Domestic Violence Restraining Orders in California
This guide can help you follow the process to:
- Ask for a restraining order
- Ask to change, end, or renew a restraining order
- Know what you must do if you received restraining order papers
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Domestic Violence Restraining Order Index
Find a specific page or step-by-step instructions within our Domestic Violence Restraining Order content.
Case Intro
DVRO
Enforce a gun violence restraining order
Now that a gun violence restraining order is in effect, you may need to enforce it if the restrained person has, buys, or uses firearms (guns), firearm parts, ammunition, or magazines. Enforce usually means calling the police to report a violation. The restrained person may go to jail or pay a fine.
Gun violence restraining order
Enforce your restraining order
Now that you have a restraining order, you may need to enforce it if the restrained person violates the order. Enforce usually means to call the police to report a violation. The restrained person can go to jail or pay a fine if convicted of violating your restraining order.
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Types of restraining orders
There are different types of restraining orders. You have to make sure you ask for the right one. For example, you would file one type if you need protection from your spouse or ex. You would file another type if you need one against your neighbor (whom you've never dated). If you file the wrong type, the judge won't be able to make a decision in
Domestic violence and child custody
If there's a history of domestic violence in a family, judges use special laws to help protect children when making decisions about child custody.
Child custody/visitation
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Change or end a domestic violence restraining order
If you want to change or end any of the orders made by the judge in a Restraining Order After Hearing (form DV-130), you have to file court papers to make the request.
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Ask for an emergency (ex parte) order
If you need a judge to make an order as soon as possible due to an emergency, you can file a request for a temporary emergency order.
Request for Order
Ask for a restraining order in a domestic violence case
The first step in getting a domestic violence restraining order is to tell the court about the abuse you've experienced and the protection you want. You do this by filling out a set of court forms, and this usually takes one to several hours for most people.
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Ask to renew a domestic violence restraining order
If a judge granted you a long-term restraining order (on form DV-130), you can ask for it to be renewed (extended) before it runs out (expires).
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How to get an order in a family law case
Once you have a family law case (like a divorce or a parentage case), you can ask for a court date so a judge can make a decision about your financial or family situation. You can ask for order while the case is going, or after the case has finished but you need to change something or ask for something related to the case.
This is called re
Child custody/visitation
Child Support
Request for Order
Pick up court papers from the clerk
After you file your forms, a judge will review your court papers to decide whether to grant temporary protection, if you asked for it. After the judge decides, you'll need to go back to the courthouse to pick up the court papers. If you did not ask for a temporary restraining order, you will get your papers back once the clerk stamps your copies.
Workplace violence restraining order