Restraining Orders

If you have a valid Georgia protective order that meets federal standards, it can be enforced in another state. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which is a federal law, states that all valid protection orders granted in the United States receive “full faith and credit” in all state and tribal courts within the US, including US territories.  See How do I know if my protection order is good under federal law? to find out if your protective order qualifies.

“Full faith and credit” means that your order must be recognized and enforced throughout the United States.  Each state must enforce out-of-state protective orders in the same way it enforces its own orders, which means that if the abuser violates your out-of-state protective order, s/he will be punished according to the laws of whatever state you are in when the order is violated.