Is This Abuse? 15 Signs Arizona Courts Consider Domestic Violence

Many people live with fear, intimidation, or controlling behavior long before they recognize it as domestic violence. You may tell yourself things like:

• “It’s not abuse because they’ve never hit me.”

• “Maybe I’m exaggerating — everyone argues.”

• “I don’t want to get them in trouble; I just want the behavior to stop.”

These thoughts are extremely common. But under Arizona law, domestic violence includes much more than physical harm. Behaviors such as intimidation, threats, harassment, stalking, and coercive control are all recognized as abuse under A.R.S. § 13-3601.

If any of the following 15 signs feel familiar, you may be experiencing domestic violence — and you may qualify for an Order of Protection in Arizona.

1. Threats of Harm to You, Your Children, or Pets

Threats are a form of domestic violence, even if no physical act occurs.

Arizona courts take threats extremely seriously because they often escalate.

2. Intimidation, Yelling, or Aggressive Posturing

Standing over you, screaming, blocking a doorway, or damaging items to scare you are acts of intimidation specifically recognized as domestic violence.

3. Stalking or Showing Up Uninvited

Following you, monitoring where you go, driving past your home, or appearing at your workplace “just to see what you’re doing” are stalking behaviors.

4. Harassing Calls, Texts, or Messages

Repeated texting, calling, nonstop messaging, or contacting you from new numbers after you’ve asked them to stop is harassment under Arizona law.

5. Preventing You from Leaving

Blocking exits, taking your keys, hiding your phone, or refusing to let you leave during an argument is a dangerous form of control and is considered abuse.

6. Any Physical Contact Meant to Control or Frighten

Pushing, grabbing, restraining, shaking, or throwing items — even without causing injury — meets the legal definition of domestic violence.

7. Property Damage or “Punching Walls”

Breaking property, slamming doors, or throwing objects nearby is intended to intimidate and is treated by Arizona judges as domestic violence.

8. Controlling Your Money or Access to Finances

Forcing you to ask for money, restricting access to accounts, taking your income, or monitoring every purchase is financial abuse.

9. Monitoring Your Location or Communications

Tracking your car, reading your messages, demanding passwords, or requiring constant check-ins is coercive control — a major red flag.

10. Isolating You From Family, Friends, or Support

Discouraging you from seeing others, making you feel guilty for spending time with family, or controlling your social interactions is abuse.

11. Using the Children as Leverage

Threatening to take the children, withholding parenting time, or putting kids in the middle are forms of emotional manipulation and abuse.

12. Destroying Your Belongings

Damaging electronics, clothing, documents, or sentimental items is intimidation — not anger. Courts consider this domestic violence.

13. Sexual Pressure or Coercion

Any unwanted sexual contact, pressure, guilt, or manipulation — including within a marriage — qualifies as abuse.

14. Threatening to Report You or “Ruin Your Life”

Threats to call CPS, contact your employer, have you arrested, or damage your reputation are coercive threats that qualify as domestic violence.

15. Feeling Afraid in Your Own Home

If you modify your behavior to avoid conflict, walk on eggshells, or constantly fear their reaction, this is a powerful indicator of emotional harm.

You Don’t Need Physical Injuries to Get Protection in Arizona

Many people delay seeking help because they believe abuse must involve hitting or visible injuries.

But Arizona law allows an Order of Protection for emotional abuse, threats, stalking, intimidation, and harassment.

If any of these signs describe your situation, you deserve support, safety, and legal protection.

When Should You Consider an Order of Protection?

An Order of Protection may help if:

• You feel unsafe

• Someone is threatening or harassing you

• You share a home with the person hurting you

• You are concerned about your children’s safety

• You need clear legal boundaries

Orders of Protection can include the children, restrict contact, remove a person from the home, and provide immediate safety.

(You may insert an internal link here to your “Arizona Orders of Protection” page.)

You Are Not Alone — Help Is Available

If you’re in immediate danger, call 911.

If you want to safely explore your options, our experienced family law attorneys can help you:

• File or defend an Order of Protection

• Create a safety plan

• Navigate domestic violence during divorce

• Protect your parenting rights

• Understand your legal options

You don’t have to decide alone.

You don’t have to stay unsafe.

You deserve protection.

Contact Best Law Firm today for a confidential consultation.

About the Author

Cynthia L. Best, Esq.

Founder & Lead Attorney, Best Law Firm – Scottsdale, Arizona

18+ Years of Family Law Experience • Certified Mediator

Author of The Divorce Coach and creator of Arizona divorce educational resources.

Cindy Best and her team have helped thousands of Arizona families navigate domestic violence, divorce, and custody matters with clarity and compassion.