The Arizona Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) is a program that helps victims of domestic violence, sexual offenses, and/or stalking from being found through public records. The program provides a substitute address and confidential mail forwarding services.

Participants in the program use the substitute address instead of their real address on documents. The substitute address replaces a person's home, work, or school address. State and local government agencies must accept the substitute address issued by the ACP.

The ACP accepts all First Class, registered, certified and election mail for the participants. Mail is then sent to their real address at no cost.

For more information about the Address Confidentiality Program, visit AZ.Gov.

To apply for the Address Confidentiality Program, you must:

• Be a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense (such as rape, sexual assault, molestation), or stalking
• Be in fear of their safety
• Have moved in the past 90 days (about 3 months) to a place unknown by the perpetrator or be planning to move to a place unknown to the perpetrator soon within Arizona
• Have documentation to support victimization
• Be an adult, or a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a minor or incapacitated person

Anyone interested in applying to the program must meet with a registered Application Assistant. Application assistants are found throughout Arizona in agencies and non-profit programs that provide help to victims of domestic violence, sexual offenses, and stalking. Applicants do not enroll or apply directly with the Arizona Address Confidentiality Program.

To learn more about the program, please visit the Address Confidentiality Program website. To ask questions or begin an application for the address confidentiality program, contact a registered Application Assistant.

Some people change their name after getting divorced, because they are transgender and are legally transitioning, or simply because they do not like their old name. For those who may think about changing their name to stay safe, there are a few factors to consider.

Changing a name might not stop an abuser from trying to find you. There are other ways to find someone, such as tracking through family, friends, or technology.

When a name is changed, the court may require official public notice be posted, like in a newspaper. This could be found by someone trying to locate you.

Consulting with a lawyer or victims’ advocate before pursuing a name change may be helpful.

Changing a child’s name can be difficult, especially if the abuser is the child’s parent. The court requires that both parents consent to a name change for a child. The court may also require official public notice of the name change. Consulting with a lawyer before pursuing a name change for a child may be helpful.

To get a name changed, an application must be filed in the superior court of the county where the petitioner lives. The petitioner must tell the court why they want to change their old name and the new name that they want to change to. If the court approves the application, they will issue a court order that substitutes the new name for the old name. The new name can be on the petitioner’s driver's license, social security card, or bank account. More information about name changes and application forms can be found on AZCourtHelp.