Violating an Order of Protection
MCA 45-5-626 — up to $500 and 6 months the first time, and 10 days to 2 years by the third
A person who knows of an order of protection and purposely or knowingly violates it commits an offense. Knowledge may be inferred once the person was served, and service is not needed where the person knew the order and its content.
Who handles this in Montana: State Bar of Montana, Licensed Lawyer Montana; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Montana directory.
| Conviction | Sentence |
|---|---|
| ConvictionFirst | SentenceUp to $500, 6 months in jail, or both |
| ConvictionSecond | Sentence$200 to $500 and 24 hours to 6 months in jail |
| ConvictionThird or later | Sentence$500 to $2,000 and 10 days to 2 years |
Only the respondent. Only the respondent may be cited for violating the order. The petitioner who asked for it may not be.
Sources for this section (1)
- MCA 45-5-626 — Violation of order of protection
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Montana attorney.