Restraining Orders

If you move within Hawai‘i, your injunction will still be valid. It may be a good idea to contact your local law enforcement to let them know about the injunction against harassment and that you have moved to a new area. You may also want to call the court where you originally received the injunction to tell them your new address so that they can contact you if necessary. However, if you want your new address to be kept confidential, ask the clerk how to make sure that the harasser cannot find it in the court file.

If you move to another state or territory within the United States, federal law provides what is called “full faith and credit.” This means that once you have a criminal or civil protection order, it’s enforceable throughout the U.S., including U.S. territories and tribal lands.¹

Different states may have different rules for enforcing out-of-state protection orders. You can find out about your new state’s policies by contacting a domestic violence program, the clerk of court, or the prosecutor in your area.

You can also call the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit (1-800-903-0111 x 2) for information on enforcing your order in a new state.

Note: For information on enforcing a military protective order (MPO) off the military installation, or enforcing a civil protection order (CPO) on a military installation, please see our Military Protective Orders page.

¹ 18 U.S.C. §§ 2265(a); 2266(5)