Restraining Orders

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

Each state must enforce out-of-state domestic violence protection orders in the same way it enforces its own orders, which means that if the abuser violates your out-of-state protection order, s/he will be punished according to the laws of whatever state you are in when the order is violated.  This is what is meant by “full faith and credit.”