Restraining Orders

A protection order can do the following:

• give you temporary custody of your children;
• if you are staying in a shelter for victims of domestic violence, suspend the relationship between the children and the abuser, after considering many factors listed in the law;
• suspend the abuser’s license to operate a firearm;
• order the abuser to:
  • temporarily hand over any firearms that s/he owns to the Puerto Rico police;
  • leave (vacate) the home that you share with him/her;
  • not bother, harass, follow, intimidate, or threaten you;
  • not interfere with your temporary custody of the children;
  • not deny you access to the children and not take them out of Puerto Rico;
  • stay a certain distance away from wherever you are;
  • pay spousal and child support, if s/he is legally obligated to do so;
  • not destroy or get rid of your private property or any joint property;
  • share any financial information regarding accounts or finances that involve you or your children, including keeping you informed about communications, arrangements, and accounts receivable claims, mortgages, rent, or any administrative or court proceedings related to debt collection;
  • notify you of any government assistance that s/he is applying for or receiving;
  • not use your financial resources inappropriately, including your money, property, or credit information; 
  • continue making rent or mortgage payments for the primary residence while the order is in effect;
  • pay for damages caused by the domestic violence, including:
    • moving expenses;
    • expenses for property repairs;
    • legal, medical, psychiatric, psychological, counseling, lodging, shelter, and other similar expenses;
  • not bother, harass, stalk, intimidate, threaten, or interfere in any way with your work activities; and
• order anything else that the judge believes is necessary to keep you and your family safe.¹

¹ See 8 L.P.R.A. § 621