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Legal Information: Kentucky

Restraining Orders

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Updated: 
November 15, 2023

Can I get my DVO from Kentucky enforced in another state?

If you have a valid Kentucky DVO that meets federal standards, it can be enforced in another state. The Violence Against Women Act, which is a federal law, states that all valid DVO’s granted in the United States receive “full faith and credit” in all state and tribal courts within the US, including US territories. See How do I know if my DVO is good under federal law? to find out if your DVO qualifies.

Each state must enforce out-of-state DVOs in the same way it enforces its own orders. If the abuser violates your out-of-state DVO, s/he will be punished according to the laws of whatever state you are in when the order is violated. This is what is meant by “full faith and credit.”