{"data":{"id":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-8-8.1-6","jurisdiction":"us-ri","citation":"R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-8.1-6","heading":"Form of complaint.","body":"(a) A form in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of filing a complaint under this chapter:\nSTATE OF RHODE ISLAND DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ________ ______ DIVISION _________________________________________ : Plaintiff : : VS : NO: : _________________________________________ : Defendant : COMPLAINT FOR PROTECTION FROM ABUSE\nPursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8 I request that the court enter an order protecting me from abuse.\n(1) My full name, present street address, city and telephone number are as follows: _________________________________________\n(2) My former residence, at which I resided with the defendant, is as follows (street address and city): _________________________________________\n(3) My former residence is a house\nMy former residence is an apartment\n(4) The full name, present street address, city and telephone number of the person causing me abuse (the defendant) are as follows: _________________________________________\n(5) On or about ____________ , without cause or provocation I suffered abuse when the defendant:\n_____ Threatened or harmed with a weapon:\n_____ Attempted to cause me physical harm;\n_____ Caused me physical harm;\n_____ Placed me in fear of imminent physical harm;\n_____ Caused me to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by\nforce, threat of force, or duress\nspecifically, the defendant: _________________________________________\n(6) I ask that: _________________________________________\n_____ 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.\n_____ The court order the defendant to immediately leave the household which is located at _________________________________________\n_________________________________________\nI 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.\n(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.\nSubscribed and sworn to before me in ____________ in the County of ____________ in the state of Rhode Island, this ________ day of ____________ A.D. 20_____ .\nNote: If this complaint is filed by an attorney, the attorney's certificate should appear below:\n\tWHITE COPY\t___ Court\n\tYELLOW COPY\t___ Plaintiff\n\tPINK COPY\t___ Defendant\n\tGOLDENROD COPY\t___ Police Department\n(b) A form in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of requesting temporary orders under this chapter:\nSTATE OF RHODE ISLAND DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ________ ______ DIVISION _________________________________________ : Plaintiff : : VS : NO: : _________________________________________ : Defendant : (TEMPORARY) ORDER PURSUANT TO CHAPTER ______ OF THE G.L. OF R.I. 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:\n_____ That the defendant is restrained and enjoined from contacting, assaulting, molesting, or otherwise interfering with plaintiff at home, on the street or elsewhere.\n_____ That the defendant vacate forthwith the household located at\n_________________________________________\n_________________________________________\nA 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.\nThis ORDER is effective forthwith, and will remain in effect until the time and date of the above-mentioned hearing.\nA 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.\nENTERED as an Order of Court this ______ day of ________ A.D. 20____ .\nENTER: __________ PER ORDER: __________\nJudge __________ Clerk __________\nPresented by: _________________________________________ Attorney for Plaintiff\n\tWHITE COPY\t___ Court\n\tYELLOW COPY\t___ Plaintiff\n\tPINK COPY\t___ Defendant\n\tGOLDENROD COPY\t___ Police Department","path":["Title 8 Courts and Civil Procedure — Courts","Chapter 8.1 Domestic Assault"],"source_url":"https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE8/8-8.1/8-8.1-6.htm","current_through":"site files published 2025-08-13","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T19:54:54Z","sha256":"86e0012ccc2dfdea994e81abd6e231202066b35779f79090c4d62ec63950e293","source_id":"us-ri","stale":true,"prev":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-8-8.1-5","next":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-8-8.1-7"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}