Obtaining Restraining Orders
0300-318.05 | Revision Date: 7/1/2014

Overview

This is an overview of the different types of restraining orders that can be obtained through Juvenile Dependency Court, Family Law Court, Criminal Court and Civil Court.

Table of Contents

Version Summary

This policy guide was updated from the 12/21/11 version, as part of the Policy Redesign, in accordance with the DCFS Strategic Plan.

POLICY

Restraining Orders

Separating a child from their family home is a highly traumatic event for the child. In many cases, a Restraining Order (RO), which removes a person who is abusive from the home, reduces the risk level to such a degree that it may allow a child to remain safely in the home with the person who is being abused (i.e., the non-offending parent/caregiver).

An RO can be issued through Juvenile Dependency and Delinquency Courts, Family Law Court, Criminal Court, Probate Court or Civil Court. The various types of Restraining Orders include the following:

  • Emergency Protective Order (EPO)
  • Domestic Violence Prevention Order (DVPO)
  • Stalking: EPO
  • Stalking: Order Post Conviction
  • Criminal Court Stay Away Orders
  • Civil Court Restraining Orders/Temporary Restraining Orders (RO/TRO)
  • Workplace Violence Protective Orders/ Temporary Restraining Orders (TRO)
  • Foreign State and Tribal Orders
  • Elder Abuse Orders/ Temporary Restraining Orders (TRO)
  • Dependency Court/ Temporary Restraining Orders (TRO)

EPOs may be issued at anytime, whether or not Court is in session. Only a law enforcement officer can request the court to issue an EPO.

TROs may by issued only when Court is in session. A TRO expires at the following times:

  • The 15th calendar day following the day it was issued, or
  • If the court find good cause, the 20th or 25th calendar day following the day it was issued, depending on which court the parties are in.

ROs issued by another state are enforceable in California. The Foreign Restraining Order needs to be registered with our court in order to be entered in the Department of Justice (DOJ) registry.

Firearms/Ammunition Possession

When determining safety and risk, it is imperative that the assessment, including inquiries regarding ROs (aka protective orders) as well as whether or not the involved parties are in possession of, or have access to, firearms and ammunition.

Pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 320:

  • The Court is required to order a restrained person to relinquish firearms and ammunition, and how they are to be relinquished.
  • The Court is required to consider information presented at a noticed hearing that a restrained person has a firearm or ammunition and make a determinationregarding that fact. For families who already have an open dependency court case, this determination may be made at a review hearing set by the juvenile court within 10 days of the information being presented.
  • A finding that the restrained person is in possession of a firearm or ammunitionis a factor the Court may consider when granting sole or joint physical or legal custody at the time the case closes (termination of jurisdiction).

Law Enforcement

A law enforcement officer can request an EPO from a judge or court commissioner. An EPO may be issued only if the judicial officer finds both of the following:

  1. That reasonable ground has been asserted to believe that an immediate and present danger of domestic violence exists, that a child is in immediate and present danger of abuse or abduction, or that an elder or dependent adult is in immediate and present danger of abuse; and
  2. That an EPO is necessary to prevent the occurrence or reoccurrence of domestic violence, child abuse, child abduction, or abuse of an elder or dependent adult.

A law enforcement officer who responds to a situation in which they believe that there may be grounds for the issuance of an EPO must inform the person who they have identified as the person who is being abused that they will be requesting an EPO. If that individual is a minor, their non-offending parent or guardian must be informed that they can request for law enforcement to obtain an EPO.  An EPO is only valid if it is issued by a judicial officer after making the findings required by law and pursuant to a specific request by a law enforcement officer.

Dependency Court

Dependency Court has the authority to issue EPOs, TPOs, and ROs for CSWs. Dependency Court can issue orders if a petition has been filed in court, and if the case is related to domestic violence. The Court has exclusive jurisdiction to issue Protective Orders on behalf of the children, caretakers, parents, legal guardian, CASA, social worker (former and current), or any other children or family members in the home as long as the dependency case remains open.

Dependency Court can issue orders prohibiting a person from the following:

  • Molesting
  • Attacking
  • Striking
  • Stalking
  • Battering
  • Threatening
  • Sexually assaulting
  • Harassing
  • Telephoning, including but not limited to annoying telephone calls
  • Destroying personal property
  • Contacting by mail
  • Coming within a specified distance
  • Disturbing the peace
  • Residing in the home of the child's caretaker

An RO that is issued from Dependency Court may restrain or require the following:

  • Contact between the restrained person and the identified persons be protected
  • Exclusion of the restrained person from the identified person's home
  • Limit visitation or make an order for no visitation
  • Make an order for no harassment

There is no requirement that the child reside with the parent, legal guardian, or caregiver for the Court to issue an RO. Further, the Dependency Court can issue a RO against a third party that is not a party of the Dependency Court case.

A TRO that is issued without notice from the Dependency Court is limited in time and expires in fifteen (15) days or, if the Court deems necessary, it is good for twenty (20) days from the date the temporary restraining order is issued. An RO that is issued from the Dependency Court may be issued for up to three (3) years.

