Orders of protection are court orders that threaten severe legal consequences to those who commit acts of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking against specific persons, and individuals are eligible to file for an order of protection if they have a particular relationship with their alleged abusers. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-3-601, these relationships include adults or minors who are:
Current or former spouses or cohabitants
Currently are or formerly were in a dating or sexual relationship
Related by blood, adoption, or a current or previous marriage
Children of individuals in any of these relationships