Conozca la Ley: Delaware
ACTUALIZADA 15 de julio, 2007
If you are planning to move to DE or are going to be in DE for any reason, your protection or restraining order can be enforced.
General Rules for Out-of-State orders in DE
arribaCan I get my protection order enforced in Delaware? What are the requirements?
Yes. Your out-of-state protection order can be enforced in Delaware 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 DE?
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 Delaware.
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. Find out if this is possible in your state by calling the clerk of the court that issued your order. 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 Delaware, you may be able to get a new one issued in Delaware but this may be difficult to do if no new incidents of abuse have occurred in Delaware. To find out more information on how to get a protective order in Delaware, visit our DE How to Get a Protective Order page.
arribaI was granted temporary custody with my out-of-state protection order. Will I still have temporary custody of my children in DE?
Yes. As long as the child custody provision complies with certain federal laws,* Delaware 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 or legal aid program in your area, please visit the DE Finding a Lawyer page under the Where to Find Help tab at the top of this page.
* 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.