(a) A person authorized by the law of this state to seek enforcement of a protection order may seek enforcement of a valid foreign protection order in a court of this state. The court shall enforce the terms of the order, including terms that provide relief that a court of this state would lack power to provide but for this section. The court shall enforce the order, whether the order was obtained by independent action or in another proceeding, if it is an order issued in response to a complaint, petition, or motion filed by or on behalf of an individual seeking protection. In a proceeding to enforce a foreign protection order, the court shall follow the procedures of this state for the enforcement of protection orders.
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Terms Used In Alabama Code 30-5B-3

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) A court of this state may not enforce a foreign protection order issued by a tribunal of a state that does not recognize the standing of a protected individual to seek enforcement of the order.
(c) A court of this state shall enforce the provisions of a valid foreign protection order which govern custody and visitation, if the order was issued in accordance with the jurisdictional requirements governing the issuance of custody and visitation orders in the issuing state.
(d) A court of this state may not enforce under this chapter a provision of a foreign protection order with respect to support.
(e) A foreign protection order is valid if it meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Identifies the protected individual and the respondent.
(2) Is currently in effect.
(3) Was issued by a tribunal that had jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter under the law of the issuing state.
(4) Was issued after the respondent was given reasonable notice and had an opportunity to be heard before the tribunal that issued the order or, in the case of an order ex parte, the respondent was given notice and had an opportunity to be heard within a reasonable time after the order was issued, consistent with the rights of the respondent to due process.
(f) A foreign protection order valid on its face is prima facie evidence of its validity.
(g) Absence of any of the criteria for validity of a foreign protection order is an affirmative defense in an action seeking enforcement of the order.
(h) A court of this state may enforce provisions of a mutual foreign protection order which favor a respondent only if both of the following criteria are met:

(1) The respondent filed a written pleading seeking a protection order from the tribunal of the issuing state.
(2) The tribunal of the issuing state made specific findings in favor of the respondent.
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