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Legal Information: Indiana

Statutes: Indiana

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Updated: 
November 14, 2023

34-26-5-3 Duties of division of state court administration and clerk of circuit court; statements on petition and order; verification and issuance of order

Sec. 3. (a) The office of judicial administration shall:

(1) develop and adopt:

(A) a petition for an order for protection;

(B) an order for protection, including:

(i) orders issued under this chapter;

(ii) ex parte orders;

(iii) no contact orders under IC 31 and IC 35;

(iv) forms relating to workplace violence restraining orders under IC 34-26-6; and

(v) forms relating to a child protective order under IC 31-34-2.3;

(C) a confidential form;

(D) a notice of modification or extension for an order for protection, a no contact order, a workplace violence restraining order, or a child protective order;

(E) a notice of termination for an order for protection, a no contact order, a workplace violence restraining order, or a child protective order; and

(F) any other uniform statewide forms necessary to maintain an accurate registry of orders; and

(2) provide the forms under subdivision (1) to the clerk of each court authorized to issue the orders.

(b) In addition to any other required information, a petition for an order for protection must contain a statement listing each civil or criminal action involving:

(1) either party; or

(2) a child of either party.

(c) The following statements must be printed in boldface type or in capital letters on an order for protection, a no contact order, a workplace violence restraining order, or a child protective order:

VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER IS PUNISHABLE BY CONFINEMENT IN JAIL, PRISON, AND/OR A FINE.

IF SO ORDERED BY THE COURT, THE RESPONDENT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER OR STAY AT THE PETITIONER’S RESIDENCE OR RESIDENCE OF ANY CHILD WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE ORDER, EVEN IF INVITED TO DO SO BY THE PETITIONER OR ANY OTHER PERSON. IN NO EVENT IS THE ORDER FOR PROTECTION VOIDED.

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. 2265, THIS ORDER FOR PROTECTION SHALL BE GIVEN FULL FAITH AND CREDIT IN ANY OTHER STATE OR TRIBAL LAND AND SHALL BE ENFORCED AS IF IT WERE AN ORDER ISSUED IN THAT STATE OR TRIBAL LAND. PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. 922(g), ONCE A RESPONDENT HAS RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS ORDER AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD, IT IS A FEDERAL VIOLATION TO PURCHASE, RECEIVE, OR POSSESS A FIREARM WHILE SUBJECT TO THIS ORDER IF THE PROTECTED PERSON IS:

(A) THE RESPONDENT’S CURRENT OR FORMER SPOUSE;

(B) A CURRENT OR FORMER PERSON WITH WHOM THE RESPONDENT RESIDED WHILE IN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP; OR

(C) A PERSON WITH WHOM THE RESPONDENT HAS A CHILD.

INTERSTATE VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER MAY SUBJECT THE RESPONDENT TO FEDERAL CRIMINAL PENALTIES UNDER 18 U.S.C. 2261 AND 18 U.S.C. 2262.

(d) The clerk of the circuit court, or a person or entity designated by the clerk of the circuit court, shall provide to a person requesting an order for protection:

(1) the forms adopted under subsection (a);

(2) all other forms required to petition for an order for protection, including forms:

(A) necessary for service; and

(B) required under IC 31-21 (or IC 31-17-3 before its repeal); and

(3) clerical assistance in reading or completing the forms and filing the petition.

Clerical assistance provided by the clerk or court personnel under this section does not constitute the practice of law. The clerk of the circuit court may enter into a contract with a person or another entity to provide this assistance. A person, other than a person or other entity with whom the clerk has entered into a contract to provide assistance, who in good faith performs the duties the person is required to perform under this subsection is not liable for civil damages that might otherwise be imposed on the person as a result of the performance of those duties unless the person commits an act or omission that amounts to gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct.

(e) A petition for an order for protection must be:

(1) verified or under oath under Trial Rule 11; and

(2) issued on the forms adopted under subsection (a).

(f) If an order for protection is issued under this chapter, the clerk shall comply with IC 5-2-9.

(g) After receiving a petition for an order for protection, the clerk of the circuit court shall immediately enter the case in the Indiana protective order registry established by IC 5-2-9-5.5.