Domestic Violence Protection Order

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT FORM

Arizona courts require the use of official court-approved forms for domestic violence
order of protection petitions under A.R.S. § 13-3602. This template provides the
substantive legal content to help you prepare — but you must transfer your content to
the official form before filing. Use the AZPOINT (Arizona Protective Order Initiation
and Notification Tool) at https://azpoint.azcourts.gov/ to complete and file the
official petition, or contact your local court clerk for the required forms.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

Arizona Domestic Violence Protection Order – Comprehensive Attorney Template

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Document Header
II. Definitions
III. Operative Provisions
IV. Representations & Warranties
V. Covenants & Restrictions
VI. Default & Remedies
VII. Risk Allocation (N/A)
VIII. Dispute Resolution
IX. General Provisions
X. Execution Block

I. DOCUMENT HEADER

1. Title.
   DRAFT ORDER OF PROTECTION (DOMESTIC VIOLENCE) – STATE OF ARIZONA

2. Court & Caption.
   IN THE [COURT NAME] OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA
   County: [COUNTY]
   Case No.: [CASE NUMBER]

3. Parties.
   a. Petitioner: [PETITIONER LEGAL NAME], an individual, on behalf of themself and, if applicable, the Protected Children listed below.
   b. Respondent: [RESPONDENT LEGAL NAME], an individual.

4. Effective Date.
   This Order becomes effective upon service on Respondent and expires two (2) years after service on Respondent pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3602(N), unless sooner modified, quashed, or superseded by further court order. (An order not served within one year after issuance expires unserved.)

5. Jurisdiction & Venue.
   Jurisdiction is proper pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3602 and venue lies in this Court because the alleged acts of domestic violence occurred, and/or the parties reside, within this county.

6. Recitals – Findings by the Court.
   a. The Court has reviewed Petitioner’s verified petition and any supporting evidence.
   b. The Court finds reasonable cause to believe that:
   i. Respondent has committed an act of domestic violence defined in A.R.S. § 13-3601(A); and
   ii. Petitioner (and/or Protected Children) is in danger of future domestic violence.
   c. Immediate injunctive relief is necessary to prevent harm.

II. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Order, capitalized terms have the meanings set forth below:

1. “Court” – The Arizona court that issues this Order.
2. “Order” – This Order of Protection, including any attachments or subsequent modifications.
3. “Petitioner” – The party seeking protection.
4. “Respondent” – The party against whom protection is sought.
5. “Protected Children” – Minor child(ren) of the parties or in Petitioner’s care, identified as: [CHILD NAME(s), DOB(s)].
6. “Contact” – Any form of communication, direct or indirect, including in-person, telephone, text, e-mail, social media, third-party contact, or physical proximity within [DISTANCE] feet/yards.
7. “Residence” – The dwelling at [ADDRESS] or any location where Petitioner or Protected Children are residing.
8. “Firearm” – Any weapon defined as a firearm under A.R.S. § 13-105(19).
9. “Service” – Lawful delivery of this Order to Respondent by a peace officer or process server pursuant to ARPOP.

III. OPERATIVE PROVISIONS

1. Prohibited Conduct.
   a. No Contact. Respondent SHALL NOT initiate or engage in Contact with Petitioner or Protected Children.
   b. Stay-Away. Respondent SHALL remain at least [DISTANCE] feet from Petitioner, Protected Children, Residence, school(s), workplace(s), daycare(s), and any other location listed: [SPECIFY].
   c. Harassment & Surveillance. Respondent SHALL NOT harass, threaten, intimidate, surveil, or photograph Petitioner or Protected Children.
   d. Third-Party Relaying. Respondent SHALL NOT cause or permit any third party to violate this Order.

2. Exclusive Use of Residence.
   Petitioner is awarded exclusive use and possession of the Residence. Respondent SHALL immediately vacate the Residence and remove only personal effects in the presence of a peace officer at a date/time arranged through law enforcement.

3. Prohibition on Firearms.
   a. Findings Required. This firearm prohibition applies only if the Court finds that Respondent is a credible threat to the physical safety of Petitioner or other specifically designated persons and, on that finding, prohibits Respondent from possessing or purchasing a Firearm for the duration of this Order (A.R.S. § 13-3602(G)(4)). Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8)) independently bars firearm possession by a person subject to a qualifying order issued after notice and a hearing.
   b. Transfer. If the Court prohibits Respondent from possessing a Firearm under paragraph (a), Respondent SHALL transfer any Firearm owned or possessed by Respondent to [LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY] immediately after service of this Order or, if not transferred immediately, within twenty-four (24) hours after service (A.R.S. § 13-3602(G)(4)).
   c. Custody. Law enforcement shall maintain custody of any transferred Firearm for the duration of this Order, subject to statutory procedures for return.

4. Protection of Children.
   An order of protection under A.R.S. § 13-3602(G) does NOT award legal decision-making (custody) or parenting time. The Protected Children may instead be named as specifically designated persons under § 13-3602(G)(3) and (G)(6), so that the no-contact and stay-away provisions of this Order extend to them. Any determination of legal decision-making or parenting time must be sought in a separate Title 25 family-law action (e.g., dissolution, legal separation, or paternity).

5. Support (Not Available in This Proceeding).
   An order of protection under A.R.S. § 13-3602 does not grant child or spousal support. A party seeking support must pursue it in a separate Title 25 action, in which the court may enter temporary orders under A.R.S. § 25-315.

