Source: https://www.womenslaw.org/laws/ca/restraining-orders/all
Timestamp: 2020-02-19 07:24:06
Document Index: 478499501

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 6250', '§ 6250', '§ 6256', '§ 6252', '§ 6320', '§ 6345', '§ 6345', '§ 6303', '§ 6388', '§ 6387', '§ 6385', '§ 6345', '§ 527', '§ 240', '§ 527', '§ 527', '§ 527', '§ 527', '§ 527', '§ 527', '§ 15610', '§ 15657', '§ 15657', '§ 15657', '§ 15657', '§ 15657', '§ 15657', '§ 18105', '§ 18105', '§ 18100', '§ 527', '§ 6402', '§ 6402', '§ 6403', '§ 6404', '§ 6404', '§ 6403', '§ 6404']

In this section you will find information about domestic violence restraining orders, civil harassment orders, restraining orders to prevent elder or dependent adult abuse, workplace violence restraining orders, and gun violence restraining orders. You will find helpful information on the California court system at the Center for Families, Children, & the Courts. Also, the California Courts Self Help Center has a lot of valuable information.
Domestic violence is defined as when your current or former spouse, boyfriend / girlfriend, someone you have a child in common with, someone you live(d) with, or someone you are related to through blood or marriage1 does one of the following:
molests, attacks, batters (uses force), or strikes you;
threatens or harasses you - either in person or through phone calls, emails, or other methods;
destroys your personal property; or
disturbs your peace.2
Note: If the acts of the abuser do not fit in this definition or if you do not have the specific relationship with the abuser that is mentioned above, you may still be eligible for a Civil Harassment Order. If you are elderly or a dependent adult, you may qualify for a protective order if you are being physically abused, neglected, financially abused by anyone or deprived of needed care by your custodian (caretaker). See Restraining Orders to Prevent Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse for more information.
If a police officer responds to a domestic violence call, the police officer can call a judge (anytime, day or night) and ask that an emergency protective order be issued for you, which goes into effect immediately.1
A judge will only issue an emergency protective order if s/he believes that there is an immediate and present danger of domestic violence or that a child is in immediate or present danger of abuse or abduction (kidnapping) by a parent or relative and that the order is necessary to prevent domestic violence, child abuse or child abduction.2
An emergency protective order can last only five business days or seven calendar days (whichever is shorter).3 An emergency protective order is supposed to give you time to go to court to ask for a domestic violence restraining order, which lasts longer. In the emergency order, the judge can include most of the protections that you can get in a regular DVRO, such as removing the abuser from the home and ordering him to have no contact with you. It can also give you temporary custody of your children.4 For other remedies that may be included, see How can a DVRO help me?
When you go to court to apply for a restraining order, the clerk will give you a date, usually within three weeks, when you will have to come back to court for a full hearing. If you are in immediate danger and need protection right away, you can ask for a temporary (ex parte) restraining order, which can order the abuser to leave the home, have no contact with you, and offer many other forms of protection that are listed in How can a DVRO help me? 5
Whether or not you get a temporary order, you will be scheduled for a hearing to get a final DVRO. After having a court hearing, a judge can grant you a “restraining order after hearing” that can last up to five years. However, if there is no termination date on the order, the order will last 3 years from the date it was issued.6 See How can a DVRO help me? to read about all of the protections that you can get in a DVRO issued after a hearing. During the last three months of the order, you can ask the judge to have the order extended for another five years, or permanently. The judge can make this extension without you having to prove any further abuse.7
1 See Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6250
2 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code §§ 6250; 6251
3 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6256
4 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6252(a) & (b); see CA Courts website
5 See Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6320; 6321
6 See Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6345(c)
7 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6345(a)
A domestic violence restraining order (DVRO) can:
Order the abuser not to do the following to you, your children, and/or your family/household members:
Order the abuser to pay child support and spousal support (if you are married)4 - see Can I get support when I file a DVRO?;
Order the abuser to attend a batterer’s treatment program or other counseling service;8
Transfer a shared cell phone account into your name alone so that you can keep your existing wireless telephone number and the wireless numbers of any minor children in your care;9
Give you temporary child custody and visitation. The judge can decide where the children will live, which parent will make decisions affecting the children, and how the children will spend time with each parent (including where, when, and whether that time is supervised or not). Note: Any order for custody, visitation, or support that is made within your DVRO will continue to be effective even when the DVRO ends. You may want to ask the judge to specifically write this fact into the DVRO to make future enforcement of it easier;10 and
Your support person can go with you to court to get a protective order, and if you don’t have a lawyer, s/he can sit beside you at the table where the lawyer would normally sit.1
1 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6303
In the court clerk’s office, ask for all the forms that you will need to file for a domestic violence restraining order. You can also find links to forms online on our CA Download Court Forms page. Be sure to tell the clerk if you think you need protection right away and want a Temporary (ex parte) Restraining Order. You should be given an instruction booklet in court (called “DV-150”) for line-by-line instructions on how to fill out the forms.
