Restraining Orders

In an order of protection, a judicial officer can order:

• the abuser not to commit any of the offenses included as domestic violence;
• the abuser to have no contact with you or with anyone else named in the order, which could include telephone calls, texts, letters, messages through someone else, personal contact, etc.;
• the abuser to stay away from your residence, place of employment, and school or those of anyone else named in the order;
• one party to have exclusive use of a home shared by you and the abuser if there is reasonable cause to believe that the abuser may cause you physical harm;
• law enforcement to accompany a party to a shared home to get his/her belongings;
• the abuser to turn in any firearms in his/her possession to law enforcement and not possess firearms;
• the abuser to stay away from and not harm any animal owned by you, the abuser or a minor child in either of your homes, and award you care and custody of the animal;
• other relief that is appropriate and necessary for your protection and the protection of anyone else specifically named in the order; and
• the abuser to complete a domestic violence offender treatment program or any other program deemed appropriate by the court - however, this part of the order to do treatment can only be included as part of a final order, not a temporary order.¹

Note: If as part of a final order, the judge grants you exclusive use of the home and you later move out of the home, you must file a notice in writing with the court within five days after moving out of the home. The court will give notice to the abuser so that the abuser could request a hearing to be allowed back into the home.²

¹ A.R.S. § 13-3602(G)
² A.R.S. §§ 13-3602(G)(2)