Restraining Orders

It should not be more difficult to have your order enforced because neither federal law¹ nor state law² requires that you register your protection order in order to get it enforced. Arizona state law also requires law enforcement officials to assume your order is real as long as you can show them a copy and tell them honestly that you think it is still in effect.³

However, if your order is not registered, then it will not be on file with the sheriff’s office, and it won’t be entered into the NCIC (although it might have been entered by the court that gave it to you). Therefore, it may be more difficult for an Arizona law enforcement official to determine whether your order is real.

If you are unsure about whether registering your order is the right decision for you, you may want to contact a local domestic violence organization in your area. An advocate there can help you decide what the safest plan of action is for you in Arizona. To see a list of local domestic violence organizations in Arizona, go to our AZ Advocates and Shelters page under the Places that Help tab at the top of this page.

¹ 18 U.S.C. § 2265
² A.R.S. § 13-3602(L)
³ SeeA.R.S. § 13-3602