Note: You must go to the scheduled court hearing. If you do not go, the judge may dismiss (throw out) your case. If you absolutely cannot go for some reason, call the court clerk to find out how to get a continuance (this is when the hearing is rescheduled for a later date) and have the temporary order reissued. According to the law, either party may request a continuance of the hearing, which the judge should grant if there is “good cause” to do so. The request may be made in writing before or at the hearing or orally at the hearing.1
The law requires that the abuser be given formal notice that you have filed for a restraining order. Your forms can be personally served by anyone over 18 years of age who is not involved in your case,1 such as a friend, a relative, law enforcement or a professional process server. You cannot be the one to give these forms to the abuser. (If you want the sheriff to serve the papers, go to the CA Sheriff Departments to locate a sheriff near you.) The court will decide how many days before the court date the abuser has to be served.
You do not have to pay to have the court forms served on the abuser if law enforcement serves the papers. The sheriff or marshal can serve domestic violence restraining orders for free2 but your county may require that you fill out a “fee waiver application” first. If you hire a professional process server to serve the abuser, you must pay him/her on your own.
If you were not able to have the abuser served before the court date, you can ask the judge for a new hearing date and another temporary restraining order. There is a specific form that will need to be filled out to request that the hearing is continued and it must be done before the hearing. You can go to the CA Courts website for more information and links to all of these forms or ask the court clerk. If the judge believes that you made a “diligent effort” to accomplish personal service, the judge can allow an alternative method of service if there is reason to believe that the abuser is purposefully avoiding (evading) service. Alternative methods of service include, but are not limited to:
service by publication, which is when the summons is published in a newspaper that is most likely to give actual notice to the party to be served and a copy is mailed to the abuser’s address (if known)
service by mail, return receipt requested, to the most current address for the abuser; or
delivering a copy of the court papers to the respondent’s home or place of employment in care of someone who is at least 18 years old and then mailing a copy to the address where it was delivered.3
Whoever serves the court papers on the abuser will have to fill out a proof of service form. This form will let the judge know that the abuser was served with the forms. Make sure that you get this form back after it is filled out because it is your responsibility to file it in court. Before filing the proof of service form in court, make five copies of it – then bring the original and five copies to court. The clerk will keep the original and give you back the copies stamped “Filed.” Take a copy to your hearing and attach another copy to the restraining order that you carry with you as proof that it was served.2
2 See California Courts Self-Help Center
To get a final restraining order, you must go to the court hearing and prove that the abuser has committed an act(s) of domestic violence (as defined by the law) against you or your children. It would likely be best if you had a lawyer with you to represent you at the hearing. If you can’t get a lawyer before your court date, you can ask the judge for a “continuance” to set a later court date so you can have time to find a lawyer. It is up to the judge whether or not to grant your request. According to the law, either party may request a continuance of the hearing, which the judge should grant if there is ”good cause” to do so. The request may be made in writing before or at the hearing or orally at the hearing.1 Go to CA Finding a Lawyer to find legal help.
Once the judge has signed the restraining order after hearing form, take all the copies to the clerk’s office so they can be stamped and returned to you.
You are entitled to three free certified copies of the DVRO from the court clerk.1 Your order does not have to be certified to be enforced, but in some counties, law enforcement demand a certified copy anyway. You will need one copy of the final court order for each law enforcement agency you want to give the order to, the abuser, your children’s school or daycare provider, and others who will help enforce the court order, and two copies for yourself. The court may charge a fee if you need more than three certified copies of your DVRO.
