Restraining Orders

Neither federal law nor Indiana state law require that you register your protection order in order to get it enforced, so it should not be more difficult to get your protection order enforced even if you do not register it in Indiana. A police officer is required to enforce your order as long as you can show the officer a copy of the order that appears to be valid.¹ This is why we highly recommend having at least one paper copy of your order at all times.

If you are unsure about whether registering your order is the right decision for you, you may want to contact a local domestic violence organization in your area. An advocate there can help you decide what the safest plan of action is for you in Indiana. To see a list of local domestic violence organizations in Indiana, go to Indiana Places that Help.

¹ IC § 34-26-5-17(c), (e), (g)