Serve your response to a request to change or end your restraining order
After you file your Response to Request to Change or End Restraining Order (form DV-320), you must have someone mail a copy of the papers to the other side. This is called serving papers by mail.
How to serve your response by mail
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Choose a server
Serving means another adult, not you, mails a copy of your court papers to the other side.
When choosing your server, find someone who is:
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18 years old or over, and
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Not part of your case (for example: someone that is not protected on your restraining order)
Your server can be someone you know or a professional process server you hire.
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Have your response served before the hearing
Generally, your server should mail the papers so that the other side gets them before the hearing.
If that is not possible, make sure to take an extra copy of your Response to your hearing.
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Server mails your papers to the other side
Have you server mail:
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A copy of your completed form DV-320 and any attached papers.
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Any other forms you filed
If the other side has a lawyer, your server must mail the papers to their lawyer instead.
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Server fills out proof of service
Have your server fill out Proof of Service by Mail (form FL-335).
It helps if you fill in the top part of the form with the case and court information.
Your server can then fill in the information about how, when, and where they mailed or delivered the papers. Your server must sign and date the form.
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File proof of service
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Make a copy of the completed Proof of Service form.
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If you have time before the court date, file the original and copy with the court where you filed the papers. The court will stamp and give you the copy for your records.
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If you don't have time to file it ahead of time, take the Proof of Service to your hearing.
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