Get a Domestic Violence Restraining Order

in Novato, Marin County

An individual can seek a domestic violence restraining order against his or her (1) spouse or former spouse, (2) cohabitant or former cohabitant, (3) a person with whom he or she is having, or has had, a dating or engagement relationship, (4) a person with whom he or she has had a child, or (5) close relative such as a child, sibling, parent, in-law or grandparent.

For the purposes of a domestic violence restraining order, “abuse” means (1) intentionally or recklessly causing or attempting to cause bodily injury, (2) sexual assault, (3) placing another in a reasonable fear of immediate bodily injury, or (4) molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually assaulting, battering, credibly impersonating another, falsely impersonating another, harassing, using a telephone to make annoying phone calls, destroying personal property, contacting, either directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise, coming within a specified distance of, or disturbing the peace of another.

In addition to requesting a domestic violence restraining order, an individual can make a request for child custody and visitation order, child support, spousal support, attorney’s fees and debt payments. If you are in this situation, call Castro family law today and schedule a confidential case with an experienced family law attorney.

Request a Consultation

Forms

To ask for a domestic violence restraining order, you will need to complete the following forms:

  • Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DV-100)
  • Description of Abuse (DV-101)
  • Notice of Court Hearing (DV-109)
  • Temporary Restraining Order (DV-110)
  • Confidential CLETS Information (CLETS-001)

If there are children involved then you may need to complete the following additional forms:

  • Request for Child Custody and Visitation Orders (DV-105)
  • Child Custody and Visitation Order (DV-140)
  • Request for Order: No Travel With Children (DV-108)

Other Requirements

If you are requesting child or spousal support, then you may need to complete an Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150).

If you went through the process of obtaining a permanent restraining order, then you may be entitled to recover attorney fees as the prevailing party. Under California Family Code section 6344, the court may issue an order for the payment of attorney’s fees and costs to the prevailing party. However, any court order requiring the restrained party to pay for the prevailing party’s attorney’s fees will be based on her or her ability to pay.

If you have been served with a request for a domestic violence restraining order, and are required to appear for a hearing, you are entitled to one continuance as a matter of right so that you may either have additional time to respond to the request or find an attorney to represent you.

Types of Restraining Orders

If you are getting ready to speak to an attorney about a restraining order, then it is helpful to know some common terms so that the attorney can better understand where you are in your case.

Emergency Protective Order (EPO)

An emergency protective order is usually issued after a law enforcement officer has arrived on scene, spoken to the individuals involved, and presents a judge, who makes the order, with facts showing reasonable grounds for any of the following:

  • That a person is in immediate and present danger of domestic violence, based on the person’s allegation of a recent incident of abuse or threat of abuse by the person against whom the order is sought.
  • That a child is in immediate and present danger of abuse by a family or household member, based on an allegation of a recent incident of abuse or threat of abuse by the family or household member.
  • That a child is in immediate and present danger of being abducted by a parent or relative, based on a reasonable believe that a person has an intent to abduct the child or flee with the child from the jurisdiction or based on an allegation of a recent threat to abduct the child or flee with the child from the jurisdiction.
  • That an elder or dependent adult is in immediate and present danger of abuse as defined in Section 15610.07 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, based on an allegation of a recent incident of abuse or threat of abuse by the person against whom the order is sought, except that no emergency protective order shall be issued based solely on an allegation of financial abuse.

The purpose of an Emergency Protective Order, or EPO, is to give the protected party enough time, typically between five (5) to seven (7) days to file a Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DV-100) in the Superior Court.

Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)

After the court reviews your Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DV-100), then the court may, if it determines that reasonable grounds exist, issue a Temporary Restraining Order (DV-110). If the court does issue a Temporary Restraining Order, then it will also set a hearing for the date and time listed on Item 3 of the Notice of Hearing (DV-109) and Item 4 of the Temporary Restraining Order (DV-110). If you have been given an Emergency Protective Order, then it is advisable to attach it to your Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order. To obtain a Temporary Restraining Order the same day you file your Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order, then you must file your Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order before 10:00 a.m. Once obtained, a Temporary Restraining Order is in effect for 21 to 25 days until the court can hold a hearing to determine whether a permanent restraining order, or Restraining Order After Hearing (DV-130), should be issued.

Restraining Order After Hearing, a.k.a. “Permanent” Restraining Order

After the court reviews your Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DV-100), has issued a Temporary Restraining Order (DV-110), and holds a hearing, then it may issue a Restraining Order After Hearing (DV-130). Permanent restraining orders can last up five (5) years, but in most cases last for three (3) years.

The consequences for not obeying a restraining order are severe. If you do not obey the restraining order issued against you, then you can be arrested and charged with a crime. Additionally, you can go to jail or prison and/or be ordered to pay a fine.

