English
EspañolCan I get my order of protection from the CNMI enforced in another state or territory?
If you have a valid order of protection that meets federal standards, it can be enforced in another state or territory. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which is a federal law, says that all valid protection orders granted in the United States receive “full faith and credit” in all state and tribal courts within the U.S., including U.S. territories. In other words, each state and territory must enforce protection orders from other places in the same way it enforces its own orders. If an abuser violates your order of protection, s/he will be punished according to the laws of whatever state or territory you are in when the order is violated.
You may want to call the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit (1-800-903-0111 x 2) for more information on enforcing your order in another state or territory.
