What indicates that a protection order is legally enforceable in various states?

A protection order is legally enforceable across various states when it is recognized as a foreign protection order. This means the order was issued by a court in a different jurisdiction from where enforcement is sought. The Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution requires states to recognize and enforce protection orders issued by other states, assuming they comply with certain legal standards.

This is crucial for victims seeking protection, as it ensures they can enforce the order in a new location without needing to obtain a new order in that state. Temporary orders, while they may be enforceable, do not inherently grant broader recognition; enforcement typically hinges on acceptance of the order itself, rather than its temporary or permanent status.

Federal law provides some framework for recognizing such orders, but the key factor is their recognition between states. Additionally, an order may not necessarily have to originate from the victim's home state to be enforceable; it simply needs to be recognized according to interstate law. Thus, the legality and enforceability of a protection order in another state depend on it being classified as a foreign protection order.