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Información Legal: Montana

Montana: Restraining Orders

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Actualizada: 
20 de diciembre de 2023

What is the legal definition of domestic violence in Montana?

For the purposes of getting an order of protection, domestic violence is defined as:

  1. when you are reasonably afraid of bodily injury from a partner or family member; or
  2. when a partner or family member commits one of the following crimes against you:

In addition to victims of domestic violence, you can file for an order of protection against anyone who commits one of the following crimes against you, regardless of your relationship to the offender:

Note: In addition, a parent or guardian can seek an order on behalf of a child under age 16 against an adult who has no legal supervision/control over the child if the parent believes that contact between them is not in the child’s best interests even if there is no domestic violence or crime committed.3 For more information, see Can a minor get an order of protection?

1 Mont. Code § 40-15-102(1)​
2 Mont. Code § 40-15-102(2)​
3 Mont. Code § 45-5-622(4)

What types of orders of protection are there? How long do they last?

In Montana, there are two types of orders of protection:

A temporary order of protection is a court order designed to provide you and your family members with immediate protection. A judge can issue it if you allege, and the judge believes, that you will be in danger of harm if the court does not issue a temporary order of protection immediately. It is effective for up to 20 days.1 The abuser does not get prior notice that you are requesting a temporary order of protection from the court. However, the abuser will be served with a copy of the order after it is granted. This copy will generally also include a notice of court hearing for a more permanent order, as described below. Note: If you meet the requirements for an order of protection, the length of time between the abusive incident and your application for an order of protection is irrelevant.2

A final order of protection can be granted only after a full court hearing where the abuser has an opportunity to appear and tell his/her side of the story. Generally this hearing will take place approximately 20 days after the temporary order is issued. However, the abuser may request an emergency hearing before the end of the 20-day period by filing an affidavit that demonstrates that s/he has an urgent need for the emergency hearing. An emergency hearing must then be set within three business days of the filing of this affidavit.3 A final order of protection, also called a “permanent order of protection,” can last for a specific period of time or remain in effect permanently.4

1 Mont. Code § 40-15-201(1), (2), (4)
2 Mont. Code § 40-15-102(7)
3 Mont. Code § 40-15-202(2)
4 Mont. Code § 40-15-204

 

What protections can I get in an order of protection?

A temporary or final order of protection can:

  • order the abuser to:
    • stop committing or threatening to commit acts of violence against you or your family members;
    • stop harassing, annoying, disturbing the peace of, contacting, or otherwise communicating directly or indirectly with you, your family members, or any witness to the abuse;
    • not remove your child from the state (“jurisdiction of the court”);
    • leave and stay 1,500 feet away from you, your home, school, work, or another specific place;
    • be removed (“excluded”) from your home regardless of who owns the home;
    • not transfer, hide, or get rid of any property except as would normally be done in the “usual course of business”;
    • give you possession and use of the home, a car, and other essential property, no matter who owns any of these things, and order law enforcement to accompany you to the home to get these items;
    • complete violence counseling, and, if necessary, drug counseling or treatment;
    • not possess or use a firearm if s/he used one in an assault against you; and
  • grant any other relief that is necessary to provide for the safety and welfare of you or your family members.1

Whether a judge orders any or all of the above depends on the facts of your case.

1 Mont. Code §§ 40-15-201(2); 40-15-204(3)

In which county can I file for an order of protection?

You can file a petition in the county where you live, in the county where the abuser lives, or in the county where the abuse took place.  There is no minimum length of residency required to file a petition.1  To figure out which type of court to file in, please see our Steps for obtaining an order of protection section.

1 Mont. Code § 40-15-301(4)

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.