If you have a restraining order issued against you, then a law enforcement officer is required to arrest you if he or she has probable cause to believe you had notice of the order and disobeyed it. A person who is arrested for not obeying a restraining order may be arrested and charged with violating California Penal Code section 166 or 273.6.

If you have a restraining order issued against you, then you are cannot speak to the protected person even if that person invites or consents to contact with you. Restraining orders can only be modified by another court order.

Resources

The Center For Domestic Peace (Marin County): https://centerfordomesticpeace.org/

YWCA (Sonoma County): https://www.ywcasc.org/

STAND! For Families Free Of Violence (Contra Costa County): https://www.standffov.org/

San Francisco County Domestic Violence Resources: https://sf.gov/information/domestic-and-family-violence-resources

Alameda County Domestic Violence Resources: http://www.acfjc.org/GET_help

Napa Emergency Women’s Services (Napa County): https://www.napanews.org/

Marin County Sheriff’s Office: https://www.marinsheriff.org/

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office: https://www.sonomasheriff.org/

Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office: https://www.cocosheriff.org/

Alameda County Sheriff’s Office: https://www.alamedacountysheriff.org/

Napa County Sheriff’s Office: https://www.countyofnapa.org/1292/Sheriff

Testimonials

Jeremy Castro helped me with an adoption after my daughter’s dad passed away. My husband has been a step dad to her for 8 years and wanted to adopt her. Even though there is no way he can completely fill the role of her deceased father, he wanted to fully be there for her and offer comfort and emotional support for her. Jeremy and his wife Danielle were there every step of the way for us! I’m so grateful they were there to help with all of our questions and guide us though this process. Jermey’s passion for helping bring families together was so delightful.
Erin C
This review is about my experience with Jeremy and team at Castro Law. After calling around numerous times to different firms, going to the law library, and reaching out to dads rights advocates. I still didn’t get much help. I made the best choice of my life by calling Castro Law. If you’re reading this I recommend at least giving them a call because they mean business. I finally feel at peace , they went above and beyond for me. The team is great at communicating, very knowledgeable, helpful, and are professional. In my experience mothers are the one favored in the courts, and get the better outcome. Jeremy and team were in my corner the whole time and proved that dads have rights too! Im with this team until my kids are 18 , thanks again Castro Law
Jessica G
I highly recommend Jeremy Castro and his associates to any future clients. They are legal professionals who: 1. Know and apply the law to your individual case to achieve the best possible outcome 2. Communicate in a fair and straightforward manner to all parties 3. Reduce the tension in an otherwise emotional setting and assist making objective decisions. They personally saw my case through to an amicable conclusion and their billing hours were appropriate. First class performance!
John C
I wanted to take this time to write a review about my experience with Castro Law Offices. First off, they were not only FAST to my reply, but also very kind to my emotional situation. I was even handed some tissues for when I was crying. I was treated with the upmost respect (even though I'm sure I looked a little manic while in there explaining my case.) and kindness. They got my case close within a week, and also got me EVERYTHING I was asked for. I recommend Castro Law for ANYONE in need of lawyer assistance. Jeremy and his team work hard, day and night to make sure they meet all of their client's needs. If you're looking for immediate help and guidance with ANY attorney, Castro Law.
Lacey M
When things came to a point of contention with my children's father I knew I needed the help of an attorney. After weeks long search and hundreds of dollars in consultation fees with numerous other attorneys I finally found Jeremy! He is very knowledgeable regarding family law issues, authentic in his character and legal advice, as well as very reliable. As anyone in our shoes has been knows, the unknown can be very stressful. Jeremy made it a point to get back to me promptly when I contacted him...sometimes late into the night. He also was very transparent regarding communication with the other party. Would absolutely recommend Jeremy to anyone with with family law needs!
Krystal W
I was so happy I had decided to hire the Castro Law Office for my child custody and visitation case in Napa County. As a single father of three boys in the state of California, I felt as if I was already doomed thinking that the state would favor the mother regardless of my capability to care for our children. Jeremy was very empathetic and worked diligently to get myself in a good position for the hearing, as I hired him approximately a month prior to the court date. During the hearing, he was very stern and aggressive at the right moments. The situation I was in was extremely stressful and hiring the Castro Law Office helped put my mind at ease. He was very upfront and honest with me from the beginning and which is a trait I greatly appreciated. In the end, we were able to obtain an agreement that is best suited for the children and ourselves. I would hire them again for any other issues I might have in the future.
Abraham B

Have Questions About Domestic Violence Laws in California?

Schedule a Confidential Case Review with an Experienced Attorney in Novato Today