Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 9 - FAMILY LAW (§§ 9-2-101 — 9-34-204) › Subtitle 2 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS (§§ 9-8-101 — 9) › Chapter 15 - DOMESTIC ABUSE ACT (§§ 9-15-101 — 9-15-407) › Subchapter 3 - ORDERS OF PROTECTION FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS (§§ 9-15-301 — 9-15-303) › Section 9-15-302 - Full faith and credit

(a)
An order of protection shall be afforded full faith and credit by the courts of this state and shall be enforced by law enforcement as if it were issued in this state if the order of protection:
(1)
Meets the requirements of subsection (b) or subsection (c) of this section and is issued by a court of another state, a federally recognized Indian tribe, or a territory; or
(2)
Is a military order of protection as defined under §
5-53-134(f)(1)
.
(b)
An order of protection issued by a court of another state, a federally recognized Indian tribe, or a territory meets the requirements of this section if:
(1)
The court had jurisdiction over the parties and matters under the laws of the other state, the federally recognized Indian tribe, or the territory; and
(2)
(A)
Reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard was given to the person against whom the order was sought sufficient to protect that person's right to due process.
(B)
In the case of ex parte orders, notice and opportunity to be heard must be provided within the time required by the laws or rules of the other state, the federally recognized Indian tribe, or the territory and, in any event, within a reasonable time after the order is issued sufficient to protect the due process rights of the party against whom the order is enforced.
(c)
An order of protection issued against both the petitioner and the respondent by a court of another state, a federally recognized Indian tribe, or a territory shall not be enforceable against the petitioner unless:
(1)
The respondent filed a cross or counter petition, complaint, or other written pleading seeking an order of protection;
(2)
The issuing court made specific findings against both the petitioner and the respondent; and
(3)
The issuing court determined that each party was entitled to an order.
(d)
(1)
A person seeking recognition and enforcement of an out-of-state order of protection under this section may present a copy of the order of protection to the local law enforcement office in the city or county where enforcement of the order may be necessary.
(2)
After receiving a copy of the order of protection, the local law enforcement office shall enter the order into the Arkansas Crime Information Center's protection order registry file.
(3)
There shall be no fee for entering the out-of-state order of protection.
(4)
The law enforcement office shall not notify the party against whom the order has been issued that an out-of-state order of protection has been entered in this state.
(5)
Entry of the out-of-state order of protection into the center's protection order registry file shall not be required for enforcement of the order of protection in this state.
(e)
(1)
(A)
When enforcing an out-of-state order of protection, a law enforcement officer shall determine if there is probable cause to believe that an out-of-state order of protection exists.
(B)
A law enforcement officer may rely upon:
(i)
An out-of-state order of protection that has been provided to the officer by any source; or
(ii)
(a)
The statement of any person protected by an out-of-state order of protection that the order exists; and
(b)
Verification by the clerk of the court of the other state, the federally recognized Indian tribe, or the territory in writing, by telephone, or by facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission.
(2)
(A)
When enforcing an out-of-state order of protection, a law enforcement officer shall determine if there is probable cause to believe that the terms of the order have been violated.
(B)
The law enforcement officer may rely upon:
(i)
Any events he or she witnessed;
(ii)
The statement of any person who claims to be a witness; or
(iii)
Any other evidence.
(3)
A law enforcement officer shall not refuse to enforce the terms of the order of protection on the grounds that the order has not been filed with the local law enforcement office or entered into the center's protection order registry file unless the law enforcement officer has a reasonable belief that the order is not authentic on its face.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 515,§ 5, eff. 8/1/2017
Acts 1995, No. 995, § 3; 2003, No. 651, § 2