2015 New Hampshire Revised Statutes
Title XLIII - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Chapter 458 - ANNULMENT, DIVORCE AND SEPARATION
Section 458:16 - Temporary Relief and Permanent Restraining Orders.

    458:16 Temporary Relief and Permanent Restraining Orders. –
    I. After the filing of a petition for divorce, annulment, separation or a decree of nullity, the superior court may issue orders with such conditions and limitations as the court deems just which may, at the discretion of the court, be made on a temporary or permanent basis. Temporary orders may be issued ex parte. Said orders may be to the following effect:
       (a) Directing any party to refrain from abusing or interfering in any way with the person or liberty of the other party.
       (b) Enjoining any party from entering the premises wherein the other party resides upon a showing that physical or emotional harm would otherwise result.
       (c) Enjoining any party from contacting the other party at, or entering, the other party's place of employment or school.
       (d) Enjoining any party from harassing, intimidating or threatening the other party, other party's relatives regardless of their place of residences, or the other party's household members in any way.
       (e) Determining the temporary custody and maintenance of any minor children as shall be deemed expedient for the benefit of the children; provided, however, that no preference shall be given to either parent in awarding such custody because of the parent's sex.
       (f) Ordering a temporary allowance to be paid for the support of the other.
       (g) Enjoining any party from transferring, encumbering, hypothecating, concealing or in any way disposing of any property, real or personal, except in the usual course of business or for the necessities of life, and if such order is directed against a party, it may require such party to notify the other party of any proposed extraordinary expenditures and to account to the court for all such extraordinary expenditures.
       (h) Ordering the sale of the marital residence provided that both parties have previously filed a written stipulation with the clerk of the court explicitly agreeing to the sale of the property prior to the final hearing on the merits. If the parties have not so stipulated, the sale of the marital residence shall not be ordered prior to the final hearing as long as the court deems the party residing within the marital residence to have sufficient financial resources to pay the debts or obligations generated by the property, including mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, and ordinary maintenance, as those debts and obligations come due.
    II. (a) Ex parte orders may be granted without written or oral notice to the adverse party only if the court finds from specific facts shown by affidavit or by the verified petition, that immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result to the applicant, the children, or property before the adverse party or attorney can be heard in opposition.
       (b) No ex parte order shall be granted without:
          (1) An affidavit from the moving party verifying the notice given to the other party or verifying the attempt to notify the other party.
          (2) A determination by the court that such notice or attempt at notice was timely so as to afford the other party an opportunity to be present.
       (c) If temporary orders are made ex parte, the party against whom the orders are issued may file a written request with the clerk of the superior court and request a hearing thereon. Such a hearing shall be held no later than 5 days after the request is received by the clerk for the county in which the petition for divorce, annulment, separation or decree of nullity is filed.
    III. When a party violates a restraining order issued under this section by committing assault, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, stalking, or another criminal act, that party shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and peace officers shall arrest the party, detain the party pursuant to RSA 594:19-a and refer the party for prosecution. Such arrests may be made within 12 hours after a violation without a warrant upon probable cause whether or not the violation is committed in the presence of a peace officer.

Source. RS 148:10. CS 157:10. GS 163:9. GL 182:9. 1887, 100:1; 103:1. PS 175:12. 1919, 39:1. PL 287:14. RL 339:14. 1949, 240:1. RSA 458:16. 1955, 262:3. 1967, 132:18; 259:1. 1971, 445:3. 1975, 426:1. 1992, 208:1. 1994, 259:12. 1996, 32:3. 2000, 258:1. 2002, 46:1; 79:2. 2004, 114:2, eff. May 17, 2004.