2022 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts
Chapter 8-8.1 - Domestic Assault
Section 8-8.1-6. - Form of complaint.

§ 8-8.1-6. Form of complaint.

(a) A form in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of filing a complaint under this chapter:

COMPLAINT FOR PROTECTION FROM ABUSE

Pursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8 I request that the court enter an order protecting me from abuse.

(1) My full name, present street address, city and telephone number are as follows: _________________________________________

(2) My former residence, at which I resided with the defendant, is as follows (street address and city): _________________________________________

(3) My former residence is a house

My former residence is an apartment

(4) The full name, present street address, city and telephone number of the person causing me abuse (the defendant) are as follows: _________________________________________

(5) On or about ____________ , without cause or provocation I suffered abuse when the defendant:

_____ Threatened or harmed with a weapon:

_____ Attempted to cause me physical harm;

_____ Caused me physical harm;

_____ Placed me in fear of imminent physical harm;

_____ Caused me to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by

force, threat of force, or duress

specifically, the defendant: _________________________________________

(6) I ask that: _________________________________________

_____ The court order that the defendant be restrained and enjoined from contacting, assaulting, molesting or otherwise interfering with the plaintiff at home, on the street or elsewhere.

_____ The court order the defendant to immediately leave the household which is located at _________________________________________

_________________________________________

I request that the above relief be ordered without notice because it clearly appears from specific facts shown by affidavit or by the verified complaint that I will suffer immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage before notice can be served and a hearing had thereon. I understand that the court will schedule a hearing no later than twenty-one (21) days after such order is entered on the question of continuing such temporary order.

(7) I have not sought protection from abuse from any other judge of the district court arising out of the same facts or circumstances alleged in this complaint.

Subscribed and sworn to before me in ____________ in the County of ____________ in the state of Rhode Island, this ________ day of ____________ A.D. 20_____ .

Note: If this complaint is filed by an attorney, the attorney's certificate should appear below:

(b) A form in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of requesting temporary orders under this chapter:

Upon consideration of plaintiff’s complaint, (and having found that immediate and irreparable injury, loss or damage will result to the plaintiff before a notice can be served and a hearing had thereon) it is ORDERED:

_____ That the defendant is restrained and enjoined from contacting, assaulting, molesting, or otherwise interfering with plaintiff at home, on the street or elsewhere.

_____ That the defendant vacate forthwith the household located at

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

A hearing on the continuation of this ORDER will be held at the District Court, __________ County, __________ Division, at __ (A.M.) (P.M.) on __________ . If the defendant wishes to be heard, she/he will be heard at that time. If she/he does not appear at that time, this ORDER shall remain in effect.

This ORDER is effective forthwith, and will remain in effect until the time and date of the above-mentioned hearing.

A copy of this ORDER shall be transmitted to the appropriate local law enforcement agency forthwith, and shall be served in-hand on the defendant herein.

ENTERED as an Order of Court this ______ day of ________ A.D. 20____ .

ENTER: __________ PER ORDER: __________

Judge __________ Clerk __________

Presented by: _________________________________________
Attorney for Plaintiff

History of Section.
P.L. 1985, ch. 492, § 2; P.L. 1988, ch. 539, § 4; P.L. 1989, ch. 78, § 2; P.L. 1995, ch. 145, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 77, § 4, effective June 23, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 78, § 4, effective June 23, 2021.