


Legal Information: California

Restraining Orders

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June 16, 2021

Can I get my out-of-state protection order enforced in California? What are the requirements?

Yes.  Your out-of-state protection order can be enforced in California as long as:


Your protective order from a different state can be enforced both by judges as well as police officers in California.3  A judge is required to even enforce parts of your order that could not legally be included in a California DVRO.4  A California police officer can immediately enforce a protective order from another state so long as you have a copy that the officer believes is legitimate (valid).5  So, it’s a good idea to always keep a copy of your order on you so that you can show it to a police officer if you need to.


1 18 U.S.C. § 2266(5)(A)
3 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code §§ 6402; 6403
4 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6402
5 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6403

Can I have my out-of-state protection order changed, extended, or canceled in CA?



If your order does expire while you are living in California, you may be able to get a new one issued in California but this may be difficult to do if no new incidents of abuse have occurred in California.  To find out more information on how to get a protective order in California, visit our CA Restraining Orders page.

I was granted temporary custody with my protection order. Will I still have temporary custody of my children in CA?

Yes.  As long as the child custody provision complies with certain federal laws,1 CA can enforce a temporary custody order that is a part of a protection order.

To have someone read over your order and tell you if it meets this legal standard, contact a lawyer in your area.  To find a lawyer in your area, select the state you are in from the Places that Help page and then click Finding a Lawyer.

You can also register your custody order from a different state in California.  To do so, you should send all of the following to the court in your county:

  • A letter requesting registration;
  • Two copies (one has to be certified- that means that it has to be an official copy from the clerk of the court, and usually has some sort of seal or stamp on it) of your custody judgment and a sworn statement that to the best of your knowledge, the order has not been modified;
  • Your name and address (although when there has been domestic violence, you don’t have to give your address to the court).

An out-of-state custody order that is registered in CA can be enforced as if the order were issued by a CA court.  However, the abuser will be notified of the registration and have the chance to contest it being registered in your new state.2  If you are trying to keep your location confidential from the abuser, registering the order would likely not be a good idea since it will let him know what county in CA you are living in.

1 The federal laws are the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA) or the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), and it must be consistent with the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980; see also Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 3443 & 28 U.S.C. § 1738A
2 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 3445