This bill was filed to clarify that protective orders that restrict contact with a child remain valid even after the death of the parent who filed the order, and extends the protective order until it is vacated by the court.

Currently, when a parent or guardian requests a protective order, the Court is allowed to impose a range of restrictions, including ordering the defendant to refrain from abusing or contacting the plaintiff’s child or a child in the plaintiff’s care, unless authorized by the court. However, were the parent or guardian to pass away, the court order affiliated with their request then comes into question.

This clarification and expansion of the law will ultimately keep one of our most vulnerable populations — children — safe from potential abuse. A parent will do all that they can to keep their children safe and the law should uphold this commitment so that their passing does not inhibit their ability to protect their child's well-being.