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Legal Information: Massachusetts

Restraining Orders

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Updated: 
December 14, 2023

Do I have to register my protection order in Massachusetts in order to get it enforced?

Police officers must enforce your out-of-state protection order whether or not you register it. If it is not registered, you will need to show the officer a copy of your protection order, and you may have to swear in writing that it is still in effect.

While you do not have to register your protection order in order to get it enforced, one benefit of registration is that you may be able to get your order enforced, even if you are not carrying a copy of the order with you when the police officer arrives at the scene.1

Protection orders that are registered in Massachusetts are kept in the Massachusetts statewide registry operated by the Commissioner of Probation, and Massachusetts police officers should have access to this registry when they arrive at the scene.

1 M.G.L.A. 209A § 5A

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