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EspañolWhat is the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Registry? Who has access to it?
The National Crime Information Center Registry (NCIC) is a nationwide, electronic database used by law enforcement agencies in the U.S, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It is managed by the FBI and state law enforcement officials.
Before moving to Washington, the state that issued your protection order may already have entered your order into the NCIC. If not, your order will be entered into the NCIC once your order is registered in WA.
Note: Most law enforcement officials have access to the NCIC, but the information is encrypted so outsiders cannot access it.
How do I register my protection order in Washington?
To register/file your protection order in Washington state, you must bring a certified copy of your protection order to a Washington court in the county in which you live or to a county court where you believe you may have to enforce the order.1 There is no fee to file an out-of-state protection order.2 The clerk will give you a form to fill out in which you need to include:
- the names of the people entitled to protection;
- the name and address of the abuser;
- the date the protection order was entered;
- the date the protection order expires;
- the relief granted in the order, including what the order gives to you and what it prevents the abuser from doing;
- the judicial district and contact information for court administration for the court in which the protection order was entered;
- the Social Security number, date of birth, and description of the abuser;
- whether or not the abuser is believed to be armed and dangerous;
- whether or not the abuser was served with the order, and if so, the method used to serve the order; and
- the type and location of any other legal proceedings between the you and the abuser.3
Note: If you don’t have some of the information listed above, you can still register/file your order in court and later enforce your order.3 The information form should be kept confidential by the court.4
If you need help registering your protection order, you can contact a local domestic violence organization in Washington for assistance. You can find contact information for organizations in your area on our WA Advocates and Shelters page.
1 R.C.W. § 26.52.030(1)
2 R.C.W. § 26.52.030(3)
3 R.C.W. § 26.52.030(5)
4 See the “Foreign Protection Order Information” form, which states: “Confidential” and “Do Not Show or Serve this form to the restrained person” and “Do not file in the court file”.
Do I have to register my protection order in Washington in order to get it enforced?
Neither federal law nor Washington state law1 requires that you register your protection order in order to get it enforced. (However, if your order is not entered into the registry, it may be more difficult for a Washington law enforcement official to determine whether your order is real, and it could take longer to get your order enforced.)
Washington state law says that if you show a protection order from another state to a police officer for enforcement, the law enforcement officer must enforce it if it appears to be a valid order. The out-of-state protection order is valid if the court that gave it to you had the legal authority to do so and it has not expired, or been changed/dismissed by the court. Also, the abuser must have been told about the hearing for the protection order and been given an opportunity to be present at the hearing even if s/he never showed up at the hearing.2
1 R.C.W. § 26.52.030(2)
2 R.C.W. § 26.52.020
Will the abuser be notified if I register my protection order?
Under the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which applies to all U.S. states and territories, the court is not permitted to notify the abuser when a protective order has been registered or filed in a new state unless you specifically request that the abuser be notified.1 However, you may wish to confirm that the clerk is aware of this law before registering the order if your address is confidential.
However, remember that there may be a possibility that the abuser could somehow find out what state you have moved to. It is important to continue to safety plan, even if you are no longer in the state where the abuser is living. We have some safety planning tips to get you started on our Safety Planning page. You can also contact a local domestic violence organization to get help in developing a personalized safety plan. You will find contact information for organizations in your area on our WA Advocates and Shelters page.
1 18 USC § 2265(d)
Does it cost anything to register my protection order?
There is no fee for registering your protection order in Washington.1
1 R.C.W. § 26.52.030(3)
