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Legal Information: Arizona

Restraining Orders

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Updated: 
December 12, 2023

Step 2: The "ex parte" hearing

Once the clerk has your petition, a judicial officer will review it and hear your sworn testimony and any other important evidence. This hearing will be “ex parte” which means that the abuser will not be in court with you.

At this hearing, one of two things could happen:

  1. the judge can decide to issue a “permanent” order of protection, which lasts for two years from the day it is served and it has to be served within one year of the date it was issued; or
  2. the judge could decide that more evidence is needed before issuing a “permanent” order and s/he may order a hearing within 10 days, which the abuser has the right to attend.1

1 A.R.S. § 13-3602(F)

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