Rule 7.Protected Address

Part I. General Administration · Last amended January 1, 2019 · Last verified September 4, 2026

In one sentenceRule 7 protects a party's address from the moment the request is filed, and routes service on that party through the clerk.

Full Text of Rule 7

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)

(a) Effect of Filing. A party's address is automatically protected upon filing a request for a protected address until further order of the court.

(b) On Request. The court must designate a party's address as protected on a showing by the requesting party that the other party does not know the party's address; and either

(1) a reasonable belief exists that without a protected address, the party or a minor child may suffer physical or emotional harm; or

(2) A valid order of protection exists.

(1) filing a written request substantially similar to Form 15, Rule 97 (“Request for Protected Address”). The request must include the party's address on a separate sheet of paper that must not be provided to the other party; and

(2) providing the court a proposed order substantially similar to Form 15, Rule 97 (“Order for Protected Address”).

(d) Court Action.

(1) Timing and Procedure. Not later than 5 days after a request is filed, the court must rule on it without waiting for a response and without holding a hearing, unless the court finds that a hearing is appropriate. If the court decides to hold a hearing, it must hold the hearing not later than 20 days after the request is filed and it must give notice of the hearing to all parties who have appeared in the action.

(2) Effect of Ruling. If the court grants the request, the clerk must not publicly disclose the person's address, and the requesting party's later filings do not need to include the party's address. If the court denies the request, the requesting party must include the party's address in all later filings.

(3) Later Orders. At any time, the court may order that a protected address is no longer protected:

(A) on request of the party whose address is protected; or

(B) after a hearing and on a finding that there is no reasonable belief that disclosure of the party's address will cause the party or a minor child to suffer physical or emotional harm.

(e) Serving a Document on a Party with a Protected Address.

(1) Generally. A party may serve a document on a person with a protected address by delivering a copy of the document to the clerk and paying the fee established by administrative order to cover the cost of service. The clerk then must promptly mail the document by regular first-class mail to the most recent protected address the person has provided to the clerk. The clerk's mailing envelope must show the clerk's return address.

(2) Date of Service and Mailing Verification. Service on the person is deemed complete when the clerk mails the document. The clerk must promptly file a signed statement that verifies that the document was mailed and the date of mailing.

(3) Undelivered Mail. The clerk must note in the court file any mail to a protected address that is returned as undelivered.

(f) Continuing Duty to Provide the Clerk with Current Address. Any person whose address is ordered protected from disclosure has a continuing duty to provide the clerk with a current and correct mailing address where the person can be served.

(g) Protecting the Address in a Title IV-D Case. This rule does not affect a parent's right under federal law to the protection of the parent's address in connection with seeking services in a Title IV-D case.

(h) Clerk's Duty. The clerk's duty to protect the address ends when the person whose address is protected files a notice of published address that sets forth the person's current mailing address for future service.

End

Rule History

Added Aug. 30, 2018, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

Plain-English Summary

Rule 7 is a safety rule, and its first sentence is the point: protection is automatic on filing, before any judge looks at it.

Automatic on filing

A party's address is automatically protected upon filing a request for a protected address, and stays protected until further order of the court. The protection does not wait for a ruling.

The standard

The court must designate the address as protected on a showing that the other party does not know it, and either a reasonable belief exists that without protection the party or a minor child may suffer physical or emotional harm, or a valid order of protection exists. Emotional harm counts, and an existing order of protection is sufficient on its own.

Procedure and timing

The request uses Form 15 under Rule 97, with the address itself on a separate sheet that must not be provided to the other party, plus a proposed order. The court must rule within 5 days, without waiting for a response and without a hearing unless it finds one appropriate — and any hearing is held within 20 days of the request.

If granted, the clerk must not publicly disclose the address and the party's later filings need not include it. If denied, later filings must include it. The court may later lift protection on the protected party's own request, or after a hearing and a finding that there is no reasonable belief of harm.

Serving a protected party

Service goes through the clerk: deliver the document to the clerk with the fee set by administrative order, and the clerk mails it by regular first-class mail to the most recent protected address, with the clerk's return address on the envelope. Service is complete when the clerk mails it, and the clerk files a signed statement verifying the mailing and its date. Returned mail is noted in the court file.

Two continuing duties close the rule. The protected person must keep the clerk supplied with a current and correct mailing address. And the clerk's duty ends when that person files a notice of published address. Subsection (g) preserves a parent's separate federal right to address protection in a Title IV-D case.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does address protection start?

On filing. Rule 7(a) provides that a party's address is automatically protected upon filing a request for a protected address, until further order of the court.

What do I have to show?

Under Rule 7(b), that the other party does not know the address, and either that a reasonable belief exists that without a protected address the party or a minor child may suffer physical or emotional harm, or that a valid order of protection exists.

How quickly does the court rule?

Not later than 5 days after the request is filed, without waiting for a response and without a hearing, unless the court finds a hearing appropriate — in which case the hearing is held not later than 20 days after the request is filed.

How do I serve someone with a protected address?

Rule 7(e) routes it through the clerk: deliver a copy to the clerk and pay the fee set by administrative order, and the clerk promptly mails it by regular first-class mail to the most recent protected address. Service is complete when the clerk mails it.

Does the protected party have ongoing obligations?

Yes. Rule 7(f) imposes a continuing duty to provide the clerk with a current and correct mailing address where the person can be served.

How does protection end?

The court may order at any time that an address is no longer protected, on the protected party's request or after a hearing and a finding that there is no reasonable belief of harm. Separately, Rule 7(h) ends the clerk's duty when the person files a notice of published address.

Source & verification. Rule text and Rule History reproduced verbatim from the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure as published by the Arizona Supreme Court, current through amendments effective January 1, 2026. Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Arizona (Ariz. Const. art. 6, § 5). Last verified September 4, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: protected addressconfidential addressaddress protectiondomestic violenceorder of protectionservice on protected partyForm 15