Restraining Orders

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)