Last updated: November 8, 2026
If you need help right now
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911. If you cannot speak safely, Arizona offers Text-to-911 in every county. In your first text, give your exact location and what is happening. Call when it is safe to do so, because a voice call is usually faster.
24-hour support: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. A trained advocate can discuss support and local referrals. For sexual assault support, the RAINN hotline is available 24/7 at 800-656-4673.
Arizona helpline: The Arizona violence helpline can be reached at 602-279-2980 or 800-782-6400; text 520-720-3383. Its posted hours are Monday, Wednesday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.–7 p.m. Arizona time. It is not a 24-hour line.
Privacy warning: Phone calls, searches, texts, and browsing can be monitored. An “exit” button does not erase history. If you think a device is watched, ask an advocate about safer ways to communicate. Do not risk your safety to gather documents or follow online advice.
Bottom line
Single mothers in Arizona can ask for domestic violence advocacy, shelter referrals, court orders, legal aid, private mailing addresses, help with children, and food or health benefits. These are different services, not one cash grant. You do not need all your papers ready before calling a support line.
If you need local contacts, search 211 Arizona or call 2-1-1 in Arizona; outside the state call 877-211-8661. Its phone referral hours are currently 9 a.m.–7 p.m., seven days a week. For a broader national overview, read our domestic violence safety guide only when it is safe to do so.
Important: This guide is general information, not legal, medical, or individual safety advice. An advocate or lawyer can discuss options for your own case.
What has changed since June 2026
Arizona updated its domestic violence custody law on June 22, 2026. Courts now have clearer duties to put safety first, address domestic violence allegations in written findings, and apply a legal presumption when a parent is found to have committed domestic violence. A case still depends on the facts and court process. See the current Arizona custody law for the full rule.
Arizona courts also stress that an order must be served before it can be enforced. This is a key filing detail, not a new rule from the June law. The court process is explained below.
Where to start in Arizona
If there is danger now: Call 911, or text 911 if you cannot safely talk. An emergency service is different from a support hotline.
If you need shelter or to speak with someone: Contact the Arizona helpline during its posted hours, or the national hotline any time. Ask for a local advocate and current shelter contacts. You may ask about your children, pets, disability access, language help, or travel needs.
If you need court protection: The AZPOINT portal lets you prepare a petition. You must still contact a court and file it. You can ask the court about phone, video, or in-person steps.
If you need food, cash, or health coverage: Use Health-e-Arizona Plus to apply for Nutrition Assistance, Cash Assistance, or AHCCCS medical coverage. A community partner can help with forms. Ask an advocate first if using your device or mailing address creates risk.
For other programs, ask 211 for food, health, housing, and cash-aid contacts in your county.
Quick reference: which door to try
| You need | First step | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate safety | 911, or text 911 if talking is unsafe | Give location first when texting |
| Someone to talk to, day or night | National hotline: 800-799-7233 | 24/7 advocacy, not guaranteed shelter space |
| Arizona shelter referrals | Arizona helpline: 602-279-2980 | Weekday hours; shelters may be full |
| A protective order | AZPOINT, then a court | Filing, judicial review, and service matter |
| A private mailing address | Safe at Home Application Assistant | Eligibility and in-person meeting required |
| Food, cash, health coverage | Health-e-Arizona Plus | Separate eligibility rules and proof needs |
| Legal advice | Arizona legal aid intake | Capacity, income, and case rules vary |
Shelter, advocacy, and local support
The Arizona DES Domestic Violence Program supports emergency shelter, transitional housing, local and mobile advocacy, and help with legal processes. The DES program-information number is not an emergency or shelter booking line. Use an advocate or shelter referral line when you need current help.
The Arizona coalition’s service map can help you find a provider near your county. In Maricopa County, DES lists a separate shelter line: 480-890-3039. Ask about open services; a map cannot promise a bed.
For Native American and Alaska Native survivors, the StrongHearts Native Helpline offers 24/7 support by calling or texting 844-762-8483, with chat available online. For sexual violence, RAINN offers phone and online support. Arizona also lists local services such as support groups and help at a medical exam on its sexual violence support page .
A victim advocate can talk through contact options, children, pets, transportation, language needs, and technology risks. There is no single safe plan for everyone. Tell the provider how it may safely reach you, and ask whether voicemail, email, or text would be used.
