§ 46:2135 — Temporary restraining order

Louisiana § 46:2135

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 46: Public Welfare and Assistance

Text

§2135. Temporary restraining order
A. Upon good cause shown in an ex parte proceeding, the court may enter a
temporary restraining order, without bond, as it deems necessary to protect from abuse the
petitioner, any minor children, or any person alleged to be an incompetent. Any person who
shows immediate and present danger of abuse shall constitute good cause for purposes of this
Subsection. The court shall consider any and all past history of abuse, or threats thereof, in
determining the existence of an immediate and present danger of abuse. There is no
requirement that the abuse itself be recent, immediate, or present. The order may include but
is not limited to the following:
(1) Directing the defendant to refrain from abusing, harassing, or interfering with the
person or employment or going near the residence or place of employment of the petitioner,
the minor children, or any person alleged to be incompetent, on whose behalf a petition was
filed under this Part.
(2) Awarding to a party use and possession of specified jointly owned or leased
property, such as an automobile.
(3) Granting possession to the petitioner of the residence or household to the
exclusion of the defendant, by evicting the defendant or restoring possession to the petitioner
where:
(a) The residence is jointly owned in equal proportion or leased by the defendant and
the petitioner or the person on whose behalf the petition is brought;
(b) The residence is solely owned by the petitioner or the person on whose behalf the
petition is brought; or
(c) The residence is solely leased by defendant and defendant has a duty to support
the petitioner or the person on whose behalf the petition is brought.
(4) Prohibiting either party from the transferring, encumbering, or otherwise
disposing of property mutually owned or leased by the parties, except when in the ordinary
course of business, or for the necessary support of the party or the minor children.
(5) Awarding temporary custody of minor children or persons alleged to be
incompetent.
(6) Awarding or restoring possession to the petitioner of all separate property and all
personal property, including but not limited to telephones or other communication
equipment, computers, medications, clothing, toiletries, social security cards, birth
certificates or other forms of identification, tools of the trade, checkbooks, keys, automobiles,
photographs, jewelry, or any other items or personal effects of the petitioner and restraining
the defendant from transferring, encumbering, concealing, or disposing of the personal or
separate property of the petitioner.
(7) Granting to the petitioner the exclusive care, possession, or control of any pets
belonging to or under the care of the petitioner or minor children residing in the residence
or household of either party, and directing the defendant to refrain from harassing, interfering
with, abusing or injuring any pet, without legal justification, known to be owned, possessed,
leased, kept, or held by either party or a minor child residing in the residence or household
of either party.
B. If a temporary restraining order is granted without notice, the matter shall be set
within twenty-one days for a rule to show cause why the protective order should not be
issued, at which time the petitioner must prove the allegations of abuse by a preponderance
of the evidence. The defendant shall be given notice of the temporary restraining order and
the hearing on the rule to show cause by service of process as required by law within
twenty-four hours of the issuance of the order.
C. During the existence of the temporary restraining order, a party shall have the
right to return to the family residence once to recover his or her personal clothing and
necessities, provided that the party is accompanied by a law enforcement officer to ensure
the protection and safety of the parties.
D. If no temporary restraining order has been granted, the court shall issue a rule to
show cause why the protective order should not be issued, and set the rule for hearing on the
earliest day that the business of the court will permit, but in any case within ten days from
the date of service of the petition, at which time the petitioner must prove the allegations of
abuse by a preponderance of the evidence. The defendant shall be given notice by service
of process as required by law.
E. If the hearing pursuant to Subsection B or D of this Section is continued, the court
shall make or extend such temporary restraining orders as it deems necessary. Any
continuance of a hearing ordered pursuant to Subsection B or D of this Section shall not
exceed fifteen days, unless good cause is shown for further continuance.
F. The court may, in its discretion, grant an emergency temporary restraining order
outside regular court hours.
G. Immediately upon entering a temporary restraining order, the judge shall cause
to have prepared a Uniform Abuse Prevention Order, as provided in R.S. 46:2136.2(C), shall
sign such order, and shall immediately forward it to the clerk of court for filing on the day
that the order is issued.
H. The clerk of the issuing court shall transmit the Uniform Abuse Prevention Order
to the judicial administrator's office, Louisiana Supreme Court, for entry into the Louisiana
Protective Order Registry, as provided in R.S. 46:2136.2(A), by facsimile transmission or
direct electronic input as expeditiously as possible, but no later than the end of the next
business day after the order is filed with the clerk of court. The clerk of the issuing court
shall also send a copy of the Uniform Abuse Prevention Order, as provided in R.S.
46:2136.2(C), or any modification thereof, to the chief law enforcement officer of the parish
where the person or persons protected by the order reside by facsimile transmission or direct
electronic input as expeditiously as possible, but no later than the end of the next business
day after the order is filed with the clerk of court. A copy of the Uniform Abuse Prevention
Order shall be reviewed by the law enforcement agency and shall be retained on file in the
office of the chief law enforcement officer until otherwise directed by the court.
I. The initial rule to show cause hearing required pursuant to Subsection B or D may
be conducted by a hearing officer who is qualified and selected in the same manner provided
in R.S. 46:236.5(C). The hearing officer shall be subject to the applicable limitations and
shall follow the applicable procedures provided in R.S. 46:236.5(C). The hearing officer
shall make recommendations to the court as to the action that should be taken in the matter.
J. Upon filing a petition for a temporary restraining order, regardless of whether the
court grants the temporary restraining order, the clerk of court shall notify the petitioner of
his right to initiate criminal proceedings and shall inform the petitioner that the granting of
a temporary restraining order pursuant to the provisions of this Section does not
automatically file criminal charges against the defendant.

Legislative History

Added by Acts 1982, No. 782, §2; Acts 1983, No. 406, §1; Acts 1983, No. 407, §1; Acts 1984, No. 77, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1156, §7; Acts 1999, No. 1200, §2; Acts 1999, No. 1336, §1; Acts 2003, No. 750, §6; Acts 2006, No. 777, §2; Acts 2008, No. 411, §1, eff. June 21, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 427, §1; Acts 2014, No. 317, §3; Acts 2015, No. 85, §1; Acts 2018, No. 206, §5; Acts 2019, No. 417, §1.