# Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-201: Petition - Requirements generally > Arkansas · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-201 ## Section - **Citation:** Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-201 - **Heading:** Petition - Requirements generally - **Jurisdiction:** Arkansas - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** AR Code / Title 9 / Chapter 15 / Subchapter 2 / Section 9-15-201 ## Text (a) All petitions under this chapter shall be verified. (b) The petition shall be filed in the county where the petitioner resides, where the alleged incident of abuse occurred, or where the respondent may be served. (c) (1) A petition for relief under this chapter may be filed in the circuit court. (2) A petition for relief under this chapter may be filed in a pilot district court if the jurisdiction is established by the Supreme Court under Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 80, § 7, and if the cases are assigned to the pilot district court through the administrative plan under Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 14. (d) A petition may be filed by: (1) Any adult family or household member on behalf of himself or herself; (2) Any adult family or household member on behalf of another family or household member who is a minor, including a married minor; (3) Any adult family or household member on behalf of another family or household member who has been adjudicated an incompetent; or (4) An employee or volunteer of a domestic-violence shelter or program on behalf of a minor, including a married minor. (e) (1) A petition for relief shall: (A) Allege the existence of domestic abuse; (B) Disclose the existence of any pending litigation between the parties; and (C) Disclose any prior filings of a petition for an order of protection under this chapter. (2) The petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath that states the specific facts and circumstances of the domestic abuse and the specific relief sought. (f) The petition may be filed regardless of whether there is any pending litigation between the parties. (g) A person's right to file a petition, or obtain relief hereunder shall not be affected by his or her leaving the residence or household to avoid abuse. Acts 1991, No. 266, §§ 3, 8; 2003, No. 1221, § 1; 2007, No. 314, § 1; 2009, No. 698, § 2 (a) All petitions under this chapter shall be verified. (b) The petition shall be filed in the county where the petitioner resides, where the alleged incident of abuse occurred, or where the respondent may be served. (c) (1) A petition for relief under this chapter may be filed in the circuit court. (2) A petition for relief under this chapter may be filed in a pilot district court if the jurisdiction is established by the Supreme Court under Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 80, § 7, and if the cases are assigned to the pilot district court through the administrative plan under Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 14. (1) A petition for relief under this chapter may be filed in the circuit court. (2) A petition for relief under this chapter may be filed in a pilot district court if the jurisdiction is established by the Supreme Court under Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 80, § 7, and if the cases are assigned to the pilot district court through the administrative plan under Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 14. (d) A petition may be filed by: (1) Any adult family or household member on behalf of himself or herself; (2) Any adult family or household member on behalf of another family or household member who is a minor, including a married minor; (3) Any adult family or household member on behalf of another family or household member who has been adjudicated an incompetent; or (4) An employee or volunteer of a domestic-violence shelter or program on behalf of a minor, including a married minor. (1) Any adult family or household member on behalf of himself or herself; (2) Any adult family or household member on behalf of another family or household member who is a minor, including a married minor; (3) Any adult family or household member on behalf of another family or household member who has been adjudicated an incompetent; or (4) An employee or volunteer of a domestic-violence shelter or program on behalf of a minor, including a married minor. or herself; (2) Any adult family or household member on behalf of another family or household member who is a minor, including a married minor; (3) Any adult family or household member on behalf of another family or household member who has been adjudicated an incompetent; or (4) An employee or volunteer of a domestic-violence shelter or program on behalf of a minor, including a married minor. (e) (1) A petition for relief shall: (A) Allege the existence of domestic abuse; (B) Disclose the existence of any pending litigation between the parties; and (C) Disclose any prior filings of a petition for an order of protection under this chapter. (2) The petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath that states the specific facts and circumstances of the domestic abuse and the specific relief sought. (1) A petition for relief shall: (A) Allege the existence of domestic abuse; (B) Disclose the existence of any pending litigation between the parties; and (C) Disclose any prior filings of a petition for an order of protection under this chapter. (A) Allege the existence of domestic abuse; (B) Disclose the existence of any pending litigation between the parties; and (C) Disclose any prior filings of a petition for an order of protection under this chapter. (2) The petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath that states the specific facts and circumstances of the domestic abuse and the specific relief sought. (f) The petition may be filed regardless of whether there is any pending litigation between the parties. (g) A person's right to file a petition, or obtain relief hereunder shall not be affected by his or her leaving the residence or household to avoid abuse. Acts 1991, No. 266, §§ 3, 8; 2003, No. 1221, § 1; 2007, No. 314, § 1; 2009, No. 698, § 2 ## Nearby sections - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-201 Petition - Requirements generally](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-201.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-202 Filing fees](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-202.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-203 Petition - Form](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-203.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-204 Hearing - Service](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-204.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-205 Relief generally - Duration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-205.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-206 Temporary order](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-206.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-207 Order of protection - Enforcement - Penalties - Criminal jurisdiction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-207.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-208 Law enforcement assistance](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-208.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-209 Modification of orders](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-209.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-210 Contempt proceedings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-210.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-212 Effect of no contact order](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-212.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-213 Police conduct and procedure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-213.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-214 Denial of relief prohibited](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-214.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-215 Factors in determining custody and visitation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-215.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T9_C15_S2_S9-15-201. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.