Injunctions against Harassment and Orders of Protection can be issued by any court in Arizona
regardless of the location of the plaintiff and defendant. They can be issued either ex parte
(with only one person present) or after a hearing. Both are good for one year after service on
the defendant. Only the judge can terminate or change them. Service of process charges apply
to Injunctions and may be deferred or waived depending on your financial circumstances. You
may discuss this with the clerk when you visit the court to file for an order or injunction.
Order of Protection
The purpose of an Order of Protection is to restrain another person from committing an act
of domestic violence, as defined in Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3601A. To be granted an
order, you must be one of the following:
- A person in a current or previous romantic or sexual relationship.
- A spouse or former spouse of the defendant or a person that resides or resided in the same household.
- A parent of a child of the defendant.
- Pregnant by the defendant.
- Related to the defendant or the defendant's spouse by blood or court order as a parent,
grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister or by marriage as a parent-in-law,
grandparent-in-law, stepparent, step-grandparent, stepchild, step-grandchild, brother-in-law
or sister-in-law.
- A child who resides or has resided in the same household as the defendant and is related by
blood to a former spouse of the defendant or to a person who resides or who has resided in the
same household as the defendant.
The clerks at any Court will provide you with the Petition for Order of Protection. You may
request that information regarding your current address, phone number and employment be kept
confidential and not be disclosed to the defendant. Please review the Arizona Supreme Court's
Domestic Violence Information Page to access comprehensive local and statewide resources for
those at risk of domestic violence.