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Legal Information: Federal

Domestic Violence in the Military

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Laws current as of June 21, 2024

Who is I eligible to get a military protective order (MPO)?

If you or your child are the victim of domestic abuse or child abuse, you can request an MPO against an active duty member of the military who you believe has harmed you or your children and who is:

  • your current or former spouse;
  • your current or former intimate partner who you share or have shared a home with;
  • someone you are or have been in a romantic or intimate partner relationship with; or
  • someone you share a child in common with.1

Ultimately, it would be up to the commander to order an MPO if s/he has a reasonable belief that the MPO is necessary for your safety.

1 See Department of Defense Instruction, Number 6400.06

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