Domestic Violence Day: Emergency Order of Protection

If you need emergency relief on weekends, at night or on legal holidays you may need an Emergency Order of Protection.  If needed follow the following steps:

1. Contact your local law enforcement agency and file a complaint.
2. Law enforcement will review the situation and determine whether a domestic violence situation exists.
3. After the police officer obtains information, he or she will contact the Initial Appearance Court.
4. The Court will then determine if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person seeking the Order is in immediate and present danger of domestic violence.
5. If the court finds immediate danger exists it will authorize the officer to issue an Emergency Order of Protection.
6. The officer will obtain a file number and then serve the Order on the
7. Important: The Emergency Order of Protection is valid only until 5:00 p.m. the next business day and that person obtaining the Order must go to Court and request an extension of the Order.

If the Court is closed for business, Emergency Orders of Protection are granted by a judge in writing, verbally, or telephonically to protect a person who is in imminent danger of domestic violence, and available from local law enforcement agencies. If this is not an imminent situation, contact the local law enforcement agency’s non-emergency number.

Find more information on our Domestic Violence Page and visit azcourts.gov for additional help.