Conozca la Ley: Washington

ACTUALIZADA 21 de noviembre, 2008

If you are planning to move to WA or are going to be in WA for any reason, your protection or restraining order can be enforced.

• General Rules for Out-of-State orders in WA
  • Can I get my protection order enforced in Washington? What are the requirements?
  • Can I have my out-of-state protection order changed, extended, or canceled in WA?
  • What can I do if the court that issued my order tells WA that my order has changed or is no longer valid?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 WA?
• Registering your Out-of-State order in WA

General Rules for Out-of-State orders in WA

arribaCan I get my protection order enforced in Washington? What are the requirements?

Yes. Your protection order can be enforced in Washington 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 WA?

arribaWhat can I do if the court that issued my order tells WA that my order has changed or is no longer valid?

You will have to contact the court that issued your order to find out why your order has changed or is no longer valid.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 Washington 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 WA. You will find information on legal assistance and domestic violence organizations in WA on the WA Where to Find Help page.

arribaI was granted temporary custody with my protection order. Will I still have temporary custody of my children in WA?

Yes. As long as the child custody provision complies with certain federal laws,* Washington 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 WA 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.

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