The Full Faith and Credit provision of the Violence Against Women Act says that a valid protection order must be enforced everywhere throughout the country. This means that if you get a valid protection order, it is good in the community where you received it as well as in all other jurisdictions or places you go in the United States. This includes protection orders issued in:

     *all 50 states,

    *Indian tribal lands,

    *the District of Columbia,

    *the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.

Whether your protection order was issued by a tribe, state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory, it is entitled to full faith and credit if it is valid. Under the full faith and credit law, a protection order is valid if:

     *the issuing court had authority over the victim and the abuser and had authority to hear and decide the case, and

      *the abuser was given notice and an opportunity to be heard.

If you have a temporary, emergency, or ex parte order, it is also entitled to full faith and credit if it meets certain requirements

Practical Tips for You and Your Domestic Violence Advocate

      Review your protection order to make sure that it contains the basic elements for effective enforcement

Get certified copies of your protection order and carry at least one copy with you at all times

Deliver copies of your protection order to your school, employer, friends or relatives, and any law enforcement agency that may need to enforce your protection order, if appropriate.

Get written proof that the order was served on the abuser from either the law enforcement agency that served the order or the court that issued the order

Keep track of, and report, all of the abuser’s violations, including phone calls and messages sent through other people (do this even if you are the only one to witness the violation of the order since this will establish a “record” and help law enforcement to take steps to protect you).

Find out about procedures you may have to follow to get your protection order enforced in other communities. This is important because procedures vary.

Understand the pros and cons of filing or registering your order in other jurisdictions

Make safety plans. Contact the local domestic violence program in any community you may be going to.

Go to a shelter, if necessary.

Go to a legal services office for help with other legal matters.

Contact other resources you may need