Plaintiff’s Guide Sheet for Protective Orders - Please Read Carefully
It is important to remember that a protective order does not guarantee your personal safety. The Plaintiff should carry a copy of the
court issued protective order at all times and give copies to others (e.g. employer, apartment manager, school, etc.). The Plaintiff
should immediately report any protective order violations to law enforcement.
1. You can request one of the following types of protective orders:
ORDER OF PROTECTION (OOP): This order is used for a “family” relationship between you and the Defendant. This can include one
of the following: 1) married now or in the past, 2) live together now or in the past, 3) parent of a child in common, 4) one of
you is pregnant by the other, 5) you are a relative (parent, in-law, brother, sister, or grandparent), or 6) current or previous
romantic or sexual relationship. Also, you must state how an act of domestic violence was threatened or committed against
you within the last year.
INJUNCTION AGAINST HARASSMENT (IAH): The Defendant, who is not a “family” member, has committed a series of acts (more
than one) of harassment against you in the last year. There is no fee for service of process if the petition arises out of a dating
relationship.
INJUNCTION AGAINST WORKPLACE HARASSMENT (IAWH): This Injunction may be filed by an employer or owner of a business or
operation for the benefit of an employee or the business against a single act or series of acts of harassment.
2. ANIMALS and ORDERS OF PROTECTION: You may also ask the court to grant you the custody, care, and control of any animal
owned by you, the defendant, or a minor child living in your household (A.R.S. § 13-3602(G)(7)). If you are asking the court to
include animals on an Order of Protection, please write your request on Line 9 of the Petition.
3. OTHER PROTECTED PERSONS: It is possible that you will be referred to Superior Court if your children are listed as protected
persons in this order. Only a Superior Court Judge can decide child custody or parenting time in a separate action.
4. ONE DEFENDANT: A separate petition must be filed for each defendant. A copy of your petition and the order will be given
to the Defendant and may be used in future judicial proceedings.
5. SERVICE AND EFFECT: This protective order is valid for one year from the date it is served on the Defendant and is enforceable
by law enforcement in any state or tribal nation in the United States. There is no fee for law enforcement service of an OOP
or IAH involving a dating relationship. There is a fee to serve an IAH not involving a dating relationship or an IAWH. The court
will instruct you on how service can be made. The cost to serve injunctions depends on mileage and attempts. If you cannot
afford to hire a process server, you can ask the judge to defer or waive the fee.
6. PROTECTIVE ORDER HEARING: If the Defendant disagrees with this protective order, he/she has the right to request a hearing
which will be held within 5 to 10 business days after a written request has been filed in the court that issued this order. If you
do not appear at the hearing, your Order may be quashed (dismissed); therefore, you must notify the court of any change in
your contact information to assure you are notified of any hearings.
7. MODIFYING OR QUASHING (DISMISSING) THIS PROTECTIVE ORDER: Only a judge can modify or quash (dismiss) this protective
order. If you file an action for maternity, paternity, annulment, legal separation, or dissolution against the Defendant, advise
this court at once. Nothing you do can stop, change, or undo this protective order without the Court's written approval.
8. PLAINTIFF CONTACT: Even if you initiate contact, the Defendant could be arrested for violating this protective order. If the
Defendant does not want contact with you they have the right to request a protective order against you. However, orders are
not automatically granted upon request. Legal requirements must be met.
9. LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDBY: If you or the Defendant needs to get personal belongings from the other, you may request
standby from the judge. Standby allows you or the Defendant to return once with a law enforcement officer to obtain
necessary personal belongings from the residence. Neither law enforcement nor this protective order can resolve conflicts over
property, title, furniture, finances, real estate, or other ownership issues.
10. FIREARMS: You may request the judge order the Defendant not to possess, receive, or purchase firearms or ammunition.
11. COUNSELING: If requested, counseling for the Defendant can only be ordered at a hearing of which the Defendant had an
opportunity to participate.
12. PUBLIC ACCESS: To comply with federal law no identifying information about you will be published on the Judicial Branch
Website (www.azcourts.gov).