A. Upon good cause shown in an ex parte proceeding, the court may enter a temporary restraining order, without bond, as the court deems necessary to protect from abuse the petitioner, any children, or any person alleged to be incompetent. Immediate and present danger of abuse shall constitute good cause for purposes of this Article. The order may include but is not limited to the following:

            (1)(a) 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 children, or any person alleged to be incompetent, on whose behalf a petition was filed under this Chapter.

            (b) Directing the defendant to refrain from activities associated with a coerced abortion as defined in Article 603.

            (2) Awarding to a party the use and possession of specified community 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 when either:

            (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.

            (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 children.

            (5) Awarding temporary custody of 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, computer, medications, clothing, toiletries, social security cards, birth certificates or other forms of identification, tools of the trade, checkbook, keys, automobile, 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 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 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.

            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 insure 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 Paragraph B or D of this Article is continued, the court shall make or extend such temporary restraining order as it deems necessary. Any continuance of a hearing ordered pursuant to Paragraph B or D of this Article 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. Repealed by Acts 1999, No. 1200, §5.

            H. Immediately upon rendering a decision granting the relief requested by the petitioner, the judge shall cause to have prepared a Uniform Abuse Prevention Order, as provided in La. Rev. Stat. 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.

            I. If a temporary restraining order is issued or extended, 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 La. Rev. Stat. 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 La. Rev. Stat. 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 retained on file in the office of the chief law enforcement officer until otherwise directed by the court.

            Acts 1991, No. 235, §15, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1997, No. 1156, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1200, §§3, 5; Acts 2006, No. 777, §1; Acts 2008, No. 411, §2, eff. June 21, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 427, §2; Acts 2013, No. 260, §1; Acts 2014, No. 317, §4; Acts 2024, No. 92, §1.