§ 19-13-6.Penalties
Chapter 13. Family Violence · Article 1. Granting of Relief by Superior Courts · Last amended 2003 · Last verified October 9, 2026
Full Text of § 19-13-6
Plain-English Summary
A protective order matters only if it can be enforced, and this section supplies the teeth. A violation of an order issued under Georgia’s family violence article may be punished by an action for contempt, or criminally punished as provided in Article 7 of Chapter 5 of Title 16 — the part of the criminal code that deals with stalking. The section covers any “order issued pursuant to this article,” which includes a temporary ex parte order under § 19-13-3 as well as an order after the hearing under § 19-13-4.
Contempt is the court’s own power to punish disobedience of its orders; the case goes back to a judge. A criminal case is brought by prosecutors under the criminal code. Both are written as “may” — a violation can lead to either, and what happens depends on the facts, on law enforcement and prosecutors, and on the judge.
Enforcement doesn’t stop at the county line. Under § 19-13-4(d), every superior court, sheriff, deputy sheriff and state, county or municipal law enforcement officer in Georgia has a duty to enforce a valid protective order, and the order is effective throughout the state. If someone is violating your order and you are in danger, call 911. The section was last amended in 2003.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if someone violates a protective order in Georgia?
The violation may be punished by an action for contempt, or criminally punished as provided in Article 7 of Chapter 5 of Title 16 of the Georgia Code. Both routes are possible; the statute says “may,” so the outcome depends on the facts and on the decisions of prosecutors and judges.
Is violating a temporary protective order a crime in Georgia?
It can be. This section covers a violation of any order issued under Georgia’s family violence article, which includes a temporary ex parte order under § 19-13-3 as well as an order after the hearing under § 19-13-4. Such a violation may be punished criminally under Article 7 of Chapter 5 of Title 16, or through contempt. Prosecutors decide whether to bring criminal charges.
What is contempt for violating a protective order?
Contempt is a court’s power to punish someone who disobeys its order. This section lets a violation of a family violence order be punished by an action for contempt, as an alternative to criminal punishment. A contempt case goes before a judge, who decides whether the order was violated and what sanction fits.
Who do I call if the respondent violates my protective order in Georgia?
In an emergency, call 911. Under § 19-13-4(d), every sheriff, deputy sheriff and state, county or municipal law enforcement officer in Georgia has a duty to enforce a valid protective order. A violation may also be raised with the court through an action for contempt, as this section provides.
Is a Georgia protective order enforceable outside the county that issued it?
Yes. Under § 19-13-4(d), a protective order issued under that section is effective throughout Georgia, and law enforcement officers statewide must enforce a valid order. So a violation anywhere in the state may be punished through contempt or criminally, as this section provides.
Amendment History
Laws 1985, p. 905, § 1; Laws 1988, p. 1249, § 1; Laws 2003, Act 298, § 3, eff. July 1, 2003.