If you get confused about exactly what the judge has ordered, you can ask for a copy of the “minute order,” which is usually available from the court clerk a few days after the hearing. The minute order is what the court clerk writes down as the judge tells what order is s/he granting. You can also purchase a copy of the transcript from the court reporter, which will include everything that was said during the hearing. (The transcript can be very expensive, so ask for an estimate before requesting one.) However, the information in the transcript or minute order will not be looked at by the police when enforcing the DVRO. Only the terms written in the order will be enforced, so please be sure that you read the order carefully before leaving court to make sure that it has the terms in it that you expected it to have.
If the judge ordered the abuser to pay child support, you will need to fill out and have the judge sign several more forms. You may be able to get free help with all of these forms from the family law facilitator in court or from the Self-Help Center in the courthouse.1
1CA Courts website
If the defendant violates the DVRO, you can call 911 immediately. In some cases, the defendant can be arrested right away.1 Tell the officers you have a DVRO and the defendant is violating it. Always have both a certified copy (that you got from the court clerk) of your Restraining Order After Hearing (CLETS)2, Form DV-130 (with any attachments) and your filed copy of the Proof of Service, showing that the abuser was served with the Restraining Order After Hearing (Form DV-140) with you at all times.3
You may file for civil contempt for a violation of the order. The abuser is in “civil contempt” if s/he does anything that your DVRO orders him/her not to do. To file for civil contempt, go to the clerk’s office.
If the abuser is found to be in civil contempt, s/he could be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for up to 5 days.4
1 See Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6388
2 See Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6387
3 See Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6385
Either you or the abuser can file to change (modify) your domestic violence restraining order. The California Courts website has the forms that you need to fill out to modify the order as well as information on how to respond to a motion to modify the order if the other party files.
If you want your restraining order to last longer, you will likely want to file for the extension one to two months before your order expires to make sure that you will have your hearing before the order ends. You will need to fill certain forms to renew your order. The judge can make your DVRO last for five more years or permanently with no expiration date. You do not have to prove that there has been further abuse to get the extension.1
The court clerk, a private attorney, or a domestic violence counselor should have the forms you will need to have your order continued. You will also find links to online forms on our CA Download Court Forms page. You will need to have the abuser served with these forms and attend a hearing. The California Courts website gives step-by-step instructions as to what to do after you fill out the forms - click here to read it.
1 Cal.Fam.Code § 6345(a)
If you move within California or to another state, your order will still be valid and enforceable. Federal law provides what is called “full faith and credit,” which means that once you have a criminal or civil protection order, it follows you wherever you go, including U.S. Territories and tribal lands.1
Please see our Places that Help pages for your state for more information. You may also want to call the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit (1-800-903-0111 x 2) to find out this information.
stalking (repeatedly following or harassing you with the intent to place you in reasonable fear for your safety or your immediate family’s safety);1
Repeated actions (such as following you, making harassing telephone calls, or sending harassing emails) that seriously alarm, annoy, or harass you, and that serve no legitimate purpose and cause you to be extremely emotionally upset (distressed).2
1 Ann.Cal.C.C.P. § 527.6(b); Ann.Cal.Penal Code §§ 240, 242, 646.9
2 Ann.Cal.C.C.P. § 527.6(b)
You may receive a temporary order if you show reasonable proof of harassment and that you will suffer great or irreparable harm.1 A temporary order will last until you can have a full court hearing (usually within 21 - 25 days).2 An order after hearing will last up to five years and can be extended for up to an additional five years. If the order does not have an expiration date on it, this means that it will last for three years from the date it was issued.3
1 Ann.Cal.C.C.P. § 527.6(d)
2 Ann.Cal.C.C.P. § 527.6(f)
3 Ann.Cal.C.C.P. § 527.6(j)
The judge will hold a hearing within 21 to 25 days from when the temporary order was issued to decide whether or not to extend your order. However, the respondent is entitled to one continuance, for a reasonable period, to respond to the petition. In addition, either party may request a continuance of the hearing, which the judge can grant if there is “good cause” to do so.
During this hearing, the harasser can respond to the allegations of harassment that you told the judge to get the temporary order and can try and explain, excuse, justify, or deny the harassment. The judge will then consider all of the evidence and decide whether or not the harassment actually occurred. If the judge decides that the harassment did occur, then s/he should grant you a final order, known as an order after hearing.1
1 Cal.C.C.P. § 527.6(f)-(j), (o), (p)
If you suffered harassment or stalking (as defined by law) by anyone, you can apply to the court for a civil harassment order against him/her. It does not matter who the person harassing you is.1 However, if the person harassing you is an intimate partner or family or household member, you will likely want to file for a domestic violence restraining order (“DVRO”) instead of a civil harassment order (“CHO”). See If I qualify for both a civil harassment order and a domestic violence restraining order, which one should I file for?
