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Legal Information: New Hampshire

Statutes: New Hampshire

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Updated: 
August 9, 2023

173-B:13. Orders Enforceable.

I. Any protective order issued under this chapter shall be effective throughout the state.

II. Any protective order issued by any other state, tribal, or territorial court related to domestic or family violence, including an ex parte order, shall be deemed valid if the issuing court had jurisdiction over the parties and matter under the law of the state, tribe, or territory, and the person against whom the order was made was given reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard. There shall be a presumption of validity where an order appears facially valid.

III. Any valid protective order, as defined in paragraph II, shall be accorded full faith and credit throughout the state.

IV. A person entitled to protection under a foreign protective order, as defined in paragraph II, may file such order in any circuit court by filing with the court a certified copy of the order. Such person shall swear under oath in an affidavit to the best of such person’s knowledge that the order is presently in effect as written. Such filing shall be without fee or cost. The clerk of the circuit court shall forward such order to the administrative office of the courts which shall enter such order in the state database. Such filing shall not be a precondition to arrest or enforcement of a foreign order.

V. A peace officer may rely upon a copy of any protective order issued under this chapter, or under RSA 458, or upon a copy of a foreign protective order, as defined in this section, which has been provided to the peace officer by any source.

VI. Law enforcement personnel may rely on the statement of the person protected by the order that the order remains in effect as written.

VII. A mutual protective order issued by any other state, tribal, or territorial court against one who has petitioned, filed a complaint, or otherwise filed a written pleading for protection relating to domestic or family violence shall be accorded full faith and credit only if:

(a) A cross or counter petition, complaint, or other written pleading was filed seeking such protection order; and

(b) The court made specific findings of domestic or family violence by both parties and that each party was entitled to such order.