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How to obey orders prohibiting guns and firearms

If you have or own any firearms (including guns), firearm parts, ammunition, or magazines, you must complete the steps below.  

If you don't own any prohibited items, do not try to get or buy any until the orders against you end. 

 

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If you do not follow these orders, you could be arrested for violating the restraining order or charged with a state or federal crime. You can also be fined.

Before you start

You will need a copy of the restraining order. It should be on one of these forms:

  • Obey the judge’s order to turn in, sell, or store your firearms (guns), firearm parts, ammunition, and magazines

    If you have or own firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, or magazines you must do one of the following within 24 hours of being served with the restraining order:

    • Turn them in to local law enforcement (police or sheriff)

    • Sell them to a licensed gun dealer

    • Store them with local law enforcement or a licensed gun dealer (you’ll likely have to pay a storage fee)

    ⚠️ Body armor

    • You aren’t allowed to have body armor while a restraining order is in place.

    • If you have body armor, you must give it up.

    • Only your local sheriff or police department can approve an exception if you want to keep it.

  • Have local law enforcement or a licensed gun dealer complete the required form

    You must prove to the judge that you turned in, sold, or stored all firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, and magazines that you own or have. 

    To do this, use Receipt for Firearms, Firearm Parts, Ammunition, and Magazines (form GV-800).

    • You fill out items 1, 2, 7, and the case number.
    • Have the law enforcement officer or licensed gun dealer complete item 4 or 5, and item 6.
    • Sign and date the form on page 3.

    Before you file a form other than GV-800, check with your court about how to file it. The court may ask you to:

    • Attach the document to form MC-030, or

    • Attach it to another form that includes the case number, case name, and other required case information.

  • File the form with the court clerk

    Once the form is complete:

    • Make a copy

    • File it with the court clerk right away

    ⚠️ You must file it within 48 hours of being served with the restraining order.

    💵 There’s no fee to file this form.

    How to file

    • Go to the courthouse listed on the court papers that you got from the other side (for example, the court is listed on page 1 on form EPO-002 or form GV-109).
    • Give the original and your copy to the court clerk.
    • The clerk will keep the original, stamp your copy, and return the copy to you.

    📌 Keep the copy for your records.

Gun Violence Restraining Orders

Explore other steps

Get information about different steps in the restraining order process for the restrained person.

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