Restrictions on issuance of mutual orders for protection against abuse

No court may, pursuant to the provisions of § 25-10-5 , issue a mutual order enjoining both petitioner and respondent from committing acts of domestic abuse unless: (1) Both the petitioner and the respondent personally appear; (2) The respondent alleges, under oath, the existence of domestic abuse by stating the specific facts and circumstances of the domestic abuse; (3) The court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that domestic abuse has taken place. Source: SL 1996, ch 169 .