Protective orders in Arizona
Arizona has an Order of Protection for qualifying domestic relationships and also uses Injunctions Against Harassment and Injunctions Against Workplace Harassment in other situations. The relationship and the facts affect which order fits. An advocate or legal aid worker can help you understand the options.
- Use AZPOINT to answer the court’s questions and prepare your petition. AZPOINT has no fee and saves your draft for up to 90 days.
- Contact the court to file the petition and learn whether you will appear in person, by phone, or by video. A draft in the portal is not a filed petition.
- Ask court staff what will happen after review, including service, which means the order and petition are delivered to the person named. An issued order is not enforceable until served.
- If there is a pending family court case with that person, the Arizona courts say you must file with the superior court handling that case. Ask before choosing a different court.
The Arizona court AZPOINT guide explains these steps. The court service guide says service of an Order of Protection is free and usually assigned promptly unless a judge delays it for a limited period. If the respondent asks for a hearing, read the notice and seek legal advice about the deadline.
| Court issue | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Starting the request | What petition fits my relationship and what court hears it? |
| Proof or records | What details can I give if I do not have photos, reports, or documents? |
| Children | Can I include my children? How will custody orders be affected? |
| Service and safety | When would the other person be served, and how will I know? |
| Hearing notice | When is my hearing, and where can I get legal help? |
Safety note: Court paperwork or an order cannot promise safety. Seek individualized advice about filing, service, and contact from an advocate or lawyer. Do not personally serve documents unless your legal adviser says what the court requires; ask the court about service arrangements.
Address confidentiality and safer mail
Arizona’s Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program offers a substitute mailing address and mail forwarding for eligible people affected by domestic violence, sexual offenses, or stalking. Government agencies generally must accept the assigned substitute address for covered records. It is not a shelter or a protective order.
The Safe at Home enrollment guide says an applicant must meet in person with a registered Application Assistant rather than applying directly to the Secretary of State. Requirements include an Arizona move to an address unknown to the person causing harm, or plans for such a move, as well as supporting documents. An assistant can explain what proof counts and whether it may be a safe fit. The state lists 602-542-1653 for finding an assistant.
The address program overview explains substitute addresses and which mail the program forwards. Ask a qualified advocate or lawyer how to handle school, court, child support, rental, and benefit records. Do not assume that the program makes every record or location private.
Children, custody, child support, and school safety
Domestic violence may affect parenting time, legal decision-making (often called custody), school pickup, and where a child lives. As of June 22, 2026, Arizona law directs courts to put the safety and well-being of children and victims first. The law requires findings on domestic violence allegations and may limit legal decision-making or parenting time when abuse is found. It also recognizes controlling behavior, including threats, financial control, stalking, and tracking in certain cases.
This does not decide your case without a hearing. Talk to legal aid before changing court-ordered visits, moving with children, or withholding contact. Depending on the facts and court decision, protections may include safer exchanges, supervised parenting time, limits on overnight visits, or address privacy.
If cooperating with child support services might expose you or your child to danger, tell the Arizona Division of Child Support Services (DCSS). Its family violence policy calls for screening and safeguards around personal information. Ask the worker about good cause, a family violence indicator, disclosure controls, and how any request affects your benefits. Our Arizona child support guide explains the usual service path.
For child abuse or neglect concerns, the Arizona Department of Child Safety lists 1-888-767-2445 (1-888-SOS-CHILD) as its hotline. For immediate danger, call 911.
Food, cash, health coverage, and basic needs
Survivors may need food, rent, medicine, baby supplies, child care, power, or a phone. No single Arizona “domestic violence grant” covers every need. State programs and local services have different rules, funding, and waiting times.
Food: Arizona Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) may help you buy food. Review the Arizona SNAP guide. If food is needed right away, ask the benefits worker whether your application qualifies for faster processing. The Health-e-Arizona Plus application includes an emergency Nutrition Assistance screen; it does not mean everyone is approved quickly.
Pregnancy and young children: WIC offers certain food and nutrition services for eligible pregnant or postpartum people, babies, and young children. See the Arizona WIC guide and ask a local WIC clinic about enrollment.
