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DV-500-INFO
Can a Domestic Violence Restraining Order Help Me?
What is a “domestic violence restraining
order”?
It is a court order that can help protect people who have
been abused by someone they've had an intimate
relationship with, are closely related to, or have lived with
as more than just roommates.
How soon can I get the order?
If you decide to ask for a restraining order, you will
need to complete court papers. Once you turn in your
court papers, a judge will decide the same day or next
business day on whether to grant you a temporary
restraining order.
How can a restraining order help me?
How old must I be to ask for one?
A judge can order the restrained person to:
• Not contact you, your children or relatives, or people
you live with;
• Stay away from you, your children or relatives, or
people you live with, your home, your job, etc.;
• Not have any firearms (guns, including "ghost guns"),
firearm parts, or ammunition;
• Move out of a home that you live in;
• Obey child custody and visitation orders;
• Pay child support;
• Pay spousal support;
• Pay debt for property; and
• Give you control of property (examples: cell phone,
car, home).
Does this request cost money to file?
No, filing this request with the court is free.
How long can a restraining order last?
If the judge makes a temporary order, it will last until
your hearing date (court date). Your hearing is usually
three weeks after you turn in your court papers. At your
hearing, the judge will decide whether to grant you a
long-term restraining order that can last up to five years.
To ask for a restraining order on your own, you must
be 12 years old or older. In some cases, the judge may
ask that an adult (someone 18 years old or older), like
a trusted relative, help you in your case.
What if I don’t have a green card?
You can get a restraining order even if you are not a
U.S. citizen. If you are worried about deportation, you
may want to talk with an immigration lawyer.
Can a restraining order protect my
children?
Yes, you can ask the judge to protect your children. If
you are asking for a restraining order against someone
you have children with, you can also ask the judge to
make child custody and visitation orders. And if you
think that the other parent might abduct (kidnap) your
children, you can ask for orders to prevent kidnapping.
Can I use a restraining order to get
divorced or terminate a registered
domestic partnership?
No. These forms will not end your marriage or
registered domestic partnership. You must file other
forms to end your marriage or registered domestic
partnership.
Judicial Council of California,
Rev. January 1, 2023, Optional Form
DV-500-INFO, Page 1 of 3
Can a Domestic Violence
Restraining Order Help Me?
(Domestic Violence Prevention)
DV-500-INFO
Can a Domestic Violence Restraining Order Help Me?
Am I eligible?
To qualify for a domestic violence restraining order, you
must have a (1) required relationship and (2) show that
the person you want a restraining order against has been
abusive.
Required relationship
• Your spouse, ex-spouse, registered domestic
partner, or ex-registered domestic partner;
• Someone you have a child with;
• Your parent, child, sibling, or grandparent
(includes in-laws and step relationships);
• Someone you live with or used to live with (more
than just roommates);
Abuse
Abuse can be spoken, written, or physical. It can be
physical, sexual, or emotional. It includes threats to
harm you or your family, stalking, harassment,
destroying personal property, repeated contact, and
disturbing the peace.
What does disturbing the peace mean?
It means to destroy someone's mental or emotional
calm. Disturbing the peace includes coercive
control. Coercive control means a number of acts
that unreasonably limit the free will and individual
rights of any person. Examples include:
• Isolating someone from their friends,
relatives, or other support;
• Keeping them from food or basic needs;
• Controlling or keeping track of them,
including their movements, contacts, actions,
money, or access to services;
• Threats to immigration status;
• Making them do something that they don't
want to do; and
• Controlling or interfering with someone's
contraception (birth control, condoms);
pregnancy or ability to become a parent; or
access to health information.
What if I don’t qualify for a domestic
violence restraining order?
There are other kinds of restraining orders you can ask
for. Here are some examples:
• Civil harassment order (can be used for neighbors,
roommates, cousins, uncles, and aunts).
• Dependent adult or elder abuse restraining order (if
you are at least 65 or a dependent adult).
• Gun violence restraining order (to prevent someone
from hurting themselves or others with a firearm).
Note that all restraining orders include a firearms and
ammunition restriction. A gun violence restraining
order gives limited protection because it only restrains
the person from having firearms and ammunition. To
learn more about other kinds of restraining orders, go
to: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/restraining-orders.
How do I ask for a domestic violence
restraining order?
See form DV-505-INFO, How to Ask for a Domestic
Violence Restraining Order. The forms are available
online at www.courts.ca.gov/forms. If you want a paper
copy, go to any California courthouse. You can also
check with your county's law library.
Will I have a court hearing (court date)?
Yes. The court will give you a day and time to attend
court. If you want to attend court remotely (by phone or
videoconference), go to the court's website to find out
how to attend remotely. To learn more about what to
expect at your hearing, read form DV-520-INFO, Get
Ready for Your Restraining Order Court Hearing, or go
to: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/prepare-your-
restraining-order-court-date.
Rev. January 1, 2023
DV-500-INFO, Page 2 of 3
Can a Domestic Violence
Restraining Order Help Me?
(Domestic Violence Prevention)
DV-500-INFO
Can a Domestic Violence Restraining Order Help Me?
Do I need a lawyer to make this request?
No, but this type of request can be hard to get through
on your own. Free help may be available at your local
court's self-help center. (See below.)
Where can I find a self-help center?
Find your local court's self-help center at
www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp. Self-help center staff
will not act as your lawyer but may be able to give
you information to help you decide what to do in
your case, and help you with the forms.
Confidential Address Program
If you are a victim of domestic violence or live with a
victim of domestic violence, there is a special program
called Safe At Home that you can apply for. It is a free
program that would help you keep your address private.
To learn more about the program, go to:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/registries/safe-home/.
Note that it may take several weeks to be approved.
For more information on other steps of
the process
• Form DV-505-INFO, How to Ask for a Domestic
Violence Restraining Order
• Form DV-200-INFO, What Is "Proof of Personal
What if I need an interpreter?
Service"?
If you decide to ask for a restraining order, you
will need to talk to a judge. If you need an
interpreter, use form INT-300 to request an
interpreter or ask the court clerk how you can
request one.
• Form DV-520-INFO, Get Ready For Your
Restraining Order Court Hearing
• Form DV-530-INFO, How to Enforce Your
Restraining Order
I have a disability. How can I get help?
You may use form MC-410 to request assistance.
Contact the disability or ADA coordinator at your local
court for more information.
Information about the court process is also
available online
https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/DV-restraining-order/
process.
Request for Accommodations
Assistive listening systems, computer-assisted
real-time captioning, or sign language
interpreter services are available if you ask at
least five days before the hearing. Contact the
clerk’s office or go to www.courts.ca.gov/
forms.htm for Disability Accommodation
Request (form MC-410). (Civil Code section
54.8.)
Where can I find other help?
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides free
and private safety tips. Help is available every day, 24
hours a day, and in over 100 languages. Visit online at
www.thehotline.org or
call 1-800-799-7233; 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
Rev. January 1, 2023
DV-500-INFO, Page 3 of 3
Can a Domestic Violence
Restraining Order Help Me?
(Domestic Violence Prevention)
