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Legal Information: North Carolina

Restraining Orders

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Updated: 
December 22, 2023

What happens if I move?

If you move within North Carolina or to any other state in the U.S., your order will still be valid and good.

Federal law provides what is called “full faith and credit,” which means that once you have a criminal or civil protection order, it follows you wherever you go, including U.S. territories and tribal lands. Different states have different rules for enforcing out-of-state protection orders. For example, some states require you to register your order in the new state. You can find out about your state’s policies by contacting a domestic violence program, the clerk of courts, or the prosecutor in your area.

To read more about how to get your protective order enforced in another state, please see our Moving to Another State with a Protective Order page. If you are moving to a new state, you may also call the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit (1-800-903-0111 x 2) for information on enforcing your order.