Obtain a Protective Order

If you are hurt or threatened by your spouse, ex-spouse, partner or other family member, you may file an Order of Protection. The Order is effective when served on the abuser and prohibits further acts of domestic violence. You may also ask the judge that your abuser be required to move out of the home. Violation of the Court Order is a Criminal Charge.
 

An Injunction Against Harassment may be obtained by people not covered by the Order of Protection. These documents can also be filed with criminal charges.

There is no fee for filing either of these Orders. The Order remains in effect for twelve (12) months and may be renewed if needed. The abuser has the right to request a hearing to contest an order of protection.

A decision to file criminal charges is made by the Prosecutor's Office, NOT by the court.

Personal Safety Plan

Personalized Safety Plan

If you are battered, a shelter is a safe place for you and your children to stay while you think matters over. Counselors are available 24-hours a day to give you information and support as you decide what your next step will be.

Outreach counseling is available at the shelters or by calling:

Resources

 

Arizona Protective Order Initiation & Notification Tool

AZPOINT, the Arizona Protective Order Initiation and Notification Tool, has been designed to help you fill out a petition for an Order of Protection. Through an interview in AZPOINT, you can quickly and accurately fill out the forms that are needed to request an Order of Protection at an Arizona court. An Order of Protection is a court order that is issued to stop a person from committing domestic violence or from contacting other people protected by the order. The portal will also help you figure out whether you (the plaintiff) and the person from whom you are seeking protection (the defendant) have a qualifying relationship for an Order of Protection. Your information will be saved in AZPOINT for up to 90 days. At any time during this 90-day period, you may take the next step of filing your petition at an Arizona court. Until you file your petition at a court, you will be able to return to AZPOINT to update your information if necessary. You are encouraged to speak to a victim advocate before you file your petition. An advocate can help you make a safety plan and give you more information about how an Order of Protection works and how it will be served on the defendant. For more information, click HERE to go to AZPOINT.

Online

STOP:  If you have a petition for divorce or child custody case pending, you MUST file in Pima County Superior Court, NOT Oro Valley Magistrate Court.

What you need to file a Protective Order Online

Step 1.Gather information about the defendant  (the abuser)

Name, address, physical description and any other information which may help law enforcement serve the defendant. This information will be typed into the petition.

Step 2.Gather information about what happened

Dates and events. This information will be typed into the petition.

Step 3.Go to AZPOINT and Submit the Petition online

Click here to go to AZPOINT. Once you submit the petition, you will receive an identifier number

Step 4.Bring your identifier number to any court to complete the process

 

Tucson City Residents
4th Floor, City Court
103 E. Alameda 791-4971

South Tucson Residents
South Tucson City Court
1601 South 6th Ave. 917-1568

Pima County Residents
Justice Court
240 N Stone 724-3972

 

  

Marana Residents
Marana Court
11555 West Civic Center Drive 382-2700

Oro Valley Residents
Oro Valley Magistrate Court
11000 N. LaCañada 229-4780

Divorce Cases
Clerk of the Superior Court
110 W. Congress, 1st Floor 740-8351

 

In Person

STOP:  If you have a petition for divorce or child custody case pending, you MUST file in Pima County Superior Court, NOT Oro Valley Magistrate Court.

What you need to file a Protective Order:

Step 1.Gather information about the defendant  (the abuser)

Name, address, physical description and any other information which may help law enforcement serve the defendant

Step 2.Gather information about what happened

Dates and events. This information will be typed into the petition.

The following forms need to be filled out in order to start the process to obtain an order of protection or injunction against harassment:

Step 3.Bring your paperwork to any court to complete the process

Tucson City Residents
4th Floor, City Court
103 E. Alameda 791-4971

South Tucson Residents
South Tucson City Court
1601 South 6th Ave. 917-1568

Pima County Residents
Justice Court
240 N Stone 724-3972

 

Marana Residents
Marana Court
11555 West Civic Center Drive 382-2700

Oro Valley Residents
Oro Valley Magistrate Court
11000 N. LaCañada 229-4780

Divorce Cases
Clerk of the Superior Court
110 W. Congress, 1st Floor 740-8351

 

What Happens Next?
If the Judge grants the Order of Protection, the Court will forward your petition, the order from the Judge, and related documents to the closest law enforcement agency to the defendant. The law enforcement agency will serve (give a copy of) the order on the defendant.

If the Judge grants the Injunction against Harassment, YOU must have the defendant served with the order before it will be effective. You may use a private process server..OR..you may use the Constable.

If you use a private process server you are responsible for delivering the defendant's copy of the order to the process server and for paying the service fee and mileage.

If you elect to have the Constable serve your order, you will be billed for a service fee and mileage. The mileage charge is calculated using the one-way distance from the Court to the location where the order is served. You will be charged for each attempt to serve. Reliable information about the defendant's address and times to serve could save you money. These fees are lower than what has been set by the State Legislature and are subject to change at any time.

The Constable will attempt to serve your order Monday-Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Depending upon the availability of the defendant, it may take several weeks to serve your order.

IF YOU DO NOT PRESENTLY KNOW WHERE THE DEFENDANT IS, OR DO NOT HAVE AN ACCURATE ADDRESS, you should keep the certified copy of the order. As soon as you learn where the defendant is, you can contact a private process server so that they may attempt to serve the defendant.

IF THE DEFENDANT IS IN JAIL, the Constable will serve the order. Unless the Judge has ordered that the service fee be waived, you will be billed a flat fee for this service, If the defendant is in the process of being released, there may not be enough time to have service completed.

In an EMERGENCY SITUATION Call 911. Any Police Officer can serve your order. Unless the Judge has ordered that the service fees be waived, you will be billed for the service fee.

General Information
Once an order is served, it will be in effect for twelve (12)  months. After twelve months, the order will expire and the defendant will be free to contact you. You may request the order be renewed by filing a new petition.

The defendant may request a hearing on the order one time during the twelve months in which it is in effect. A hearing will be held within 10 days from the date requested unless the court finds compelling reasons to continue the hearing. If you (the plaintiff) have been granted exclusive use of the residence the hearing will then be held within 5 days.

If your circumstances change during the year your order is valid, you must appear in person to request a possible modification to your order
.

If a you have filed a petition for divorce or separation of marriage, you must notify the court immediately. The proceeding will be transferred to superior court.

Violation of the Court Order is a Criminal Charge
If the defendant violates the court order you should CALL 911 FOR ALL EMERGENCIES

A decision to file criminal charges is made by the Prosecutor's Office, NOT by the court.

In case of an emergency

Including if the defendant violates the court order, please CALL 911.

 

Orders of Protection and Injunction Against Harassment

  • Available during normal business hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • For protective orders please call the court to be sure a Judge is available at 520-229-4780.
  • For petitioners who have previously set an appointment with the court for a hearing, please try to have the protective order paperwork completed by 4:30 p.m.

     

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