Fill out civil harassment restraining order forms
The first step in getting a civil harassment restraining order is to tell the court about the harassment, stalking, threats, or harm you've experienced, as well as the protection you want.
You do this by filling out a set of court forms. This usually takes one to several hours for most people.
Before you start
In your forms, give details about why you need a restraining order. Writing about abuse can be upsetting or bring up a lot of emotions.
💬 You can get help from:
- your court's self-help center
- a domestic violence agency in your area (opens in a new tab)
- or ask someone you trust to help you fill out the forms
You don't need a lawyer, but if you want one, you can hire your own lawyer or see if your county has lawyers who may be able to help you for free or a low cost.
Request a civil harassment restraining order
You will need to fill out at least 5 forms to ask for a restraining order.
🔗 All links to court forms open in a new tab so you don’t lose your place.
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Fill out all required forms
- Request for Civil Harassment Restraining Orders (form CH-100)
Use this form to tell the judge:- Why you need a restraining order (what the person did to you
- What orders you want the judge to make
- If you want protection right away (if so, check form CH-100, item 11)
💵 Note: If the other person has been violent towards you, stalked you, or threatened violence, you will not have to pay the court filing fee. To make this request, check item 13a on form CH-100 (see step 2 below).
This section is very important. The judge will decide whether to grant (give) you a restraining order based on what you write in this section.
📌First, keep in mind that harassment:
- can be violence, like hitting, kicking, pulling hair, throwing things, or sexually assaulting someone, or
- threatening to do any of those things or other violent acts
- it includes other repeated actions that make you feel scared, annoyed, or harassed and cause you emotional harm
- it includes stalking someone, keeping someone under surveillance, or repeatedley making threatening or harassing phone calls, emails, or internet posts
On CH-100, item 7,
- Start with the most recent incident first, even if it is not the worst one.
- Write down the facts of what happened. The judge needs facts to make a decision.
- For example, if the person has been harassing you, tell the judge what the person did to harass you, how many times they harassed you and what they said each time they harassedyou.
- If you have proof (like an email or a text message), you can include it with your request. If you need more space to write, you can use form MC-025.
- Once you are finished writing about the most recent event, you can write about any other incident that you want the judge to know about in item 7(b).
- For each incident give as much detail as you can.
- Say how long the harassment has been going on, how often it has happened, and any physical or emotional harm you have suffered.
- If there have been more incidents, or you need more space, use form MC-025 or a blank piece of paper.
What if you don't have exact dates?
If you don't remember the exact day something happened, give an estimate and write down that it is an estimate (example: Around my birthday in August 2020). To help you remember, think about whether the incident happened around a holiday or special occasion.
- Confidential CLETS Information (form CLETS-001)
The information on this form will help police enforce your restraining order. The court will not use the information on this form and the person you want a restraining order against will not get a copy.- Some information is mandatory and is marked with an asterisk (*).
- If you do not have all the other information about the restrained person, fill in as much as you can.
- Notice of Court Hearing (form CH-109)
The court will fill out most of this form. You only need to fill out items 1 and 2. - Temporary Restraining Order (form CH-110)
You need this form if you are asking for protection right away (if you checked form CH-100, item 7). Fill out items 1, 2, and 3. The court will fill out the rest, although in some courts, you may need to check the boxes for the orders you're asking for. Ask your self-help center for help if you're not sure.
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Civil Case Cover Sheet (form CM-010)
This form tells the court basic information about the type of case you are filing.
- In the top section, write your name and address, court name and address, and case name
- In the Civil Case Cover Sheet box, check "Unlimited" as the case type
- In item 1 under "Miscellaneous," check "Other"
- In item 2, check the box in front of "is not" a complex case
- In item 5, check the box in front of "is not" a class action suit
Decide if you want to keep a child's information private
Anything you file in this case will be available to the public. If there is sensitive information about a child in this case, you can ask the judge to make the information confidential, which means that the public would not have access to it. This can include the child's name, address, or allegations involving the child. To make this request, contact your local self-help center for help.
You can download the forms or you can use an online program to fill them out.
To use the online program, click the button below and choose the "Restraining Orders" interview.
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💵 See if you have to pay a fee or how to get a fee waiver
To ask for this kind of restraining order, you may have to pay the court fling fee of $435-$450.
⚠️ There are no filing fees if the other person has been violent towards you, stalked you, or threatened violence.
- Write down the details on your CH-100 form and be sure to check the boxes next to items 13, 13a, and 13b.
- You will not have to pay a fee to file your papers or have the sheriff serve them if the judge agrees that your case may involve violence, stalking, or threats of violence.
📌 If you are not alleging violence or threats of violence or stalking, but you cannot afford the fees, you can ask for a fee waiver.
- You may qualify for a fee waiver if you have a low-income, receive public benefits, or you can't afford the fee and meet your basic needs. You will need to check the boxes next to items 13 and 13c on the CH-100 form and fill out two extra forms:
- Request to Waive Fees (form FW-001). Learn more about how to fill out this form.
- Order on Request to Waive Fees (form FW-003). Fill out items 1 and 2. The court will fill out the rest.
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Check to see if you have any local forms to complete
- Some courts have additional local forms they require you to use.
- The most common local form will have questions about whether you told the other side that you are asking for a restraining order.
- 💬 Ask your court's self-help center, or the court clerk’s office (opens in a new tab), to see if they have any local forms you need to use.
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Make 2 copies of all your forms
After you fill out and sign all your forms, make 2 copies.
You'll need the 2 copies, plus the original, when you file with the court.
File Your Request
What's Next
Once you’ve completed the forms and made copies, you’ll file them with the court.