You may also want to hire an attorney, but in most instances an advocate will be able to assist you. In most places, you will need a certified copy of your protective order. If your copy is not a certified copy, call or go to the court that gave you the order and ask for a certified copy. If you have already re-located to a different state and do not have a certified copy, you can request assistance from a court clerk, advocate, or attorney in the new state to get a certified copy from the court that gave you the order. If you are moving to a new state, it may be helpful to take phone numbers for the court clerk in the state that issued the order and the number of the nearest domestic violence program in the new state.
Some states maintain computerized registries of protective orders in their state.
If the state that gave you the protective order has a registry, try to get the phone number of the registry manager, or the number of the local or state law enforcement agency that has your order on file. Temporary ex-parte orders can be enforced by other states just as any regular protective order granted after notice and a hearing, as long as the abuser has been served and the abuser will have the opportunity to have a court hearing set before your temporary order expires. The state where you are going cannot extend the date of a domestic violence protective order that was issued by another state. In some states, you may be able to obtain another domestic violence protective order from the state where you have moved. This type of order must be requested by a peace officer for you with your permission.