Parties Who May Petition for an Order of Protection

With the exceptions added in 2005 to include sexual assault and stalking victims, state law requires that the petitioner have some past or present link of a domestic or familial nature with the respondent, though it may be indirect. The statute does not include acquaintances, neighbors, business associates and others who do not fall into the specified categories, which include:

1. Adults or minors who are current or former spouses;
2. Adults or minors who live together or who have lived together;
3. Adults or minors who are dating or who have dated or who have or had a sexual relationship; as used herein “dating” and “dated” do not include fraternization between two individuals in a business or social context;
4. Adults or minors related by blood or adoption;
5. Adults or minors who are related or were formerly related by marriage; or
6. Adult or minor children of a person in a relationship described above.

T.C.A. § 36-3-601(5)(A - F).