P.R. Laws tit. 8, § 674

2019-02-20 00:00:00+00
§ 674. Inclusion of orders from other states, territories, tribes

(a) Any restraining order duly issued by a court of another state, tribe, or territory of the United States, shall have full faith and credit in the courts of Puerto Rico and shall be enforced as if it were issued by a court from this jurisdiction, provided it complies with the requirements of due process of law, at the moment of the issuance and serving of said order.

(b) Any person who has obtained a restraining order duly issued in another state, tribe, or territory of the United States may request the same to be included in the electronic file, by filing a certified copy thereof at the office of the clerk of any court of Puerto Rico, free of charge. Upon filing such order which seems to be authentic in its face, it shall be presumed to be valid and shall be enforced, although the same has not been presented before any office of the clerk in the courts of Puerto Rico.

(c) Law enforcement officers shall consider a restraining order duly issued by a court of another state, tribe, or territory of the United States as a valid and legal document, and shall make an arrest for any violation to such restraining order, as it would be made for a violation to a restraining order issued by a court of Puerto Rico, pursuant to §§ 601 et seq. of this title and §§ 4013 et seq. of Title 33.

(d) Any violation to a restraining order duly issued by a court of another state, tribe, or territory of the United States shall be given the same treatment as in cases of violations to restraining orders related to domestic abuse and stalking, as typified by §§ 601 et seq. of this title and §§ 4013 et seq. of Title 33.

(e) Any provision on the custody of a minor included in a restraining order duly issued by a court of another state, tribe, or territory of the United States, shall [be] enforced in this jurisdiction, if it complies with federal or Commonwealth laws regarding custody of minors, including Public Law 96-611, of December 28, 1980 as amended, known as the “Federal Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act”.

History —Oct. 16, 2000, No. 420, § 6.