1 See Cal.C.C.P. § 527.6
For the purposes of getting a restraining order to prevent elder or dependent adult abuse, “abuse” is defined as:
other treatment with resulting physical harm or pain or mental suffering;
a caregiver withholding goods or services that are necessary to avoid your physical harm or mental suffering;
financial abuse (as defined in Section 15610.30).1
1 Cal Wel. & Inst. Code § 15610.07(a)
There are two types of orders: a temporary ex parte order and a final order.
If you ask for a temporary ex parte restraining order, the judge will decide whether or not to issue the order on the same day that you file for it (or, if it’s filed too late in the day, on the next day the court is in session).1 If the judge grants you a temporary order, it will last until your hearing date for a final order, which is generally within 21 days (but could be within 25 days if there is “good cause”).2 At your final hearing date, the judge will decide to continue or cancel the order. If the judge grants you a final order, it could last for up to five years.3
1 Cal Wel. & Inst. Code § 15657.03(e)
2 Cal Wel. & Inst. Code § 15657.03(f)
3 Cal Wel. & Inst. Code § 15657.03(i)(1)
If you are 65 years old or older (an “elder”) or a dependent adult who is being abused, you can apply for a restraining order to prevent elder or dependent adult abuse.1 A dependent adult is a person between the ages of 18 and 64 who has physical or mental limitations that restrict his/her ability to carry out normal activities or to protect his/her rights or who is admitted as an inpatient to a 24-hour health facility.2
You can also file for a restraining order on behalf of an abused elder or dependent adult if you are:
his/her conservator or trustee;
his/her attorney-in-fact, acting within the authority of the power of attorney;
appointed as a guardian ad litem for the elder or dependent adult; or
any other person legally authorized to seek such relief.3
The steps to get a restraining order to prevent elder or dependent adult abuse are similar to the steps to get a domestic violence restraining order. If you have any questions, call the clerk of court. You can find the contact information for your clerk on the CA Courthouse Locations page.
You can find forms related to restraining orders to prevent elder or dependent adult abuse on the court’s website.
There is no fee to file a petition for a restraining order to prevent elder or dependent abuse or to later modify, reissue or enforce the order. You also do not need to pay a fee for law enforcement to serve any order issued in your case.1
1 Cal Wel. & Inst. Code § 15657.03(q),(r)
prohibit the abuser from harassing, intimidating, molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually assaulting, battering, abusing, and telephoning you (including, but not limited to, making annoying telephone calls);
prohibit the abuser from destroying your personal property or disturbing your peace;
prohibit the abuser from contacting you, either directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise;
order the abuser to stay a specified distance away from you; and
make the abuser move out of the home you share if certain conditions are met.1
Note: The protections in numbers 1 – 4, above, can also apply to the victim’s family or household members or to the conservator upon showing that there is “good cause” to include them.2
1 Cal Wel. & Inst. Code § 15657.03(b)(3),(d)
2 Cal Wel. & Inst. Code § 15657.03(b)(3)(A)
A gun violence restraining order temporarily restricts a respondent’s access to guns in certain situations to protect him/her and others.
You can file for a gun violence restraining order if you are the respondent’s immediate family member.1 You are considered an immediate family member if you are the respondent’s:
current household member or regularly lived in the respondent’s household within the previous 6 months before filing.2
Law enforcement officers can also request gun violence restraining orders.3Note: You can request that a law enforcement officer file a petition even if you are not the respondent’s immediate family member.