Health and cash: Health-e-Arizona Plus accepts applications for AHCCCS medical coverage and Cash Assistance as well as food help. Ask which household rules and proof requirements apply. If a form or letter could be seen by the person harming you, tell the agency or an advocate about privacy concerns first.
Housing: Ask an advocate or 211 about urgent housing referrals, then use our Arizona housing guide for longer-term options. Housing waitlists and funding change. Child care: Ask about subsidies through the Arizona child care guide. Help may depend on work, education, income, and available funds.
Practical step: If your identity papers, money, or benefits card are controlled by someone else, do not risk harm to retrieve them. Tell an application worker what is missing and ask about other ways to prove your case. Keep a confirmation number only in a place you can safely use.
Free or low-cost legal help
The Arizona Bar Foundation’s Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Project (DVLAP) brings together civil legal aid lawyers, volunteer lawyers, and victim advocates. Depending on eligibility and program capacity, help may cover a protective order, family law forms, housing problems, and basic legal rights.
The project works with Community Legal Services, Southern Arizona Legal Aid, and DNA People’s Legal Services. Use AZLawHelp intake or call 866-637-5341 for help finding a provider. Check our Arizona legal help guide for more state resources. If one office cannot take your case, ask for a clinic, self-help forms, brief advice, or another county referral.
If you have a hearing or eviction notice: Tell the intake worker the date at the start. Do not wait for a return call before reading the notice or contacting the issuing court about official deadlines. Legal information here is not a substitute for an attorney.
Work rights, paid sick time, and unemployment
Under Arizona paid sick-time law, eligible workers can use earned sick time for some needs tied to domestic violence, sexual violence, abuse, or stalking. Examples include medical care, a victim service program, counseling, steps to secure housing, relocation, or legal services.
For absences of three or more consecutive workdays, an employer may seek reasonable proof. The law lists several accepted choices, including the employee’s own written statement. It also says the employer may not demand details of the abuse in that proof. Ask the Industrial Commission or a lawyer about your rights before handing over sensitive records.
If you left a job because of violence, you may still have an unemployment option. Arizona DES explains that it looks at why you left, whether the reason was compelling, and whether you meet other eligibility rules. Use the official DES job-separation guide to understand the review. Do not assume leaving a dangerous job means automatic approval or automatic denial.
Crime victim compensation
Arizona crime victim compensation may pay certain out-of-pocket costs caused by a qualifying crime. The Arizona Attorney General overview lists possible medical and dental costs, counseling, lost wages or support, funeral costs, some transportation, and emergency relocation. A county Crime Victim Compensation Board reviews applications.
What it does not cover: The Attorney General says the program does not pay for property loss or damage. There are rules about reporting, applications, and proof. Ask the county victim-compensation coordinator for the current requirements and deadlines; do not assume the program can pay a bill today.
Victim compensation is different from restitution, which is money a court may order an offender to pay. For either path, ask an advocate what records may help and how to keep your address private.
Documents and information checklist
Safety comes first. A hotline or advocate can speak with you even if you cannot gather papers. Do not return to an unsafe place to collect them.
| Where you need help | Useful information, if safe | If you cannot get it |
|---|---|---|
| Shelter or advocacy | Safe way to contact you, county, children, pets, urgent access needs | Tell an advocate what is safe to share |
| Court or legal aid | Case or hearing notices, incident details, messages, prior orders | Ask court staff or legal aid about missing records |
| Food or cash benefits | ID, child details, income, housing expenses, benefit notices | Ask the agency about alternate proof |
| Work or unemployment | Employer details, pay stubs, dates, leave requests | Ask what the agency or employer can legally require |
| Victim compensation | Medical bills, receipts, advocate contact, police report number if any | Ask the county coordinator about requirements and exceptions |
You can ask whether an office will accept copies, statements, or later uploads. Record case numbers and deadlines only where someone else cannot access them.
Common problems to avoid
- Waiting for perfect proof: You may call for help without a police report or full file of documents.
- Assuming a court form gives protection: Filing, judicial review, and service are separate steps.
- Missing a hearing or agency notice: Ask the issuing office about a deadline as soon as safely possible.
- Leaving out safety concerns at a benefits office: Ask privately about good cause, family violence screening, and safer contact.
