Domestic Violence Protection Order

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT FORM

South Dakota requires the use of official court form UJS-091A (Petition and Affidavit
for a Protection Order — Domestic Abuse) for domestic violence protection order petitions.
This template provides the substantive legal content to help you prepare — but you must
transfer your content to the official form before filing. The official form is available
at https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/pro-se-forms/protection-order-domestic-forms/.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF [COUNTY] COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA

FAMILY LAW DIVISION

Case No.: [CASE NUMBER]

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTION ORDER

(Final Order After Hearing)

I. DOCUMENT HEADER

1. Parties
   a. Petitioner / Protected Party: [PETITIONER FULL LEGAL NAME]
   b. Respondent: [RESPONDENT FULL LEGAL NAME]
   c. Minor Children/Additional Protected Persons (if any): [LIST OR “None”]

2. Recitals
   a. On [DATE PETITION FILED], Petitioner commenced this action pursuant to S.D. Codified Laws §§ 25-10-1 et seq. (“SDCL”).
   b. An ex parte protection order was issued on [DATE] and duly served on Respondent on [DATE].
   c. A full adversarial hearing, duly noticed, was held on [HEARING DATE] before the undersigned Judge of this Court. Petitioner [appeared in person/by counsel]; Respondent [appeared/failed to appear].
   d. The Court, having reviewed the pleadings, considered sworn testimony, and being fully advised, finds by a preponderance of the evidence that Respondent committed “domestic abuse” as defined in SDCL § 25-10-1(1) and that issuance of a final protection order is necessary to prevent further abuse.

3. Effective Date & Term
   a. This Order is effective immediately upon entry and service.
   b. Unless otherwise modified or dissolved by the Court, it shall remain in effect until [EXPIRATION DATE – max. 5 years per SDCL § 25-10-5].

II. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Order:

“Domestic Abuse” means physical harm, bodily injury, or threats thereof, or stalking, committed by Respondent against a family or household member, per SDCL § 25-10-1(1).

“Protected Address” means any residential, school, or employment location specifically identified in Section III.3.

“Prohibited Contact” means any direct or indirect contact whatsoever, including but not limited to in-person, electronic, telephonic, written, third-party, or social-media contact.

“Firearm” has the meaning set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3).

III. OPERATIVE PROVISIONS

1. No Abuse or Harassment
   Respondent SHALL NOT commit, attempt, or threaten to commit any act of domestic abuse against Petitioner or any other Protected Person.

2. Prohibited Contact
   Respondent SHALL HAVE NO PROHIBITED CONTACT with the Protected Persons at any time or place, except as expressly allowed herein.

3. Stay-Away Requirement
   Respondent shall remain at least [500] feet from each Protected Person and each Protected Address, including the curtilage thereof, except as otherwise authorized by subsequent, written order of this Court.

4. Exclusive Possession of Residence
   a. Petitioner is granted exclusive possession of the shared residence located at [FULL ADDRESS].
   b. Law enforcement is directed to accompany Petitioner, upon request, to retrieve personal effects belonging to Petitioner and any minor children.

5. Custody & Parenting Time (if applicable)
   a. Temporary custody of the minor child(ren) is awarded to [PARENT].
   b. Any visitation shall occur only as detailed in Attachment A (Supervised Parenting Plan), incorporated herein by reference.

6. Firearms & Ammunition Surrender
   a. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) and SDCL § 25-10-24, Respondent shall surrender all firearms, ammunition, and firearm permits in Respondent’s possession or control to [DESIGNATED LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCY] within 24 hours of service of this Order.
   b. Respondent shall file proof of compliance within 48 hours thereafter.

7. Financial Support (optional)
   Respondent shall pay temporary support in the amount of $[AMOUNT] per [week/month] commencing [DATE] and continuing for the duration of this Order or until modified.

8. Counseling / Batterers’ Intervention
   Respondent is ordered to enroll in and complete [NAME OF PROGRAM] within [TIMEFRAME] and provide proof of enrollment to the Court and Petitioner’s counsel.

9. Law-Enforcement Assistance
   Any South Dakota law-enforcement officer is authorized to take all lawful actions necessary to enforce this Order, including immediate arrest without a warrant for probable-cause violations (SDCL § 25-10-23).

10. Service & Entry into NCIC
    The Clerk shall:
    a. Serve certified copies of this Order on Respondent forthwith; and
    b. Transmit the Order to the appropriate law-enforcement agency for entry into the National Crime Information Center (“NCIC”) Protection Order File.

IV. FINDINGS, REPRESENTATIONS & WARRANTIES

1. Jurisdiction & Venue
   The Court finds it has subject-matter jurisdiction under SDCL § 25-10-4 and personal jurisdiction over Respondent. Venue is proper in this County.

2. Due Process Compliance
   Respondent was provided notice and an opportunity to be heard consistent with the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

V. ENFORCEMENT, PENALTIES & REMEDIES

1. Criminal Penalties
   Any knowing violation of this Order constitutes a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable as provided by SDCL § 22-6-2 and § 25-10-13.

2. Civil & Contempt Remedies
   a. The Court expressly retains jurisdiction to enforce this Order by civil contempt proceedings, including incarceration, fine, or both.
   b. The Court may award attorney’s fees and costs to the prevailing party on any contempt motion.

3. Arrest Authority
   Law-enforcement officers have authority to arrest without warrant based on probable cause for any violation, pursuant to SDCL § 25-10-23.

VI. DISPUTE RESOLUTION & MODIFICATION

1. Governing Law
   This Order is governed exclusively by the laws of the State of South Dakota.

2. Forum Selection
   Any motion to modify, extend, or terminate this Order shall be filed in the [COUNTY] County Circuit Court, Family Division.

3. Modification Procedure
   Either party may move to modify or dissolve this Order by written motion served on all parties and heard upon reasonable notice, as provided in SDCL § 25-10-5.

VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. Severability
   Should any provision of this Order be found unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

2. Integration
   This document constitutes the entire protection order; no oral statements or prior writings shall modify its terms.

3. Copies & Electronic Signatures
   Photographic, facsimile, or electronically transmitted copies of this signed Order shall have the same force and effect as an original. Electronic signatures are permitted under SDCL ch. 53-12.

VIII. NOTICE TO RESPONDENT

1. You are prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition while this Order remains in effect.
2. Violation of any provision may result in immediate arrest, criminal prosecution, fines, and/or imprisonment.
3. Crossing state lines with the intent to violate this Order may subject you to federal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 2262.

IX. EXECUTION BLOCK

SO ORDERED this ___ day of __________, 20___, at [CITY], South Dakota.

____________________________________
Hon. [JUDGE NAME]
Circuit Court Judge, [JUDICIAL CIRCUIT] Circuit

ATTEST:
____________________________________
[CLERK NAME], Clerk of Court

(SEAL)

X. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SERVICE

I, [RESPONDENT NAME], acknowledge receipt of a certified copy of this Domestic Violence Protection Order on the date and time indicated below and understand its terms.

Date: ___________ Time: ___________
Respondent Signature: ___________________________

Witnessed by (Officer/Server): ___________________________