Frequently Asked Questions and How-To's
Warrants and Orders of Protection
How To Get an Order Of Protection
At Metro Night court, located at the Metropolitan Justice Center Detention Facility
(2nd Avenue North between James Robertson Parkway and Gay Street)
As you step inside the building, you should see the doors to the Night
Court courtroom, room B-30 directly in front of you.
Who can get an order of protection?
Orders of Protection are authorized by Tennessee law in a chapter called "domestic abuse." Therefore, in order to qualify to file a Petition for Order of Protection, you must not be the primary aggressor and your relationship with the abuser must fall within the following categories
- Current or former spouse.
- Live together or who have lived together.
- Are dating or have dated or who have or had a sexual relationship.
- Related by blood or adoption.
- Related or were formerly related by marriage.
- Children of a person in a relationship that is described above.
If you fall into one of the above categories, go to one of the following for assistance:
- Between 8 and 12:30 a.m., Monday - Wednesday [not holidays], to the domestic violence office in the same area as the night court, but down the hall across the hall from the clerk's office. They will interview you and determine whether you qualify for an order of protection. If you do, they will help you fill out your petition.
- Between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday - Friday, [not holidays] to the
Metro Domestic Violence office, located at 60 Peabody Street, telephone
(615) 880-3000.
Directions: From the foot of Broadway, at Riverfront Park on the bank of the Cumberland River, turn right [south] onto First Avenue South. Follow First Avenue South to Peabody Street. Turn left on Peabody Street. Domestic Violence is the last building on the left.
A protection order may include: stop domestic abuse, no direct or indirect contact with petitioner, no stalking, evicting the respondent, housing for the petitioner when the respondent is the sole owner or lessee, temporary custody of minor children, financial support, counseling. The above relief may be ordered only after a hearing before the Court with both parties present.
If you have been interviewed by the domestic violence department and have your Petition for Order of Protection completed, along with a District Attorney notice form, you are ready to file. You will appear before the commissioner and give testimony. If all is in order, the commissioner will sign the petition and the ex parte order and give you a copy. Do not leave until all of this has been done. The petition will not be issued if you drop it off and leave without completing all of the required steps.
In the Night Court Courtroom, there is an interactive video monitor which will explain what an Order of Protection is, how you go about getting it, and what to do after you get it. In addition, a photocopier is provided so that you may make copies of your Order of Protection.
Interactive Video on Orders of Protection and Photocopier
