Conozca la Ley: Minnesota
ACTUALIZADA 17 de agosto, 2008
If you are planning to move to MN or are going to be in MN for any reason, your protection or restraining order can be enforced.
- General Rules for Out-of-State orders in MN
- Can I get my protection order enforced in Minnesota? What are the requirements?
- Can I have my out-of-state protection order changed, extended, or canceled in MN?
- What can I do if the court that issued my order tells MN that my order has changed or is no longer valid?
- I was granted temporary custody with my protection order. Will I still have temporary custody of my children in MN?
- Registering your Out-of-State order in MN
General Rules for Out-of-State orders in MN
arribaCan I get my protection order enforced in Minnesota? What are the requirements?
Yes. Your protection order can be enforced in Minnesota 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.**
Note: For information on enforcing a military protective order (MPO) off the military installation, or enforcing a civil protection order (CPO) on a military installation, please see our Military Protective Orders page.
* 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 MN?
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 Minnesota.
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. It may be possible 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. You may not want to contact the clerk of court where you live to find out. To find out more information about how to modify a restraining order, see the "How to Get a Restraining Order" page for the state where your order was issued.
If your order does expire while you are living in Minnesota, you may be able to get a new one issued in Minnesota but this may be difficult to do if no new incidents of abuse have occurred in Minnesota. To find out more information on how to get a protective order in Minnesota, visit our MN How to get an Order for Protection page.
arribaWhat can I do if the court that issued my order tells MN 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 Minnesota 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 MN. To find a lawyer or legal aid program in your area, please visit the MN Finding a Lawyer page under the Where to Find Help tab at the top of this page.
arribaI was granted temporary custody with my protection order. Will I still have temporary custody of my children in MN?
Yes. As long as the child custody provision complies with certain federal laws,* Minnesota 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 this legal standard, contact a lawyer in your area. To find a lawyer in your area please visit our MN Finding a Lawyer page under the Where to Find Help tab.
* 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.