Utah’s legislature has made several changes to the laws governing expiration of a civil protective order. If you believe you may still be subject to an ongoing civil protective order, consultation with an experienced attorney is strongly advised.
The information below is offered for historic reference only.
The best defense attorneys ask questions that police don’t.
This question is more complicated that it may first appear. Utah civil protective orders were previously considered to be “permanent” and had no specific expiration date. Amendments were made by the legislature that provided a 10-year expiration date. In 2021, significant changes were made to the laws governing protective orders and stalking injunctions.
The 2021 amendments establish three types of protective orders that apply to dating violence, sexual violence, and cohabitant abuse. Under the 2021 amendments, these protective orders generally will remain in effect for three years after the date the order is issued by the court.
Determining the expiration date on a protective order will depend on a number of factors, including when the order was issued, which version of the statute was in effect at the time, the specific language used by the court in entering the order, and other events that may occur following the issuance of the order.
The best attorneys understand your case involves more than just what happens in court.
Violating a protective order can bring serious criminal consequences — even if you believed that the protective order had expired. If you have any question at all as to whether a protective order remains in effect against you, consultation with an attorney is strongly advised.
