Restraining Orders

Your protection order can be enforced in Oklahoma as long as:

• It was issued to prevent violent or threatening acts, harassing behavior, sexual violence, or it was issued to prevent another person from coming near you or contacting you.¹
• The court that issued the order had jurisdiction over the people and case. (In other words, the court had the authority to hear the case.)
• It identifies you and the abuser.
• It is currently in effect (meaning it has not expired).
• The abuser received notice of the order and had an opportunity to go to court to tell his/her side of the story. It doesn’t matter if s/he actually showed up in court; just that he had the opportunity to do so.
  • In the case of ex parte temporary and emergency orders, the abuser must receive notice and have an opportunity to go to court to tell his/her side of the story at a hearing that is scheduled within a “reasonable time” after the order is issued.²

Note: For information on enforcing a military protective order (MPO) off the military installation, or enforcing a civil protection order (CPO) on a military installation, please see our Military Protective Orders page.

¹ 18 U.S.C. § 2266(5)
² 18 U.S.C. § 2265(a) & (b); 22 O.S. § 60.23(D)(1) & (2)