Arkansas

Family Law

Family Law

Section 9-15-203 – Petition – Form

(a) The circuit clerk shall provide simplified forms and clerical assistance to help petitioners with the writing and filing of a petition under this chapter if the petitioner is not represented by counsel.
(b) The petition form shall not require or suggest that a petitioner include his or her Social Security number or the Social Security number of the respondent in the petition.
(c)

(1)

(A) A petitioner may omit his or her home address or business address from all documents filed with the court.
(B) If a petitioner omits his or her home address, the petitioner shall provide the court with a mailing address.
(2) If disclosure of a petitioner’s home address is necessary to determine jurisdiction or consider venue, the court may order the disclosure of the petitioner’s home address:

(A) After receiving the petitioner’s consent;
(B) Orally and in chambers, out of the presence of the respondent, and a sealed record to be made; or
(C) After a hearing, if the court takes into consideration the safety of the petitioner and finds the disclosure in the interest of justice.
(d) The petition may be in substantially the following form:

“Petition for Order of Protection

Ark. Code § 9-15-203

Acts 1991, No. 266, § 3; 1999, No. 662, § 1; 2001, No. 1678, § 4; 2005, No. 55, § 1; 2005, No. 1875, § 4; 2007, No. 314, § 2; 2009, No. 698, § 3