Conozca la Ley: Massachusetts
ACTUALIZADA 29 de agosto, 2009
If you are planning to move to MA or are going to be in MA for any reason, your protection or restraining order can be enforced.
- General Rules for Out-of-State Orders in MA
- Can I get my protection enforced in Massachusetts? What are the requirements?
- Can I have my out-of-state protection order changed, extended or canceled in MA?
- What can I do if the court that issued my order tells MA that my order has changed or is no longer valid?
- I was granted temporary custody with my out-of-state protection order. Will I still have temporary custody of my children in MA?
- Registering your Out-of-State Order in MA
General Rules for Out-of-State Orders in MA
arribaCan I get my protection enforced in Massachusetts? What are the requirements?
Yes. Your protection order can be enforced in Massachusetts as long as:
- It was issued to prevent violent or threatening acts, harassing behavior, sexual violence, or it was issued to prevent another person from coming near you or contacting you.*
- The court that issued the order had jurisdiction over the people and case. (In other words, the court had the authority to hear the case.)
- The abuser received notice of the order and had an opportunity to go to court to tell his/her side of the story.
- In the case of ex parte temporary and emergency orders, the abuser must receive notice and have an opportunity to go to court to tell his/her side of the story at a hearing that is scheduled before the temporary order expires.**
* 18 U.S.C. § 2266(5)
** 18 U.S.C. § 2265(a) & (b)
arribaCan I have my out-of-state protection order changed, extended or canceled in MA?
No. Only the state that issued your protection order can change, extend, or cancel the order. You cannot have this done by a court in Massachusetts.
To have your order changed, extended, or canceled, you will have to file a motion or petition in the court where the order was issued. You may be able to request that you attend the court hearing by telephone rather than in person, so that you do not need to return to the state where the abuser is living. To find out more information about how to modify a restraining order, see the Restraining Order page, under the Know the Laws tab, for the state where your order was issued.
If your order does expire while you are living in Massachusetts, you may be able to get a new one issued in Massachusetts but this may be difficult to do if no incidents of abuse have taken place in Massachusetts. To find out more information on how to get an abuse prevention order in MA, visit our MA Restraining Order page.
arribaWhat can I do if the court that issued my order tells MA that my order has changed or is no longer valid?
You will have to contact the court that issued your order to find out why your order has changed or is no longer valid. The police in MA cannot enforce an order that has expired or has been canceled in the issuing state.
If this does happen, you may want to contact a lawyer or domestic violence organization in your area. They may be able to answer some of your questions, or help you fill out the necessary court forms to petition for a new order in MA. You will find information for legal assistance and domestic violence organizations in MA on the MA Where to Find Help page.
arribaI was granted temporary custody with my out-of-state protection order. Will I still have temporary custody of my children in MA?
Yes. As long as the child custody provision complies with certain federal laws,* Massachusetts can enforce a temporary custody order that is a part of a protection order.
To have someone read over your order and tell you if it meets these standards, contact a lawyer in your area. To find a lawyer in your area click here MA Finding a Lawyer.
* The federal laws are the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA) or the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), and the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980.