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EspañolHow do I get my order of protection enforced in another state or territory?
You can get a valid order of protection enforced even if you do not register or file it.1 For your safety, always keep a copy of your order of protection with you.
It can help to know the rules in any state or territory where you will live or visit. This may help you get the police or courts to enforce your order quickly.
A domestic violence organization can tell you how this works in your area. To find one, visit our Advocates and Shelters page and choose your new state or territory in the drop-down menu.
1 18 U.S.C. § 2265(d)(2)
Do I need a special copy of my order of protection to have it enforced?
In some states and territories, you will need a certified copy of your order of protection. A certified copy says that it is a “true and correct” copy. It is signed and initialed by the clerk of court and usually has some kind of court stamp on it.
The copy you originally got may or may not have been a certified copy. If you do not have a certified copy, call or go to the court that gave you the order. Ask the clerk’s office for a certified copy. In the CNMI, the court will certify a copy and provide it to you without charging you a fee.1
Note: It is a good idea to always have a copy of the order of protection with you. Bring several copies with you when you move. Leave copies at your workplace, at your home, at your children’s school or daycare, in your car, with a trusted neighbor, and so on. Give a copy to the security guard or front desk person if there is one where you live or work. Give a copy of the order of protection to anyone who is named in and protected by the order.
1 8 CMC § 1924(c)(2)
Can I get someone to help me? Do I need a lawyer?
You do not need a lawyer to get your order of protection enforced in another state or territory.
However, you may want to get help from a local domestic violence advocate or attorney in the place that you move to. A domestic violence advocate can tell you what the advantages and disadvantages are for registering your order of protection. S/he may also be able to help you through the process if you decide to register it.
To find a domestic violence advocate or lawyer in the state or territory to which you are moving, go to our Places that Help page and select that state or territory from the drop-down menu.
