Order of Protection
An Order of Protection in Arkansas can help create a zone of protection supported by law enforcement to a person who has suffered domestic abuse by a spouse, family member, someone in their household, or someone they have dated or lived with. Orders of Protection in Arkansas are specifically for domestic abuse that occurs between family members or members of the same household that puts the person seeking protection in fear of imminent harm.
The Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV) now offers an online service to help those seeking an Order of Protection fill out and prepare their required paperwork to file. To learn more about elegibility requirements and the detailed process, visit https://domesticpeace.com/orders-of-protection/
What you will need:
A computer or phone with internet access
An email (make a free one with Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, etc).
Information about yourself and the person you’re filing against (names, dates of birth, and addresses)
A printer (Call us at the Crisis Intervention Center if you need help printing your OOP documents)
Steps to File an Order of Protection
Figure out what county you plan to file in - you can file where you live, where the other person lives, or where the abuse took place.
Gather necessary information
Name, birthdate, and physical addresses for yourself and for the alleged abuser are ESSENTIAL
Info about any other cases involving you and the other person (divorce, custody, DHS, etc).
Access the Online Portal on the ACADV site or click HERE if you are ready to begin.
After completing the portal, print off the 5 documents that were emailed to you; some of these documents will need to be signed in front of a notary, which can be done for free by appointment at the Crisis Intervention Center. You can also check for a free notary at your local library or circuit clerks office.
Click HERE to search for circuit clerks by county
File your notarized documents with the Circuit Clerks office. Once a date has been set for your hearing, you will recieve a call from the Victim Witness Coordinators office to notify you.