Form C-2 at a glance
What it is: Form C-2 is the Petition for Protection from Abuse of the State of Alabama Unified Judicial System.
Who signs: Plaintiff (Please print) and Plaintiff (Signature) are written by the Plaintiff.
What to bring and attach to Form C-2
If this relief is sought, you must attach COMPLETED copies of Form CS-41, Child Support Obligation Income Statement/Affidavit, Form CS-42, Child Support Guidelines, and Form CS-47, Child Support Information Sheet.
If there are more civil or other cases with the Defendant or more criminal charges against the Defendant, attach additional 8” x11” sheets of paper, if necessary, stating the case number(s), County(ies), and States(s) in which these cases are being handled.
A filled-in Form C-2 example: a former wife petitions for protection
How to fill out Form C-2, box by box
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF, Plaintiff and Defendant
Write the Name of County in IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF, COUNTY, ALABAMA.
Write the Plaintiff (Victim) and the Defendant (Person to be Restrained).
Write the Plaintiff filing on behalf of the Victim.
Write the Defendant's Address (Office or Home), City, State and Zip Code.
Write the Defendant's Date of Birth and the Defendant's Social Security Number, Last 4 Only.
The plaintiff's home address and, if applicable, business address shall not be contained on any court document made available to the public and the defendant by the circuit clerk's office.
You must provide complete and truthful information. If you do not, the court may dismiss this case, and you may be subject to being charged with perjury for knowingly providing false information.
I. ELIGIBLE PLAINTIFFS (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
Check all that apply: I am 18 years of age or older and am a victim of abuse or have reasonable cause to believe I am in imminent danger of becoming the victim of any act of abuse. I am a parent; or a legal guardian; or a next friend; or a court appointed guardian ad litem; or the State Department of Human Resources seeking protection from domestic violence on behalf of the victim who is: a minor child; or a person prevented by physical or mental incapacity from seeking a protection order.
Check all that apply: I am under 18 years of age, emancipated, and am a victim of abuse or have reasonable cause to believe I am in imminent danger of becoming the victim of any act of abuse.
Your relationship to the Defendant (check ONE)
In order to qualify for the issuance of a protection order pursuant to the Protection from Abuse Act, you must check ONE of the boxes, showing you have one of the following relationships with the Defendant.
Box 1: the Defendant is the victim's spouse or former spouse, or is in or had a common-law marriage with the victim; describe it and write the Date of Marriage and the Date of Divorce (if applicable).
Box 2: the Defendant and the victim has or had a dating relationship; describe it. A dating relationship does not include a casual or business relationship or a relationship that ended more than 12 months prior to the filing of the petition for a protection order.
Box 3: the Defendant is a current or former household member of the victim; describe the victim's relationship to the Defendant. A household member excludes non-romantic or non-intimate co-residents.
Box 4: the Defendant and the victim have a child in common regardless of whether the victim and Defendant have ever been married and regardless whether they are currently residing or have in the past resided together in the same household (defined in 3 above); describe the victim's relationship to the Defendant. Box 5: the victim is a relative of a current or former household member defined in 3 above who also lived with the Defendant; describe the victim's relationship to the Defendant.
Box 6: the victim is an individual who is a parent, step-parent, child, step-child, grandparent, step-grandparent, grandchild, or step-grandchild; describe the victim's relationship to the Defendant.
The Plaintiff, other cases and criminal charges
The word "Plaintiff" in the remainder of this form refers to the victim for whom protection is being sought.
Write the Name of County and the Name of State where the Plaintiff is a resident and the Plaintiff's age in years.
Check YES or NO if the Plaintiff is involved in any other civil, domestic relations, child support, or juvenile case with the Defendant. If YES, state the County and State in which the case was brought.
Check YES or NO if there are any criminal charges against the Defendant because of abuse to the Plaintiff. If YES, state the County and State where the charges were brought.
More rules for Form C-2
Check I am requesting: a protection order; a change in a current protection order; an emergency order; a change in an emergency order.
To Get a Protection Order, the Defendant Must Have Done One or More of the Following (Check all that apply).
Explain the Abuse That Has Happened (Begin With the Most Recent Act. You May Add Additional 8” x 11” Sheets of Paper, If Necessary).
Write the date and place where the abuse occurred.
Describe how the Defendant hurt or threatened the Plaintiff or how the Plaintiff is in imminent danger of becoming a victim.
Write why you genuinely fear the Defendant will cause further abuse.
Legal Information Required (Check all that apply): there is a current restraining or protection order against the Defendant: YES, I don't know, or NO. If YES, the County and State where it was issued.
Check YES or No if the Defendant has a current restraining or protection order against the Plaintiff. If YES, the County and State where it was issued.
Child(ren): write the name(s) and date(s) of birth of any child(ren) of the Defendant and the Plaintiff, who are under 19 years old.
Check YES or NO if there is a custody order concerning any of the children listed in V. Child(ren).
The Plaintiff must notify the Court of any change(s) in address.
Ex Parte Relief Requested (Please Check the Boxes To Show What is Requested): (1) Enjoin the Defendant from threatening to commit or committing acts of abuse against the Plaintiff; and/or child(ren) of the Plaintiff; and/or any designated person. List the name(s) of person(s) who need protection.
(2) Restrain and enjoin the Defendant from annoying, harassing, stalking, threatening, and engaging in conduct that would place the Plaintiff in reasonable fear of bodily injury or from contacting the Plaintiff or the children of the Plaintiff.
(7) Remove and exclude the Defendant from the residence of the Plaintiff, regardless of ownership of the residence.
(10) Order other relief deemed necessary to provide for the safety and welfare of the Plaintiff: and/or any child(ren); and/or any designated person.
Additional relief requested for final hearing (permanent order): in addition to the relief requested in VII. Ex Parte Relief Requested, I request the following relief.
(12) Order the Defendant to pay attorney's fees and court costs.
(14) Order the Defendant to pay temporary reasonable child support for the Plaintiff and/or any child(ren) in the Plaintiff's custody, or both, in accordance with the Child Support Guidelines.
(17) Order the Defendant to surrender all firearms.
Common questions about Form C-2
Does it need a notary?
Yes. An Officer Authorized to Administer Oaths/Notary Public signs the Signature of Officer Authorized to Administer Oaths/Notary Public line. Notary Public Only: My Commission expires on (Date).
What am I certifying when I sign?
Before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared the Plaintiff, who is known to me or presented an identification card to me, and who being duly sworn, deposes and says that he/she has read the Petition for Protection from Abuse and that the facts herein are true and correct.
Sources
[1] Form C-2 (Rev. 10/2023), Petition for Protection from Abuse, State of Alabama Unified Judicial System (the Official source link on this page).