Requesting a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order is free.

The victim cannot be charged any court costs or fees for the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, withdrawal, or service of a protection order or a petition for a protection order.  (Ala Code 30-5-5)

Forms are available at any circuit court clerk’s office at every county courthouse. You can also find these forms online at
https://eforms.alacourt.gov/civil-forms/protection-from-abuse/

Check to make sure you are using the most up-to-date forms.
You can find the most up-to-date petition for a PFA here: https://eforms.alacourt.gov/media/dbmjxlmp/c-3-revised-9-27-2023.pdf   

Your petition “shall allege the incidents of abuse, the specific facts and circumstances that form the basis upon which relief is sought, and that the plaintiff genuinely fears subsequent acts of abuse by the defendant.” (Ala Code 30-5-5)

You can represent yourself in these proceedings, or you may have an attorney.  There are services across the state that can help with representation at no cost. (Ala Code 30-5-5)

You can contact Legal Services of Alabama. https://legalservicesalabama.org/

You can contact the Alabama Bar Association for further information. http://www.alabar.org

In some areas, there are local chapters of the Volunteer Lawyers Association or Legal Services.

If you do seek out local resources, such as an advocate or counselor, they will most likely be able to help find legal resources. The following information cannot be contained on any court document made available to the public and the defendant by the circuit clerk’s office:

• • The plaintiff’s home address

  • Business address

  • Home telephone number or work telephone number

  • Home or business addresses

  • Telephone number of any member of the plaintiff’s family or household

  • Address revealing the confidential location of a shelter for victims of domestic violence  (Ala Code 30-5-5)

Additionally, if you are granted a PFA, the document is valid across the state and in any state you travel or move to. 

• Any protection order issued in this state pursuant to this chapter shall be effective throughout this state.

• Any protection order issued by the court of another state shall be accorded full faith and credit and enforced as if it were an order of this state.