Step 3: Fill out the necessary forms.
Carefully fill out the forms. On the complaint, you will be the “petitioner” and the abuser will be the “defendant.” Write about the most recent incident of violence, using descriptive language (slapping, hitting, grabbing, choking, threatening, etc.) that fits your situation. Be specific. Include details and dates, if possible.
Be sure to write your name and a safe mailing address and phone number. If you are staying at a shelter, give a post office box, not a street address.
If you need assistance filling out the form, you can ask the clerk for help. Some courts may have an advocate that can assist you. In some jurisdictions in Oklahoma, the court clerk frequently does not assist with protective order petitions and may provide documents only, even though the law says the clerk should assist you if you ask him/her. A domestic violence organization may also be able to provide you with help filling out the form.1 In many areas, local domestic violence organizations assist survivors with completing the paperwork and are familiar with the usual practices of the courts in their areas. To find a domestic violence organization near you, go to our Oklahoma Advocates and Shelters page.
1 See 22 O.S. § 60.2(D)