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Información Legal: Luisiana

Luisiana: Órdenes de Restricción

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Actualizada: 
21 de noviembre de 2023

¿Cuál es la definición legal de maltrato doméstico en Luisiana?

Esta sección define la violencia/maltrato doméstico para el propósito de obtener una orden de protección. “Domestic abuse” includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts between “family members,” “household members,” or “dating partners”:

  1. physical abuse;
  2. sexual abuse;
  3. stalking or cyberstalking;
  4. “abuse of an adult” that is committed by an adult child against his/her parent or an adult grandchild against his/her grandparent – in this context, “abuse” can include physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, abandonment, isolation, exploitation, or extortion of funds or other things of value;1 or
  5. any other crime (“offense”) in Louisiana, whether it’s physical or non-physical, which you can access on the Louisiana Legislature website - however, “negligent injury” and “defamation” are not considered to be an offense for these purposes.2 

1 LA R.S. 46:2132(3), (4); LA R.S. 15:1503(2)
2 LA R.S. 46:2132(3), (4)

¿Qué tipos de órdenes de protección hay? ¿Por cuánto tiempo duran?

There are three types of protective orders:

Emergency Temporary Restraining Orders: If you are in need of emergency protection outside of regular court hours, the court may grant you an emergency temporary restraining order if there is an “immediate and present danger of abuse.” The judge must consider any and all past history of abuse, or threats of abuse, in determining whether or not there is an immediate and present danger of abuse. (There is no requirement that the abuse itself be recent, immediate, or present.)  If you are issued this order, it will only be good until the close of the next business day that the court is open. For the protection to remain in effect, you must go to court before the close of the next business day to request a temporary restraining order and/or a protective order.1

Temporary Restraining Orders: When you go to court to file for a long-term protective order, you can also ask for a temporary restraining order (TRO). The court may issue you a TRO during an ex parte hearing without the abuser present if there is an “immediate and present danger of abuse.” The judge must consider any and all past history of abuse, or threats of abuse, in determining whether or not there is an immediate and present danger of abuse. (There is no requirement that the abuse itself be recent, immediate, or present.)  As soon as a TRO is issued, the abuser will be notified that you have an order against him/her. The court will give you a date, usually within 21 days, for a full court hearing where you and the abuser each have a chance to be present and tell your sides of the story.2

Long-term Protective Orders: A long-term protective order can be issued only after a court hearing where you and the abuser both have the opportunity to tell your sides of the story to a judge. You must attend that hearing.  If you do not go to the hearing, your TRO may expire and you will have to start the process over.  A long-term order will last for up to 18 months, unless otherwise stated.3  However, the part of the order that says the abuser should not ”abuse, harass, or interfere with the petitioner or his/her employment; should not go near the residence or place of employment of the petitioner, the minor children, or any person on whose behalf a the petition was filed” can last for an indefinite period of time.4  Orders may also be extended.  See How do I change, extend, or cancel my protective order?

1 LA R.S. 46:2135(A),(F)
2 LA R.S. 46:2135(A)
3 LA R.S. 46:2136(F)(1)
4 LA R.S. 46:2136(F)(2)(a); see also LA R.S. 46:2135(A)(1)

¿Qué protecciones puedo conseguir en una orden de protección?

In a temporary restraining order, a judge can order the abuser to:

  • stop threatening, harassing, or hurting you;
  • not contact or interfere with you or your children – and give you temporary custody;
  • stay away from your and your children’s residence, places of employment, schools, etc.;
  • not give away, sell, or destroy any mutually-owned property;
  • move out of the residence if you live together; Note: If the abuser solely owns or leases the home, s/he will not be asked to move out unless s/he has a legal duty to support you or your children;
  • return your personal property to you;
  • stop abusing your pet; and
  • give you possession of your pet.1

In a long-term protective order, a judge may:

  • order all of the relief listed above; and
  • include the following additional terms:
    • establish temporary visitation;
    • order the abuser to pay temporary child support if you have children with the abuser;
    • order the abuser to pay temporary spousal support if you are married to the abuser;
    • give you possession of a shared home, even if the abuser owns it, if you are the abuser’s spouse or have custody of your and the abuser’s minor children;
    • order a medical or mental health evaluation, or both, of the abuser to be conducted by an independent court-appointed evaluator who qualifies as an expert in the field of domestic abuse and who has no family, financial, or prior medical or mental health relationship with the abuser or his/her attorney of record; and
    • order the abuser to attend counseling.2

In addition, the law says that the abuser must (“shall”) pay for all of your court costs, attorney fees, costs of enforcing or modifying the order, costs of appeals, evaluation fees, and expert witness fees based on filing or defending any proceeding concerning a domestic abuse protection order. The abuser must also pay for all costs of medical and psychological care for you or for your children when the care is needed due to the domestic violence.3

Note: Louisiana law prohibits abuser from possessing a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon while the long-term protective order is in effect if:

  • the order includes a finding that s/he represents a believable (credible) threat to the physical safety of a family member, household member, or dating partner; and
  • the order includes a notice about this law and about the federal firearm law.4

1 LA R.S. § 46:2135
2 LA R.S. § 46:2136
3 LA R.S. § 46:2136.1
4 LA R.S. § 46:2136.3

¿En qué distrito puedo solicitar una orden de protección?

Puede presentar la petición en el distrito donde:

  • the marital home is located if you are married; 
  • the home you shared with the abuser is located if you are unmarried; 
  • where you live; 
  • where the abuser lives;
  • where the abuse occurred; or
  • where divorce or annulment proceedings could be filed.1

1 LA R.S. 46:2133(B)

Si el agresor vive en otro estado, ¿puedo conseguir una orden en su contra?

Si el/la agresor/a vive en un estado diferente al suyo, el/la juez/a podría no tener “jurisdicción personal” (poder) sobre ese/a agresor/a. Esto significa que es posible que el tribunal no pueda otorgar una orden en contra de él/ella.

Hay algunas formas en las que una corte puede tener jurisdicción personal sobre un/a agresor/a que es de otro estado:

  1. El/la agresor/a tiene una conexión sustancial a su estado. Quizás el/la agresor/a viaja regularmente a su estado para visitarlo/a, por negocios, para ver la familia extendida, o el/la agresor/a vivía en su estado y huyó recientemente.
  2. Uno de los actos de maltrato “ocurrió” en su estado. Quizás el/la agresor/a le envía mensajes amenazantes o le hace llamadas acosadoras desde otro estado pero usted lee los mensajes o contesta las llamadas mientras usted está en su estado. El/la juez/a puede decidir que el maltrato “ocurrió” mientras estaba en su estado. También puede ser posible que el/la agresor/a estaba en su estado cuando le maltrató pero desde entonces se fue del estado.
  3. Otra forma para que la corte adquiera jurisdicción es si usted presenta su petición en el estado donde usted está, y el/la agresor/a recibe notificación de la petición de la corte mientras él/ella está en ese estado.

Sin embargo, aunque nada de esto aplique a su situación, eso no necesariamente significa que usted no pueda conseguir una orden. A usted le pueden dar una orden por consentimiento o el/la juez/a puede encontrar otras circunstancias que permitan que la orden sea dada. Puede leer más sobre jurisdicción personal en nuestra sección de Asuntos Básicos del Sistema Judicial - Jurisdicción Personal.

Nota: Si el/la juez/a de su estado se niega a dar una orden, usted puede pedir una orden en la corte del estado donde vive el/la agresor/a. Sin embargo, recuerde que es probable que usted necesite presentar la petición en persona y asistir a varias citas en la corte, lo cual podría ser difícil si el estado de el/la agresor/a es lejos.