English
EspañolUpdated:
November 30, 2023What if I don't register my restraining order? Will it be more difficult to have it enforced?
Neither federal law nor state law requires that you register your restraining order in order to get have it enforced. If your order is not entered into the state registry, the U.S. Virgin Islands’ law enforcement should still enforce your order if it:
- identifies the protected individual and the respondent;
- is currently in effect;
- was issued by a court that had jurisdiction (power) to issue the order; and
- was issued after the respondent was given adequate notice and opportunity to be heard in reasonable time.1
If you are unsure about whether registering your order is the right decision for you, you may want to contact a local domestic violence organization in your area. An advocate there may be able to help you decide what the safest plan of action is for you in the U.S. Virgin Islands. To see a list of local domestic violence organizations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, go to our VI Advocates and Shelters page.
1 VI ST T. 5 § 583(d)
