You may have heard someone say, “You should get a restraining order against that person”. In New Mexico, a “restraining order” against an intimate partner (dating partner, spouse or co-parent of a child) or some close household members is called an ORDER OF PROTECTION. An Order of Protection is a court order that prohibits a person from hurting, threatening or harassing another person.

Visit the General Information section of this website for additional information.

An Order of Protection is issued by a District Court.  You can find the location of the nearest District Court by entering your zip code on this site.

• Find the District Court in the county where the abuse occurred OR where you currently live. (Enter your zip code to find the nearest District Court locate on this site.)
• You can file the paperwork to ask the court to grant you an Order of Protection by:
  • Filling out the paperwork at the court on your own (without hiring an attorney).
  • Contacting a local domestic violence program or legal services program and ask for help in filling out the paperwork:
    • New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence
    • NM Legal Aid
    • State Bar of New Mexico (Modest Means Helpline)
  • Hiring an attorney to fill out the paperwork for you and representing you in court.

You can find the paperwork needed in Order of Protection cases on the Forms section of this website.

Nothing.  There is no cost or fees to file for an Order of Protection.  The local sheriff’s office will also serve the other party for free.  (NMSA 1978 Section 40-13-3.1)