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Legal Information: Louisiana

Restraining Orders

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Updated: 
November 21, 2023

Can I get my domestic violence protective order from Louisiana enforced in another state?

If you have a valid Louisiana protective order 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 orders 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 domestic violence protective order is good under federal law? to find out if your protective order qualifies.

Each state must enforce out-of-state orders in the same way it enforces its own orders. Meaning, if the abuser violates your out-of-state order, 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.”