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EspañolHow do I get my protective order enforced in another state?
You do not have to take any special steps to get your protective order enforced in another state.
Many states have a process to register or file an out-of-state order to make it easier to enforce if the abuser breaks the order. However, you can still get a valid protective order enforced in another state even if you do not register or file it.1 For your safety, always keep a copy of your protective order with you.
It can help to know the rules in any state where you will live or visit. For example, in some states, you may need a certified copy of your out-of-state protective order. Knowing the rules in your new state 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 in the drop-down menu.
1 18 U.S.C. § 2265(d)(2)
Do I need a special copy of my protective order to it enforced?
In some states, you will need a certified copy of your protective order. 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. In Iowa, a certified order has a stamp and a raised seal on it.
The copy you originally received 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.
Note: It is a good idea to always have a copy of the protective order 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 protective order to anyone who is named in and protected by the order.
Can I get someone to help me? Do I need a lawyer?
You do not need a lawyer to get your protective order enforced in another state.
However, you may want to get help from a local domestic violence advocate or an attorney in the state that you move to. A domestic violence advocate can tell you what the advantages and disadvantages are for registering your protective order. 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 a lawyer in your new state, go to our Places that Help page and select that state from the drop-down menu.
Do I need to tell the court in Iowa if I move?
The court that gave you your protective order needs to have an up-to-date address for you at all times. This is because the court will only communicate with you by mail if anything happens in your case - for example, if the abuser asks the judge to change or end the order.
If you won’t be able to get mail at your old address after you move, you must provide the court with a new one. Iowa law says that a change of address should be reported to the court within five days after you stop getting mail at your old address.1
When you give your new address to the court, you can ask that it be kept confidential. It will be kept in a confidential part of your file, and the public will not have access to it.2 However, your new address could possibly be released to court officials in your new state, or to law enforcement officials. If you feel unsafe giving your new address, you can use the address of a friend you trust, a shelter/domestic violence agency, or a P.O. box instead.3
1 Iowa Code § 236.10(2)
2 Iowa Code § 236.10(3), (4)
3 Iowa Code § 236.10(1)