6. Address Confidentiality.
   Petitioner’s address shall remain confidential and shall not appear in public records except for law-enforcement purposes.

7. Law-Enforcement Assistance.
   Any Arizona peace officer, with or without a warrant, MAY arrest Respondent upon probable cause to believe Respondent has violated A.R.S. § 13-2810 by disobeying or resisting this Order, whether or not the violation occurred in the officer's presence (A.R.S. § 13-3602(R)).

8. Service & Entry into NCIC/ACIC.
   The [LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY] SHALL serve Respondent promptly and enter this Order into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and Arizona Crime Information Center (ACIC) databases.

IV. REPRESENTATIONS & WARRANTIES

1. Petitioner’s Certifications.
   Petitioner certifies under penalty of perjury that the allegations in the petition are true and correct to the best of Petitioner’s knowledge.

2. Respondent’s Representation of Compliance.
   Upon service, Respondent is deemed to represent that Respondent will comply fully with this Order.

3. Court’s Limited Warranties.
   The Court makes no findings with respect to civil liability between the parties; this Order is limited to prospective injunctive relief.

V. COVENANTS & RESTRICTIONS

1. Respondent’s Covenants.
   a. Compliance. Respondent SHALL strictly comply with all terms herein.
   b. Surrender Confirmation. Within twenty-four (24) hours of Firearm surrender, Respondent SHALL file proof of surrender using Form [NUMBER] with the Clerk.
   c. Address Changes. Respondent SHALL update the Clerk with any change of address within five (5) days.

2. Petitioner’s Covenants.
   a. Cooperation. Petitioner SHALL cooperate with service and provide law enforcement any additional information required.
   b. Notice of Material Changes. Petitioner SHALL inform the Court of any significant change affecting the need for protection.

VI. DEFAULT & REMEDIES

1. Events of Default.
   Any violation of Section III constitutes an Event of Default.

2. Remedies.
   a. Criminal Enforcement. Violation may result in arrest under A.R.S. § 13-2810 and prosecution as a class 1 misdemeanor.
   b. Contempt. The Court may impose civil or criminal contempt sanctions, including jail, fines, and attorney’s fees.
   c. Civil Remedies Preserved. Petitioner retains all civil remedies for damages arising from Respondent’s conduct.

3. Attorney’s Fees & Costs.
   Upon motion and showing of willful violation, the Court MAY award Petitioner reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

VII. RISK ALLOCATION

[NOT APPLICABLE. Indemnification, liability caps, and insurance provisions are irrelevant to a judicial protection order.]

VIII. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

1. Governing Law.
   This Order is governed by the laws of the State of Arizona.

2. Forum Selection.
   The [COURT NAME] retains exclusive jurisdiction for any motion to modify, quash, or enforce this Order.

3. Arbitration.
   Not available for matters arising under domestic-violence protective-order statutes.

4. Jury Trial.
   Jury trial is not applicable to protective-order proceedings.

5. Injunctive Relief Preservation.
   Nothing in this Section shall limit Petitioner’s right to seek additional injunctive relief or emergency orders.

IX. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. Modification & Termination.
   A party who is under this Order or restrained from contacting the other party is entitled to one hearing on written request, at no fee, under A.R.S. § 13-3602(L) and the Arizona Rules of Protective Order Procedure. The hearing shall be held within ten (10) days of the request (or within five (5) days if exclusive use of the home was awarded), unless the Court finds good cause to continue it. After the hearing, the Court may modify, quash, or continue this Order. This Order has no statutory extension mechanism; it expires two (2) years after service (A.R.S. § 13-3602(N)), and continued protection beyond that period requires a new petition.

2. Severability.
   If any provision of this Order is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force.

3. Integration.
   This Order constitutes the entire protective-order relief granted by the Court as of the Effective Date.

4. Copies & Service of Order.
   Certified copies shall be provided to Petitioner, law enforcement, and any other person the Court deems appropriate.

5. Electronic Signatures & Counterparts.
   The Court may issue this Order with an electronic signature in compliance with Arizona Supreme Court administrative orders.

X. EXECUTION BLOCK

ISSUED and SIGNED this ____ day of ______________, 20___, at _______ a.m./p.m.

_____________________________________
[JUDGE NAME]
Judge of the [COURT NAME]

Acknowledgment of Service

I, ______________________________, a duly authorized [peace officer/process server], certify that on ___/___/____ at ____ a.m./p.m., I personally served a true and correct copy of this Order of Protection on Respondent at the following location: ____________________________.

_____________________________________
Signature & Badge/ID No.

Respondent – Receipt & Notice

I, ______________________________, acknowledge receipt of this Order and understand its terms. I further understand that violation of this Order is a criminal offense and may lead to my arrest.

_____________________________________ Date: ___/___/____
Respondent Signature

Notary / Verification (Petitioner’s Original Petition)

State of Arizona )
County of ______ ) ss.

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN before me this ___ day of __________, 20___, by [PETITIONER NAME].

_____________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission Expires: _____________

Professional Disclaimer
This template is provided for informational purposes to licensed attorneys. It does not constitute legal advice. Statutes, rules, and local practices change; counsel must verify all citations, deadlines, and procedural requirements before use.