or persons living or formerly living in the same household will have a necessary relationship under the statute to get an Order of protection.  Act(s) of family violence are defined as a felony, acts of battery, simple battery, simple assault, assault, stalking, criminal damage to property, unlawful restraint and or criminal trespass.  Family violence is not “reasonable discipline” administered by a parent to a child in the form of corporal punishment. However a person who takes a cell phone during an argument and breaks it in the heat of the moment may have committed an act of family violence.  An adult may seek an Order of protection on behalf of a minor by filing on the minor’s behalf.  When seeking an Order of Protection, the victim will go to the Superior Court in the County the abuser resides if the abuser resides in Georgia.  If the abuser is not a resident of the State of Georgia than the victim will go to the Superior Court in the County of their residence, or the county where the act or acts of domestic violence occurred.

To start the process the victim will go to Court and tell a judge what happed. The Judge will make a determination if an act of domestic violence has occurred as enumerated by Statute.  If the Judge feels that something has occurred that warrants further action or investigation the Judge will issue an Ex Parte Order of protection and schedule the case for a hearing in the near future.  Ex Parte means that the alleged abuser (Respondent) was not present and did not have the opportunity to be heard.  An Ex Parte Order of protection is temporary help until a hearing can be held to determine what, if any corrective measures are necessary.  Where many unrepresented litigants (pro se Petitioners) go wrong is failing to property serve the Respondent with the Ex Parte Order and Notice of Hearing; or failing to properly file and record an Affidavit or Service. These fatal flaws will cause the Ex Parte Order of Protection to be dismissed without any long term safeguards being put in place. Don’t let this happen to you.  Let My Cousin Danny make sure you case is not dismissed and more importantly insure that the Ex Parte Order (temporary help) become more enduring.

In addition to keeping an abuser away from a victim you an Order of protection can force the abuser to get appropriate psychiatric or psychological services, award temporary custody of minor children, establish temporary visitation rights, require a Party to make child support payment, provide for possession of personal property, award costs of litigation and attorney’s fees. O.C.G.A §19-13-4

My Cousin Danny can also help if an Order of Protection has been issues against you. Many times, the alleged victim is actually the instigator of the violence or is just the person who got to the Court House first.  Even if warranted, a Court does not have the authority to issue mutual stay away Orders unless the Respondent has filed a Verified Petition as a Counterclaim to the initial Petition, see O.C.G.A §19-13-3. Furthermore, this Petition must be filed with the Court Clerk no later than 3 days prior to the hearing on the Ex Parte Order.  In DeKalb County Superior Court, Gwinnett County Superior Court, Cobb County Superior Court, Fulton County Superior Court, and within other Courts of the State of Georgia, a party who is the subject of an Ex Parte Order of Protection who prevails at the hearing may be entitled to Attorney’s fees against the person filing the Petition.  Let My Cousin Danny show how the charges against you are not true, your actions were justified, the Petition is unsubstantiated, and or brought for the purpose of harassing or embarrassing you.

  • 16-5-90. Stalking: The Ex won’t take no for an answer

In general, a person commits the offense of stalking when he or she follows, places under surveillance, or contacts another person at or about a place or places without the consent of the other person for the purpose of harassing and intimidating the other person.

Stalking is also when such person, “in violation of a bond to keep the peace posted pursuant to Code Section 17-6-110, standing order issued under Code Section 19-1-1, temporary restraining order, temporary protective order, permanent restraining order, permanent protective order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction or condition of pretrial release, condition of probation, or condition of parole in effect prohibiting the harassment or intimidation of another person, broadcasts or publishes, including electronic publication, the picture, name, address, or phone number of a person for whose benefit the bond, order, or condition was made and without such person’s consent in such a manner that causes other persons to harass or intimidate such person and the person making the broadcast or publication knew or had reason to believe that such broadcast or publication would cause such person to be harassed or intimidated by other.” See O.C.G.A §16-5-90.

Before a person is sentencing for any conviction of stalking or aggravated stalking under Code Section 16-5-91, the judge may require psychological evaluation of the offender and shall consider the entire criminal record of the offender. At the time of sentencing, the judge is authorized to issue a permanent restraining order against the offender to protect the person stalked and the members of such person’s immediate family, and the judge is authorized to require psychological treatment of the offender as a part of the sentence, or as a condition for suspension or stay of sentence, or for probation.

The average person often does not know all the nuisances of an Order of Protection.  This is why it is critical to have an experienced attorney represent you weather you need protection or are defending allegations.  An Order of Protection can be issues against a person for up to one year and may be converted to an Order effective to 3 years. O.C.G.A §19-13-4.   Realize that even an innocent act, such as seeing your ex spouse in a grocery store, can trigger a violation of the Order of Protection and be considered an aggravated felony (if there is a Order of Protection already in place) in which the Respondent would be facing serious jail time.  The best remedy for these situations is to not bury your head in the sand and think that you can explain it all to the Judge, and it is no big deal. You could not be more wrong; it is a huge deal that can impact your job, family, freedom and reputation for years to come.  Hire My Cousin Danny to aggressively defend you.

Common Legal Questions

How do I file for divorce?

A divorce is initiated by filing a Domestic Relations Case Initiation Form, Summons, and Petition for Divorce with the Court Clerk of the relevant County of the Parties; and paying a filing fee. Once a divorce is properly filed the Respondent (person not initiating the divorce) must be served with process.

How long before I get my license back?

It depends on your past driving history, your age, the class of driver’s license you have and the current charges against you.  As an example, for drivers over 21 years old a second, non-drug-related DUI conviction within five years of the prior conviction will result in DDS will suspending your license for three years.  Call to discuss the specifics of your case.

What Can i drive with a DUI?

Once again, it depends. If your DUI conviction was drug-related (the influence of drugs alone, or alcohol and drugs combined) you face different rules regarding license suspension. For a second DUI-Drug conviction in five years, DDS will issue a yearlong “hard suspension” of your license, meaning that you won’t be allowed to drive for 12 months, period. But if you enter an alternative sentencing program like a DUI or Drug Court, you might be eligible for limited permit.

Can I get 50/50 Custody?

In Georgia child custody has two components: legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody is the right and ability to talk to your child’s doctor, teachers and such. Think of it as the ability to have a say in their life. Physical custody is the person who the child primarily lives with.  Most divorcing parents will have joint legal custody (50/50 custody) of any minor children born of the marriage, while designating one parent as the physical custodian of the child or children.  However, it is possible to have 50/50 joint legal and physical custody.

How much does a divorce cost?

There is no magic answer to that question. Other than everybody paying the same filing fee to initiate a divorce each divorce contains different issues, different disputes and different personalities. The Parties to the divorce have the biggest influence on the final cost of the divorce.  Litigants who are fighting over silverware and toiletries out of spite for each other are likely to spend a larger amount that people who have resolved most of their issues.  High value divorces with stocks, multiple parcels of real property, business or large pre-marital assets will also cost more than divorces with less assets.  Lawyers sell their time. A divorce that takes more hours is going to cost more than a divorce that takes less hours. Let’s talk about your divorce so you will have an idea of the total cost.

Can i leave the state with my kids?

A well drafted parenting plan will cover contingencies and events you might not have though of. Interstate, intrastate and international travel are all issues that should be considered before signing any agreement.  Depending on the facts of your case out of state travel with your children should be permissible with reasonable notice to the child’s other parent. What is reasonable notice? Call me, and lets talk.    

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