Restraining Orders

A temporary or final order of protection can order the abuser to:

• Stop threatening to commit or committing acts of violence against you or other family members;
• Stop harassing, annoying, disturbing the peace of, contacting or otherwise communicating, directly or indirectly, with you or other 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 (or another distance) away from you, your home, your school, work, or another specific place;
• Be excluded (removed) 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;
• Order the abuser to complete violence counseling (including drug counseling or treatment, if necessary);
• Be prohibited from possessing or using a firearm (if one was used in an assault against you); and/or
• 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)