236.19 Foreign protective orders — registration — enforcement — immunity.

1. As used in this section, “foreign protective order” means a protective order entered by a court of another state, Indian tribe, or United States territory that would be an order or court-approved consent agreement entered under this chapter, a temporary or permanent protective order or order to vacate the homestead under chapter 598, or an order that establishes conditions of release or is a protective order or sentencing order in a criminal prosecution arising from a domestic abuse assault if it had been entered in Iowa.

2. A certified or authenticated copy of a permanent foreign protective order may be filed with the clerk of the district court in any county that would have venue if the original action was being commenced in this state or in which the person in whose favor the order was entered may be present.

a. The clerk shall file foreign protective orders that are not certified or authenticated, if supported by an affidavit of a person with personal knowledge, subject to the penalties for perjury. The person protected by the order may provide this affidavit.

b. The clerk shall provide copies of the order as required by section 236.5, except that notice shall not be provided to the respondent without the express written direction of the person in whose favor the order was entered.

3. a. A valid foreign protective order has the same effect and shall be enforced in the same manner as a protective order issued in this state whether or not filed with a clerk of court or otherwise placed in a registry of protective orders.

b. A foreign protective order is valid if it meets all of the following:

(1) The order states the name of the protected individual and the individual against whom enforcement is sought.

(2) The order has not expired.

(3) The order was issued by a court or tribunal that had jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter under the law of the foreign jurisdiction.

(4) The order was issued in accordance with the respondent’s due process rights, either after the respondent was provided with reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard before the court or tribunal that issued the order, or in the case of an ex parte order, the respondent was granted notice and opportunity to be heard within a reasonable time after the order was issued.

c. Proof that a foreign protective order failed to meet all of the factors listed in paragraph “b” shall be an affirmative defense in any action seeking enforcement of the order.

4. A peace officer shall treat a foreign protective order as a valid legal document and shall make an arrest for a violation of the foreign protective order in the same manner that a peace officer would make an arrest for a violation of a protective order issued within this state.

a. The fact that a foreign protective order has not been filed with the clerk of court or otherwise placed in a registry shall not be grounds to refuse to enforce the terms of the order unless it is apparent to the officer that the order is invalid on its face.

b. A peace officer acting reasonably and in good faith in connection with the enforcement of a foreign protective order shall be immune from civil and criminal liability in any action arising in connection with such enforcement.

5. Filing and service costs in connection with foreign protective orders are waived as provided in section 236.3.

95 Acts, ch 180, §13; 99 Acts, ch 57, §2; 2000 Acts, ch 1132, §2; 2001 Acts, ch 43, §2

Referred to in §664A.1