Domestic Violence and Safety Resources in Sumner County

If you are in immediate danger in Sumner County, call 911. For confidential local help, HomeSafe’s 24-hour helpline is 615-452-4315 and can connect survivors with safety planning, emergency shelter, advocacy and other services. Tennessee’s statewide domestic violence helpline is 1-800-356-6767. For an order of protection, Sumner County General Sessions Court lists civil and protection-order assistance at 615-452-4367, extension 3.

Last verified: August 15, 2026. If you or someone nearby is in immediate danger, call 911. Sumner County’s emergency communications center directs residents to call 911 for police, fire or medical response. For a non-emergency law-enforcement request, the county emergency communications center lists 615-451-3838..

If it is safe to make a confidential call, HomeSafe’s 24-hour Sumner County helpline is 615-452-4315. HomeSafe provides crisis intervention, safety planning, emergency shelter access, advocacy, counseling and help connecting with court and other community resources.

If you are in immediate danger

• Call 911 and give the dispatcher the address or location where help is needed.
• If you cannot safely speak, follow the dispatcher’s instructions and use any available emergency communication option.
• Move toward an exit or a safer public location if you can do so without increasing danger.
• Avoid confronting the person causing harm or announcing plans to leave if doing so could escalate the situation.
• If you are injured, need medical care or cannot safely return home, tell 911 or an advocate what you need.

For confidential local support, call HomeSafe at 615-452-4315. Do not go to a shelter or publish a shelter location without first speaking with an advocate; emergency housing and placement depend on safety, capacity and the survivor’s circumstances. HomeSafe’s main Sumner County office is listed at 331 S. Water Ave., Gallatin, with regular office hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 24-hour helpline is the best starting point outside those hours.

Local domestic violence help in Sumner County

HomeSafe

HomeSafe is the primary locally identified domestic- and sexual-violence service provider for Sumner County. Its services include:

• 24-hour crisis intervention by phone
• Safety planning and danger assessment
• Emergency shelter access
• Supportive counseling and support groups
• Help with orders of protection
• Court and law-enforcement advocacy and accompaniment
• Case management, referrals and services for children and youth

Services are described by HomeSafe and local partner listings as free and confidential. Call 615-452-4315 for immediate assistance or 615-452-5439 for the main office. HomeSafe says its Sumner County office is at 331 S. Water Ave., Gallatin, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

United Way 211

If you are not sure which agency to contact, call 211 or use United Way of Sumner County’s referral service. United Way says 211 is a free, confidential referral service available 24/7 online and can connect callers with domestic-violence help, housing, transportation, health care, legal assistance and other local services.

Tennessee and national hotlines

• Tennessee Statewide Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-356-6767. The state resource guide describes the line as available 24/7 for supportive listening, safety planning, referrals and connections to shelter and other services.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE, or 1-800-799-7233. The Hotline also lists online chat and text support by texting START to 88788.
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE, or 1-800-656-4673, for sexual-assault support and referrals.

How to make a safety plan

A safety plan should be tailored to the survivor’s situation. An advocate can help identify safer options without requiring the survivor to make a particular decision or leave immediately.

Before leaving

If it is safe, consider preparing the following in a place the abusive person cannot access:

• Identification, birth certificates and immigration documents
• Medications, medical information and essential phone numbers
• Keys, money, bank information and transportation information
• Important legal, school and employment records
• Clothing and necessary items for children
• Evidence of threats or injuries, stored somewhere safe and not accessible to the person causing harm

Do not delay leaving to collect belongings if there is an immediate threat. A HomeSafe advocate can help discuss emergency shelter and other options.

If children or pets are involved

Tell the advocate about children, pregnancy, pets, disabilities, medications and transportation needs. These details can affect safety planning and available referrals. The National Domestic Violence Hotline specifically includes planning resources for children and pets.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. For suspected child abuse or neglect that is not an immediate emergency, Tennessee’s Department of Human Services lists the child-abuse reporting line as 1-877-237-0004; use 911 for an emergency. This guide does not replace advice from law enforcement, a child-protection professional or an attorney.

Technology and privacy

Internet and phone activity may be monitored. The National Domestic Violence Hotline warns that internet use cannot be erased completely and recommends considering digital safety, including clearing browser history when safe. Use a device or account the abusive person cannot access if possible, and ask an advocate before changing passwords or disabling location sharing if those changes could alert the person causing harm.

How to seek an order of protection in Sumner County

An order of protection is a court process that may provide restrictions against domestic abuse, stalking, sexual assault, threats or contact, depending on the facts and the court’s decision. It is different from informal advice to “stay away,” and it should not be treated as a substitute for calling 911 when danger is immediate.

Where to start

Sumner County General Sessions Court lists Orders of Protection under its civil matters and provides the following contact information:

• Address: 155 East Main Street, Gallatin, TN 37066
• Civil and order-of-protection phone: 615-452-4367, extension 3
• Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays

The court’s page also lists a petition for an order of protection and related forms.

HomeSafe advocates can help survivors understand the process and may provide court advocacy or accompaniment. Tennessee’s Administrative Office of the Courts also publishes official order-of-protection forms, including petitions, ex parte forms, modification or extension forms and forms addressing firearm dispossession.

Costs and legal questions

A Tennessee courts bench card states that a victim is not required to pay the initial costs associated with filing an order-of-protection petition. Court procedures, eligibility and the relief available depend on the facts of the case, so readers should obtain current guidance from the court clerk, an advocate or an attorney.

Court clerks cannot provide legal advice. Sumner County Chancery Court lists HELP4TN.org, onlineTNJustice.org and other legal resources. Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands lists free civil legal assistance at 800-238-1443 and has a Gallatin office at 106 Public Square, Suite 109 according to United Way of Sumner County’s current partner listing. Eligibility rules apply..

Help for friends, family members and advocates

If someone tells you they are experiencing abuse:

1. Listen without blaming or pressuring them.
2. Ask what would help them feel safer right now.
3. Offer to help contact HomeSafe, 211 or another trusted service.
4. Do not confront the abusive person or share the survivor’s location without permission.
5. Help with practical needs—transportation, child care, document storage or a safe phone—only if doing so does not increase risk.
6. Call 911 if there is an immediate threat or serious injury.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline emphasizes respecting a survivor’s autonomy and helping create a safety plan that fits the person’s circumstances.

What to do next

• Immediate danger: Call 911.
• Need confidential local help: Call HomeSafe at 615-452-4315.
• Need help finding the right local service: Call 211.
• Need statewide referrals: Call 1-800-356-6767.
• Need an order-of-protection starting point: Contact Sumner County General Sessions Court at 615-452-4367, extension 3, or ask HomeSafe for advocacy.
• Need legal help: Contact Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands at 800-238-1443 and ask about eligibility.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Contact an advocate, attorney, court clerk or emergency responder for guidance about your specific situation.