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Abuse & Harassment

Abuse & Harassment Protection

If you are in danger now, call 911

If you are being abused or harassed or are afraid of someone, you may be able to ask the Court for protection.

Restraining Order

A restraining order can be used to protect you from a person. You cannot file a restraining order against a business or an organization. If you want to file a restraining order against more than one person, you will need to complete a separate request for each person.

Types of Restraining Orders

There are different types of restraining orders. The type of restraining order you will file will depend on how you know the person you want to restrain, the age of the person being abused, and the type of abuse or harassment. The information below explains the differences between the most common types of restraining orders.

Restraining Orders

Elder or Dependent Abuse Restraining Order:  

You may qualify for an Elder or Dependent Abuse Restraining Order if:  

  • You are age 65 or older, or
  • You are between the ages of 18 and 64 and have certain disabilities.

You must also be a victim of one or more of the following:

  • Physical or financial abuse
  • Neglect, abandonment, or isolation, or
  • Treatment that has physically or mentally hurt you.

What an Elder or Dependent Abuse Restraining Order Can Do:

  • Order the person not to contact you in any way
  • Require the person to stay away from you and your home
  • Order the person to move out of your home

Domestic Violence Restraining Order:

You may ask for this type of restraining order to protect yourself and your family from someone who is:

  • A person you are dating or used to date
  • A person you are married to or were married to
  • A person you have a child with
  • A close relative, such as a parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent, or grandchild
  • A step-parent, step-child, or step-sibling
  • A current in-law

What a Domestic Violence Restraining Order Can Do:

  • Order the person not to contact you in any way
  • Require the person to stay away from you, your home, and your workplace
  • Order the person to move out of your home.

The Court can also make orders about child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, payments of certain bills, transferring rights to a cellphone number, and more.

Civil Harassment Restraining Order

You may ask for this type of restraining order if you are concerned about your safety because someone is:

  • Stalking you
  • Harassing You
  • Sexually assaulting you
  • Threatening you

This type of restraining order is for situations involving someone you do not have a close relationship with, such as a neighbor, roommate, coworker, or a person you do not know.

What a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Can Do:

  • Order the person not to contact you
  • Require the person to stay away from you, your home (unless you are roommates), and your workplace

Information on how to fill out your forms

Step 1: Click on the following link: Self-Help Center Remote Resources.
This is an instructional video on this page to help you with filling out your forms.

Step 2: To complete the California Elder Abuse Restraining Order Petition, click on the following link:  Elder Abuse Restraining Order Petition.  Complete the form.  At the end of the form, your form will be prepared for you.   

You have two options for submitting the form.

  1.  Print out the form, sign it, and file it with the Court 
  2. Submit the form via E-filing.  For e-filing instructions, click on the following link:  E-Filing Instructions.

There is no fee to file your request

Step 1: Click on the following link: Self-Help Center Remote Resources.
There is an instructional video on this page to help you with filling out your forms.

Step 2: To complete the California Domestic Violence Restraining Order Petition with Notice, click on the following link:  Domestic Violence Restraining Order Petition.  Complete the form.  At the end of the form, your form will be prepared for you.   

You have two options for submitting the form.

  1.  Print out the form, sign it, and file it with the Court 
  2. Submit the form via E-filing.  For e-filing instructions, click on the following link:  E-Filing Instructions.

  There is no fee to file your request

Step 1: Click on the following link: Self-Help Center Remote Resources.
There is an instructional video on this page to help you with filling out your forms.

Step 2: To complete the California Civil Harassment Restraining Order Petition, click on the following link:  Civil Harassment Restraining Order Petition.  Complete the form.  At the end of the form, your form will be prepared for you.   

You have two options for submitting the form.

  1.  Print out the form, sign it, and file it with the Court 
  2. Submit the form via E-filing.  For e-filing instructions, click on the following link:  E-Filing Instructions.

There is a $435 filing fee to file your request. You can ask the Judge to waive the fees to file your request if the restrained party used or threatened to use violence against you, has stalked you, or has acted or spoken in some way for you to reasonably fear violence. You can also ask the Court to waive the fees if you qualify for a Fee Waiver. If you need to request a Fee Waiver, please find information and forms on our Fee Waiver page.

If you have been served with a civil restraining order, you MUST comply with the temporary orders that have been made. The temporary orders cannot be changed and will be in place until the hearing date listed on your forms. Read the temporary order carefully. If you disobey the order, you can go to jail or be fined.

This section provides you with information on how to respond to an Elder or Dependent Abuse Restraining Order, Domestic Violence Restraining Order, or Civil Harassment Restraining Order.

IMPORTANT!

If you have a criminal case related to the abuse or violence, it is very important that you speak to a lawyer before you take any action in the restraining order case. Anything you say or write in your response can be used against you in your criminal case.

Step 1: Click on the following link: Self-Help Center Remote Resources.
There is an instructional video on this page to help you with filling out your forms.

Step 2: To complete the California Elder Abuse Restraining Order Response, click on the following link:  Elder Abuse Restraining Order Response.  Complete the form.  At the end of the form, your form will be prepared for you.   

You have two options for submitting the form.

  1.  Print out the form, sign it, and file it with the Court 
  2. Submit the form via E-filing.  For e-filing instructions, click on the following link:  E-Filing Instructions.

There is no fee to file your request.

Step 1: Click on the following link: Self-Help Center Remote Resources.
There is an instructional video on this page to help you with filling out your forms.

Step 2: To complete the California Domestic Violence Restraining Order Response, click on the following link:  Domestic Abuse Restraining Order Response.  Complete the form.  At the end of the form, your form will be prepared for you.   

You have two options for submitting the form.

  1.  Print out the form, sign it, and file it with the Court 
  2. Submit the form via E-filing.  For e-filing instructions, click on the following link:  E-Filing Instructions.

Step 1: Click on the following link: Self-Help Center Remote Resources.
There is an instructional video on this page to help you with filling out your forms.

Step 2: To complete the California Civil Harassment Restraining Order Response, click on the following link:  Civil Harassment Restraining Order Response.  Complete the form.  At the end of the form, your form will be prepared for you.   

You have two options for submitting the form.

  1.  Print out the form, sign it, and file it with the Court 
  2. Submit the form via E-filing.  For e-filing instructions, click on the following link:  E-Filing Instructions.

Self-Help Center

The Self-Help Center can help you fill out your forms and answer your questions regarding Restraining Orders. For information on how to get help, visit the Self-Help Center page.

Internal Resources

Internal resources can only be accessed from inside the Self-Help Center.