- Using a monitored device: An advocate can help talk through communication risks. No online method is risk-free.
- Expecting instant housing or cash: Ask for a second referral while longer applications are pending.
What to do if the first place cannot help
If shelter is full, ask the advocate whether another provider has current information or can offer a different support path. If legal aid is at capacity, ask for a clinic, another office, or self-help help from the court. If a benefits application is delayed or denied, read the notice, note the appeal deadline, and ask what documents are missing.
Our Arizona emergency assistance guide covers urgent basic needs. For local support, the Arizona community resources guide lists other places to ask. Neither replaces emergency services or a trained advocate for immediate safety needs.
Short scripts to ask for help
Use a call, chat, or message only if it is safe. Ask first how the office will contact you back.
When calling an advocate
“I need help with domestic violence in Arizona. Is this a safe and private time to talk? I need to ask about shelter or local support near my county.”
When calling a court
“I filled in AZPOINT. How do I file my petition, and how will I know if an order is issued and served? I have a family court case, too.”
When calling legal aid
“I need help with a family or housing case linked to domestic violence. My next notice or hearing is on [date]. Can I apply for urgent advice?”
When calling DES or child support
“A child support step could create a safety risk. Can you explain your family violence screening, good-cause options, and safe ways to contact me?”
Resumen en español
Si usted o sus hijos están en peligro inmediato en Arizona, llame al 911. Si no puede hablar con seguridad, puede enviar un texto al 911. Escriba primero su ubicación exacta.
La Línea Nacional contra la Violencia Doméstica atiende las 24 horas: 800-799-7233 o texto START al 88788. La línea de Arizona atiende de lunes a viernes, en horario limitado: 602-279-2980 o 800-782-6400; texto 520-720-3383. También puede llamar al 2-1-1 para pedir recursos locales durante su horario de atención.
Puede pedir ayuda con refugio, comida, salud, órdenes de protección, asesoría legal y privacidad de su dirección. Los formularios de AZPOINT no son una orden judicial hasta que el tribunal los procese. Si alguien vigila su teléfono, pida ayuda a una persona de apoyo para buscar una forma más segura de hablar. Esta guía no es asesoría legal ni un plan personal de seguridad.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if I am in danger in Arizona?
Call 911. If you cannot speak safely, Arizona has Text-to-911 in every county. Give your exact location and the emergency in the first text.
Is the Arizona domestic violence helpline open all night?
No. The Arizona helpline posts weekday hours, with later hours on Tuesdays. The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 is open 24/7.
Can I get a domestic violence shelter without a police report?
You can call an advocate even without a police report. Ask the shelter or advocate about its intake needs and current space. Do not put yourself in danger to collect papers.
Does filling out AZPOINT give me a protective order?
No. AZPOINT helps prepare a petition. You must file it with a court. If the judge issues an order, it must be served on the other person before it is enforceable.
Can Arizona help keep my address private?
The Safe at Home program may offer a substitute address to eligible survivors. You must meet with a registered Application Assistant and meet the state’s enrollment rules.
Did Arizona change domestic violence custody rules in 2026?
Yes. A law effective June 22, 2026 requires stronger court attention to abuse and safety in legal decision-making and parenting-time cases. A lawyer can explain how it may affect your case.
Can I ask for child support safety protections?
Yes. Tell DES or DCSS if sharing your address or contacting another parent could create danger. Ask about family violence screening, nondisclosure, and good-cause rules.
Can I use earned sick time for a domestic violence need?
Arizona law allows covered earned sick time for certain medical, victim-service, counseling, housing-safety, and legal needs tied to abuse. For longer absences, an employee’s written statement is one accepted type of proof.
What if benefits or legal aid are denied or delayed?
Check the notice and any deadline. Ask the office about missing papers, reviews, hearings, or referrals. For urgent needs, also contact a domestic violence advocate or 211 Arizona.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, Arizona state, court, and other high-trust nonprofit sources linked in the text.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, court procedures, funding, service hours, and eligibility can change. Confirm details with the agency or qualified advocate before acting.
Verification: Last verified November 8, 2026; next review February 6, 2027.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, or individual safety advice.
Last updated: November 8, 2026 Next review: February 6, 2027