Reviewed August 2026
Protective Orders in Arizona
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. Arizona calls its civil protection order for domestic relationships an Order of Protection. It is authorized under Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3602. A court can grant this order to someone abused by a spouse, family member, roommate, or a person they have dated. There is no fee to file. For people without that kind of domestic relationship, Arizona offers a separate order called an Injunction Against Harassment. An Order of Protection can bar contact and can keep the other person away from the petitioner's home and workplace. In many cases, it can also require the abuser to give up firearms while the order is active. A judge can grant it the same day if there is an immediate danger of abuse.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how protective orders works under Arizona law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Arizona paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
Get notified when Virdix reaches Arizona
We'll send one email, nothing else, the day Arizona launches.
Who qualifies for an Order of Protection
Arizona limits Orders of Protection to people who share a specific relationship with the defendant. That includes current or former spouses and people related by blood or marriage. It also covers people who live together now or lived together in the past. Parents who share a child qualify too, as do people in a current or former romantic or sexual relationship. Someone outside these relationships, such as a coworker or neighbor, generally needs to petition for an Injunction Against Harassment instead.
Ex parte orders and the hearing process
A judge can issue an Order of Protection the same day, without the defendant present. This requires reasonable cause to believe domestic violence occurred or may occur. The order takes effect once it is served on the defendant. The defendant then has the right to request a hearing to contest it. Arizona law requires that hearing be held promptly once requested. If no hearing is requested, the order generally stays in effect for one year from the date it was served.
Filing is free, and where to file
Arizona does not charge a fee for an Order of Protection petition. A petitioner can file in the justice court, municipal court, or superior court with jurisdiction over the area where either party lives. Filing is also possible in a court already handling a related family case. Arizona courts run self-service centers that offer forms and instructions for filing without an attorney.
Firearms provisions
Arizona law lets a judge order a defendant to turn over firearms while an Order of Protection is in effect. The order itself must spell out any firearms requirement. Separately, federal law restricts firearm possession for a person subject to certain qualifying domestic violence protective orders. Violating an Arizona Order of Protection, including its firearms terms, is a criminal offense that can lead to arrest.
How it interacts with divorce and custody
An Order of Protection is a separate civil case from a divorce or custody case in Arizona. A petitioner does not need a pending family court case to request one. While active, the order can also address temporary legal decision-making and parenting time for shared children. If a divorce or custody case is already open, the petitioner can ask the same court to handle the Order of Protection, keeping both cases connected.
Sources: Arizona Revised Statutes Title 13, Chapter 36 (Orders of Protection), Arizona Legislature, Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center, Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
Not independently confirmed
- ACESDV is a statewide coalition and its site does not publish a single dedicated crisis hotline number; this page uses the National Domestic Violence Hotline number only.
- Exact statutory day count for scheduling a contested hearing after a defendant requests one; confirm with the filing court.
Protective Orders in Arizona: frequently asked questions
What is an Order of Protection in Arizona?+
It is Arizona's civil protective order for domestic relationships, authorized under ARS 13-3602. It applies to spouses, family members, household members, co-parents, and current or former romantic partners, and it can bar contact and address firearms while it is active.
Where do I file for an Order of Protection in Arizona?+
File in the justice court, municipal court, or superior court with jurisdiction where you or the other person lives, or in a court already handling a related family case. Arizona court self-service centers provide the petition forms and filing instructions.
Does it cost anything to file in Arizona?+
No. Arizona charges no filing fee for an Order of Protection petition. This keeps the process available regardless of the petitioner's finances.
How fast can I get protection in Arizona?+
A judge can issue an ex parte Order of Protection the same day, without notifying the other person, if the petition shows reasonable cause that abuse occurred or may occur. The order takes effect once the defendant is served.
What is the difference between an Order of Protection and an Injunction Against Harassment?+
An Order of Protection is for people with a domestic relationship, such as spouses, family, roommates, co-parents, or current or former romantic partners. An Injunction Against Harassment covers people without that kind of relationship, such as neighbors or coworkers.
Can an Order of Protection affect custody in Arizona?+
Yes. It can include temporary legal decision-making and parenting time terms for children the parties share, even without a separate custody case open. If a divorce or custody case already exists, ask the same court to handle the protective order.
This page is general information about protective orders in Arizona, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Arizona's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Arizona. Virdix does not prepare or file Arizona divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Arizona.
More Arizona divorce guides
Virdix currently serves California and Florida
In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Arizona, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
If the court clerk rejects a document we prepared, we fix it for free until it's accepted. See how the guarantee works