COURT ORDERS

Depending on your situation, you may be able to obtain a court order prohibiting a person from contacting or harassing you in any way.

There are different type of court orders, which you can learn about on this page. In the event you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 immediately.

DON’T BE INTIMIDATED OR OVERWHELMED

There is a great deal of information about restraining orders, also known as protective orders, on this page. Please follow these simple steps to make the process easier for yourself.

  1. Locate on this page the type of order you need
  2. Click on the INSTRUCTIONS tab to find out what you need to do
  3. Click on the WHERE TO FILE tab to find the court nearest you
  4. Click on the HELP tab to get assistance with the paperwork (limited to certain areas)

EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE ORDERS (EPO)

An Emergency Protective Order (EPO) is initiated by Law Enforcement by getting approval from a Judge (can be done 24/7) when there is a serious threat. Once a judge signs off on the EPO, Law Enforcement will serve the restrained person and the EPO is effective immediately and can last up to 7 days before it expires. Within the 7 days, the protected person should go file a Temporary Restraining Order to continue having a protection order in place.

CIVIL HARASSMENT ORDERS

In general, civil harassment is abuse, threats of abuse, stalking, sexual assault, or serious harassment by someone you have not dated and do NOT have a close relationship with, like a neighbor, a roommate, or a friend (that you have never dated). It is also civil harassment if the abuse is from a family member that is not included in the list under domestic violence. So, for example, if the abuse is from an uncle or aunt, a niece or nephew, or a cousin, it is considered civil harassment and NOT domestic violence.

Temporary Restraining Order (TRO): A Temporary Restraining Order can be requested by filling out paperwork to tell a judge why you need a restraining order. Once the paperwork is reviewed, a judge can grant a temporary restraining order that is valid until the court date scheduled by the clerk.

“Permanent” Restraining Order: After you attend the court hearing scheduled for your TRO, the judge can issue a “permanent” restraining order if they feel it is necessary and it can be valid for up to three years.

INSTRUCTIONS

To obtain a Civil Harassment Restraining Order, please visit the following website to learn what paperwork you will need and the process of obtaining the order:

California Courts Self-Help Civil Harassment Restraining Order Information

WHERE TO FILE

Please locate the court nearest you to file for an order.

BARSTOW DISTRICT

235 E. Mountain View Street
Barstow, CA

Monday – Friday
8 am – 2 pm

Closed on holidays.

760.718.3734
JOSHUA DISTRICT

6527 White Feather Road
Joshua Tree, CA 92252

Monday – Friday
8 am – 2 pm

Closed on holidays.

760.974.3047
SAN BERNARDINO DISTRICT

247 West 3rd St.
San Bernardino, CA 92415

Monday – Friday
8 am – 2 pm

Closed on holidays.

909.708.8678

HELP

Depending on where you live, help may be available to assist you with obtaining an order.

FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

16857 C St.
Victorville, CA 92395

Hours:
8:30am-2:30pm Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays

Teen Center
Mondays from 9am-9:30am (Open for walkins)

Call to schedule an appointment.

*Walk in clinic located inside the Victorville courthouse on Wednesdays on a first come first serve basis. *

General : 760.843.0701
Hotline : 760.949.4357

FEES

Depending on your situation, the fees for filing a civil harassment order may be waived.

  • Petition to prevent civil harassment (involving violence, threats of violence, or stalking) and response – No fee per Code Section CCP 527.6(w)-(w)
  • Petition to prevent civil harassment (other) and response – $435 per Code Section GC 7611, 70612, 70602.5, 70602.6
  • Petition to prevent workplace violence (involving violence, threats of violence, or stalking) and other response – No fee per Code Section CCP527.8(v)-(w)
  • Petition to prevent workplace violence (other) and response – $435 per Code Section 70611, 70612, 70602.5, 70602.6

Click here to view information about waiving fees.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDERS

A Domestic Violence Restraining Order can be filed for people who have or have had a married or dating relationship or are closely related. The person seeking protection must have experience actual physical violence or a credible threat of physical violence. A Domestic Violence Restraining order can demand that the restrained person stop certain conduct, keep a certain distance away from the protected persons (also called a “Stay-Away” Order), can force the restrained person to move out of a home where a protected person lives, and can put child custody orders into place temporarily.

INSTRUCTIONS

To obtain a Domestic Violence Restraining Order, please visit the following website to learn what paperwork you will need and the process of obtaining the order:

California Courts Self-Help Domestic Violence Restraining Order Information

WHERE TO FILE

Please locate the court nearest you to file for an order.

