Restraining Orders

There are different types of civil restraining orders, each with their own eligibility requirements and steps that need to be taken to get a restraining order. The types of restraining orders are:

• Emergency Protective Order:

  Protects victims of abuse, serious harassment, or stalking. An emergency protective order is available 24 hours a day from the police.

• Domestic Violence Restraining Order:

  Protects individuals from a spouse or former spouse; person you are dating, or person you have dated; lover; mother or father of your child; anyone closely related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption (example: mother, father, child, brother, sister, grandparent); or person who regularly lives in your home.

• Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order:

  Protects elders and dependent adults from physical and financial abuse, neglect, isolation, abduction, harm, or deprivation by a caregiver.

• Civil Harassment Restraining Order:

  Protects individuals from someone you have not dated and do not have a close relationship with like a neighbor, a roommate, friend, or family member not listed under Domestic Violence Restraining Orders.

• Workplace Violence Restraining Order:

  Protects employees from workplace violence. A Workplace Violence Restraining Order can only be requested by an employer on behalf of their employee.

• Private Postsecondary School Violence Restraining Order:

  Protects students from violence in a private postsecondary school. A Private Postsecondary School Violence Restraining Order can only be requested by the chief administrative officer, or an officer or employee designated by the chief administrative officer on behalf of a student.

• Gun Violence Restraining Order

  Prohibits an individual who poses a significant danger of personal injury to himself, herself, or another from owning, possessing, purchasing, receiving or attempting to purchase or receive a firearm or ammunition. A Gun Violence Restraining Order can only be requested by an immediate family member or law enforcement agency.

Where Do Restraining Orders Get Filed?

• Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Orders may be filed in person at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse or may be filed electronically using the eDelivery system.
• Domestic Violence Restraining Orders may be filed in person at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse or may be filed electronically using the eDelivery system.
• Gun Violence Restraining Orders may be filed in person at the Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse or may be filed electronically using the eDelivery system.
• Civil Harassment Restraining Orders, Workplace Violence Restraining Orders, and Private Postsecondary School Violence Restraining Orders are filed at the Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse.