Art. 618. Protective orders; content; modification; service

A. The court may grant any protective order or approve any consent agreement to bring about a cessation of abuse or neglect of a party, any minor children, or any person alleged to be incompetent, which relief may include but is not limited to:

(1) Granting the relief enumerated in Article 617.

(2) When there is a duty to support a party, any minor children, or any person alleged to be incompetent living in the residence or household, ordering payment of temporary support or provision of suitable housing for them.

(3) Awarding temporary custody of or establishing temporary visitation rights and conditions with regard to any minor children or person alleged to be incompetent.

(4) Ordering counseling or professional medical treatment for either the defendant or the abused or neglected person, or both.

B. A protective order may be rendered pursuant to this Chapter if the court has jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter and either of the following occurs:

(1) The parties enter into a consent agreement.

(2) Reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard are given to the person against whom the order is sought sufficient to protect that person's right to due process.

C. Any protective order issued within this state or outside this state that is consistent with Paragraph B of this Article shall be accorded full faith and credit by the courts of this state and enforced as if it were the order of the enforcing court.

D. On the motion of any party, the court, after notice to the other parties and a hearing, may modify a prior order to exclude any item included in the prior order or to include any item that could have been included in the prior order.

E. A protective order made under this Article shall be served on the person to whom the order applies in open court at the close of the hearing, or in the same manner as a writ of injunction. The clerk of the issuing court shall send a copy of the order or any modification thereof to the chief law enforcement official of the parish where the person or persons protected by the order reside. A copy of the protective order shall be retained on file in the office of the chief law enforcement officer as provided herein until otherwise directed by the court.

F. Any final protective order or approved consent agreement shall be for a fixed period of time, not to exceed six months, and may be extended by the court, after a contradictory hearing, in its discretion. Such protective order or extension thereof shall be subject to a devolutive appeal only.

G, H. Repealed by Acts 2001, No. 567, §3.

Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 1095, §2; Acts 1997, No. 1156, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1356, §1, eff. July 12, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 567, §3.