Respond to a school violence restraining order
- "Respond" means to let the judge and the other side know whether you agree or disagree with the request for restraining order, and why.
- If you want to respond in writing, you can complete a form and turn it in to the court. Responding in writing is optional and there is no penalty if you don't.
Before you start
⚠️ Anything you put in your papers could be used against you in a criminal case. Talk to a lawyer if you have any concerns.
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If you don't have a lawyer, you may be able to get free help from your local court's self-help center.
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Hire a lawyer to help you with all or a part of your case. It’s possible to go through this process without a lawyer. But, having a restraining order against you may have a lot of consequences, and you may want to hire a lawyer.
How to respond to a request for a restraining order
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Fill out the Response form (SV-120) and make copies
- Fill out the form, called the Response to Petition for Postsecondary School Violence Restraining Orders (form SV-120)
- Attach a copy of any evidence you have (pictures, text messages).
- If you need more time to put together evidence, you can let the judge know at the hearing on your court date (found on form SV-109).
- Make 2 copies of your response and any attachments.
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File (turn in) your forms
File your forms:
- In person at the courthouse:
- Take your original and 2 copies to the courthouse listed on the papers you were served.
- At the courthouse, you’ll give all copies to the court clerk.
- The clerk will keep the original, stamp your copies, and return the copies to you. One copy is for your records. The other copy is for the other side.
- Online: You may be able to file your papers online (called e-filing). Go to your court website to find out how to e-file.
💵 You will not have to pay a fee to file your response (form SV-120) if:
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The school administrator checked item 15 on their form SV-100.
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You can’t afford the fees. You can ask the clerk for a fee waiver. You qualify for a fee waiver if you receive public benefits, your income is less than a set amount, or you can't afford the fee and meet your basic needs.
If you do not qualify for a fee waiver for either of these reasons, you will need to pay a fee of $435-$450 to the clerk when you file your forms if you decide to file a response.
- In person at the courthouse:
What's next?
Once you’ve completed and filed your forms, you'll need to have a copy mailed to the other side. This is called service and you will need to find another adult to do this for you.