1 Cal. Penal Code § 18105(a)(1),(2)
3 Cal Penal Code § 18105(a)(1)
Temporary Emergency (ex parte) Gun Violence Restraining Order – Law enforcement (but not immediate family members) may ask a judge, orally or in writing, to issue a temporary emergency order any time of the day or night. The respondent does not need to be in the courtroom or have notice of the case for the judge to issue the order. This type of order remains in effect for up to 21 days after it is issued.1
Emergency (ex parte) Gun Violence Restraining Order - Law enforcement officers or the respondent’s immediate family member can file a petition to request that the judge issue an emergency ex parte gun violence restraining order.2 The respondent does not need to be in the courtroom or have notice of the case for the judge to issue an emergency ex parte order. Emergency ex parte orders last for up to 21 days.3
a gun violence restraining order is necessary to prevent personal injury to the respondent, you, or another person because less restrictive methods either have been tried and did not work or are inappropriate for the circumstances.4
Gun Violence Restraining Order after Notice and Hearing - Before the emergency ex parte order expires, the court sets a date for a hearing at which the respondent has the opportunity to be present and object to the order being issued. If the judge issues a gun violence restraining order after the respondent has notice and the opportunity to appear, the judge can issue the order for one year.5
turn in any guns and ammunition to the police or sell them to (or store them with) a licensed gun dealer.1
1 Cal. Penal Code §§ 18100; 18125(b); Petition for Firearms Restraining Order
In California, an employer can file for a workplace violence restraining order to protect an employee from experiencing violence or threats of violence in the workplace. If you are experiencing violence, you may be able to ask that your employer file for a workplace violence restraining order to protect you or you may consider filing for a domestic violence restraining order on your own. If you decide to ask an employer to file for a workplace violence restraining order on your behalf, you may want to speak with a lawyer for legal advice about any possible advantages or disadvantages to doing so. A workplace violence restraining order can also protect your family or household members and other employees at your workplace or any other workplaces of the employer.1
A workplace violence restraining order must be requested by the employer. If you are an employer and you have and employee experiencing violence, you may consider filing for an order to protect your employees.
have a gun.2
Note: Although an employee is not eligible to file for this type of order, you may qualify for a different type of restraining order in your state if you are experiencing violence or harassment.
1 California Courts website
2 Cal.C.C.P. § 527.8
Yes. Federal law states that all valid DVROs granted in the United States receive “full faith and credit” in all state and tribal courts within the US, including US territories.1 See How do I know if my DVRO is good under federal law? to find out if your DVRO qualifies.
Yes. An ex parte temporary order can be enforced in other states as long as it meets the requirements listed in How do I know if my DVRO is good under federal law?1
Yes. Custody, visitation, and child support provisions that are included in a DVRO can be enforced across state lines. Law enforcement and courts in another state are required by federal law to enforce these provisions.1
Your protective order from a different state can be enforced both by judges as well as police officers in California.3 A judge is required to even enforce parts of your order that could not legally be included in a California DVRO.4 A California police officer can immediately enforce a protective order from another state so long as you have a copy that the officer believes is legitimate (valid).5 So, it’s a good idea to always keep a copy of your order on you so that you can show it to a police officer if you need to.
3 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code §§ 6402; 6403
4 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6402
5 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6403
Registration of your protection order is voluntary and will be done by the court upon request. The benefit is that once you register it, it can be entered in the Domestic Violence Restraining Order System, which may make police enforcement of it easier. In most counties, the clerk will take care of registering it in the System; however, in some counties, you may have to take a copy of the registered order to the police yourself for them to put it in the System. To find out how your county handles this, ask the court clerk. 1
To register your order, you will need to:
Fill out and sign the Register Out-of-State Restraining Order form (DV-600), which is available on the California Courts Self Help Center website or at the courthouse;
Attach a certified copy of your order to the form; and
Bring it to the court clerk. There is no fee for registering your out-of-state protection order in California.2
If you need help registering your protection order, you can contact a local domestic violence organization in California for assistance. You can find contact information for organizations in your area here on our CA Advocates and Shelters page.
1 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6404(a)
2 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6404(b)
Maybe. While neither federal law nor state law requires that you register your protection order to get it enforced, if your order is not entered into the state registry, it may be more difficult for a CA law enforcement official to determine whether your order is real, so it could take longer to get your order enforced. However, the officer is required to enforce the order if you can show him a copy that appears to be a valid order.1
If you are unsure about whether registering your order is the right decision for you, you may want to contact a local domestic violence organization in your area. An advocate there can help you decide what the safest plan of action is for you in California. To see a list of local domestic violence organizations in CA, go to our CA Advocates and Shelters page.
1 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6403(a)
There is no fee for registering your protection order in California.1
1 Ann.Cal.Fam.Code § 6404(b)