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Legal Information: Oregon

Statutes: Oregon

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Updated: 
February 2, 2024

24.190. Foreign restraining orders

(1) For the purposes of this section:

(a) “Foreign restraining order” means a restraining order that is a foreign judgment as defined by ORS 24.105.

(b)(A) “Restraining order” means an injunction or other order issued for the purpose of preventing:

(i) Violent or threatening acts or harassment against another person;

(ii) Sexual violence against another person;

(iii) Contact or communication with another person; or

(iv) Physical proximity to another person.

(B) “Restraining order” includes temporary and final orders issued by a civil or criminal court regardless of whether the order was obtained by filing an independent action or as a pendente lite order in another proceeding. However, for a civil order to be considered a restraining order, the civil order must have been issued in response to a complaint, petition or motion filed by or on behalf of a person seeking protection.

(2)(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, immediately upon the arrival in this state of a person protected by a foreign restraining order, the foreign restraining order is enforceable as an Oregon order without the necessity of filing and continues to be enforceable as an Oregon order without any further action by the protected person.

(b) A foreign restraining order is not enforceable as an Oregon order if:

(A) The person restrained by the order shows that:

(i) The court that issued the order lacked jurisdiction over the subject matter or lacked personal jurisdiction over the person restrained by the order; or

(ii) The person restrained by the order was not given reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard under the law of the jurisdiction in which the order was issued; or

(B) The foreign restraining order was issued against a person who had petitioned for a restraining order unless:

(i) The person protected by the foreign restraining order filed a separate petition seeking the restraining order; and

(ii) The court issuing the foreign restraining order made specific findings that the person was entitled to the order.

(c) Except as otherwise expressly provided in the order, issues of nonenforceability described in paragraph (b) of this subsection are affirmative defenses in an action seeking enforcement of the order.

(3)(a) A person may present a copy of a foreign restraining order to a county sheriff for entry into the Law Enforcement Data System maintained by the Department of State Police. Subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection, and after promptly verifying the validity of the foreign restraining order and that the person restrained by the order has been personally served with a copy of the order or has actual notice of the order, the county sheriff shall enter the order into the Law Enforcement Data System and the National Crime Information Center of the United States Department of Justice. Entry into the Law Enforcement Data System or the National Crime Information Center constitutes notice to all law enforcement agencies of the existence of the restraining order. Law enforcement agencies shall establish procedures adequate to ensure that an officer at the scene of an alleged violation of the order may be informed of the existence and terms of the order. The order is fully enforceable as an Oregon order in any county or tribal land in this state.

(b) The Department of State Police shall specify information that is required for a foreign restraining order to be entered into the Law Enforcement Data System.

(c) As used in this subsection, “personal service” and “actual notice” include alternative forms of service or notice that are permitted by the issuing jurisdiction to constitute service or notice.

(4) Pending a contempt hearing for alleged violation of a foreign restraining order, a person arrested and taken into custody pursuant to ORS 133.310 may be released as provided in ORS 135.230 to 135.290. Unless the order provides otherwise, the security amount for release is $5,000.

(5) ORS 24.115, 24.125, 24.129, 24.135, 24.140, 24.150 and 24.155 do not apply to a foreign restraining order.

(6) A person protected by a foreign restraining order, or a person acting on behalf of a person protected by a foreign restraining order, may file a certified copy of the order and proof of service in the office of the clerk of any circuit court of any county of this state. A judgment or order filed under this subsection has the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses and proceedings for reopening, vacating or staying as a judgment or order of the circuit court in which the foreign judgment or order is filed, and may be enforced or satisfied in like manner. The court may not collect a filing fee for a filing under this subsection.(7) This state or a local governmental agency, or a law enforcement officer, prosecuting attorney, clerk of the court or any state or local governmental official acting in an official capacity, is immune from civil and criminal liability for an act arising out of the registration, entry or enforcement of a foreign restraining order or the detention or arrest of an alleged violator of a foreign restraining order if the act was done in good faith and without malice in an effort to comply with state and federal law.