BARSTOW DISTRICT

235 E. Mountain View Street
Barstow, CA

Monday – Friday
8 am – 2 pm

Closed on holidays.

760.718.3734
JOSHUA TREE DISTRICT

6527 White Feather Road
Joshua Tree, CA 92252

Monday – Friday
8 am – 2 pm

Closed on holidays.

760.974.3047
SAN BERNARDINO

351 North Arrowhead Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92415

Monday – Friday
8 am – 2 pm

Closed on holidays.

909.521.3136

HELP

Depending on where you live, help may be available to assist you with obtaining an order.

OPTION HOUSE

351 N. Arrowhead Ave.
1st Floor
San Bernardino, CA 92415

Services: Assistance with Temporary Restraining Orders, Resource and Referrals, Court Accompaniment

GENERAL : 909.383.1602
HOTLINE : 909.381.3471
A BETTER WAY

14114 Hesperia Rd.
Victorville, CA 92395

Hours: 8am-2pm

Call to schedule appointments during the week.

*Walk in clinic located inside the Victorville courthouse on Fridays on a first come first serve basis. *

GENERAL : 760.955.8010
HOTLINE : 760.228.2059

FEES

There are no filing fees.

RESOURCES

Are you the victim of domestic violence?
If so, please know we have plenty of resources for you and can help you to continue with a healthy, safe, and violence-free life. If you haven’t done so, please contact your local law enforcement agency to report your situation.

Learn more about domestic violence
Visit our domestic violence resource page to learn about the resources and help available to you.

ELDER OR DEPENDENT ADULT ABUSE RESTRAINING ORDER

An Elder or Dependent Abuse Restraining Order is for seniors who are suffering physical, mental, or financial abuse and over the age of 65 or are between the age of 18-64 and have certain disabilities.

INSTRUCTIONS

To obtain an Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order, please visit the following website to learn what paperwork you will need and the process of obtaining the order:

California Courts Self-Help Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order Information

WHERE TO FILE

Please locate the court nearest you to file for an order.

BARSTOW

235 E. Mountain View Street
Barstow, CA

Monday – Friday
8 am – 2 pm

Closed on holidays.

GENERAL : 760.718.3734
JOSHUA DISTRICT

6527 White Feather Road
Joshua Tree, CA 92252

Monday – Friday
8 am – 2 pm

Closed on holidays.

GENERAL : 760.974.3047
SAN BERNARDINO

351 North Arrowhead Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92415

Monday – Friday
8 am – 2 pm

Closed on holidays.

GENERAL : 909.521.3136

FEES

There are no fees for this type of order.

RESOURCES

Are you the victim of elder or dependent adult abuse?
If so, please know we have plenty of resources for you and can help you to continue with a healthy, safe, and violence-free life. If you haven’t done so, please contact your local law enforcement agency to report your situation.

Learn more about elder and dependent adult abuse
Visit our elder and dependent adult abuse page to learn about the resources and help available to you.

CRIMINAL PROTECTIVE ORDER

No Contact Criminal Protective Order: A Criminal Protective Order that is issued by a judge that: prohibits personal, electronic, telephonic, or written contact with the protected person listed on the CPO, prohibits contact with the protected persons through a third party, except by an attorney of record, prohibits the restrained person from coming within 100 yards of the protected person. The protected person has the right to record any prohibited communications made by the restrained person.

No Negative Contact Criminal Protective Order: A Criminal Protective Order that is issued by a judge during an open criminal case that states the restrained person must not harass, strike, threaten, assault (sexually or otherwise), follow, stalk, molest, destroy or damage personal or real property, disturb the peace, keep under surveillance, or block movements of the protected persons named in the order. This version allows for the restrained and protective person to interact, and even live together, but prohibits any type of negative conduct or contact.

HOW TO OBTAIN

Contact your victim advocate that is assigned to the case and notify them that you would like a Criminal Protective Order filed on your behalf. The victim advocate can then ask the deputy district attorney to request a Criminal Protective Order for you. CPO’s can only be requested when a criminal case is open, and the defendant needs to be present at court in order to be served.

DON’T KNOW YOUR ADVOCATE’S NAME OR CONTACT INFORMATION?

Contact the nearest victim advocate center nearest you to get help with obtaining a restraining order.

FEES

There are no fees for this type of order.