Anytime after a dependency petition has been filed and until the petition is dismissed or dependency jurisdiction is terminated, a CSW may file an application with the Dependency Court to apply for an RO to restrict any person from molesting, attacking, striking, sexually assaulting, stalking, or battering the child or any other child in the household; exclude any person from the dwelling of a person who has care, custody and control of the child; or, enjoin any person from behavior, including contact, threatening or disturbing the peace of the child by the Court's determination.

When Dependency Court is terminating a case with Family Law exit orders, the exit order must conform to Family Code Section 6218, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code 362.4. Family Law exit orders can contain Permanent Protective Orders. However, when requesting an extension of an RO, the Court has to find evidence that the victim has a "reasonable apprehension of future abuse" by a preponderance of the evidence.

Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Abuse (IPA)

Domestic violence and intimate partner abuse (IPA) are often used interchangeably in research, communications, etc. Throughout this policy, the use of the term "domestic violence" is used and shall be considered reflective of both domestic violence and IPA terminology. (Additional information regarding domestic violence can be found in the Assessment of Domestic Violence policy (0070-537.10).

In cases of domestic violence, the use of an RO is not a guarantee of safety for the family. Additionally, it can only afford protection in cases where the victim of violence requests or desires the protection of an RO. When assessing cases involving domestic violence, CSWs must not use the threat of removing a child from the home if a parent does not cooperate to obtain or enforce an RO. This approach is coercive and inappropriate, and it may encourage a parent to feign cooperation out of fear of losing their child, which can place the child at risk of harm.

Pursuant to Family Code Section 6200, Domestic Violence ROs are issued to prevent the recurrence of acts of "abuse" by a batterer. Abuse is defined under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (DVPA) as either:

  • Intentionally or recklessly to cause or attempt to cause bodily injury
  • Sexual assault
  • To place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent seriously bodily injury to that person or to another.
  • To engage in any behavior that has been or could be enjoined under Family Code §6320.

In matters involving domestic violence, the CSW may find it necessary to involve the Dependency Court after an EPO has already been issued by Family Law Court. This may occur when it is in the child's best interests to remain in the home of the non-offending parent/legal guardian/caregiver, but the Family Law Court order will not be able to meet the protective needs of the child. The CSW may also wish to consider a non-disclosure order, in place of and/or in addition to an RO, to protect the child.

In these situations, Intake and Detention Control (IDC) must be contacted prior to the expiration of EPO or TRO. In order to avoid placing the child at risk, the case must be calendared for a detention/arraignment hearing prior to expiration of the issued RO. If this is not done, the child will not be under the protection of either the RO or Dependency Court during the time between the expiration of the RO and the detention/arraignment hearing.

At the time of the hearing, Juvenile Court Services staff must request that the court issue an order restricting the offending person's access to the child in order to complete a thorough investigation and to continue to protect the child.

  • In the event that a party has received or been denied a more permanent restraining order prior to the initial dependency court hearing, the dependency court has the ability to issue restraining orders based on the circumstances of the case.
  • In addition, the Dependency Court has the authority to issue ROs that can continue up to three (3) years and can be extended for another three (3) years upon request.

Family Law Court

Family Law Court has the authority to issue EPOs, TPOs and ROs. An RO through Family Law Court must meet specific legal requirements, in particular there must be a recent violent assault or threat (usually within 30 to 60 days) and the parent seeking the order must write in a declaration detailing exactly why they fear the abuser. If a TRO is obtained, the parent must go back to Family Law Court for a permanent order.

When it appears that a non-offending parent/legal guardian/caregiver is willing and able to protect the child with the assistance of the Family Law Court, and it has been determined that Dependency Court intervention is not necessary, an RO may be used for the purpose of allowing the child to remain in the home. Dependency Court involvement can be requested even after an RO has been issued, if it has been determined that it is best interests of the child to remain in the home of the non-offending parent/legal guardian/caregiver, but the RO will not be able to meet the protective needs of the child.

A TPO that is issued from Family Law Court without notice is limited in time and expires in twenty (20) days or, if the court deems necessary, it is good for twenty five (25) days from the date the temporary restraining order is issued.

An RO that is issued from Family Law Court may be issued effective for up to five (5) years if the expiration date is written on the face of the restraining order. If the expiration date is not written on the face of the restraining order, then it is only in effect for three (3) years from the date issued.

An RO that is issued from Family Law Court may restrain or enjoin contact between the restrained person and the persons to be protected; may exclude the restrained person from the home, may limit visitation or make an order for no visitation, and make an order for no harassment. A Family Law Court may also make orders for use of personal property, child support, spousal support, and payment of debts and restraint on selling or destroying property.

Criminal Court

Criminal Court ROs take precedence over any other RO.  They are only in effect for the duration of the criminal court case and can be included as a term of the perpetrator's probation or parole. Even though the Criminal Court RO takes precedence, it does not mean that other courts cannot issue RO. There may be more than one order in effect. However, if the criminal court restraining order is more restrictive than the other, it is the order that takes precedence over the less restrictive orders.

Civil Court

The Civil Court can issue TROs and ROs for cases that involve parties that are not related and/or do not have a familial relationship or children in common. The time frames for obtaining the TRO and RO are the same as in Family Law and Dependency Courts.

Other protected persons may include any parent, legal guardian or current caregiver of the child whether or not that child resides with that parent, legal guardian or current caregiver.

PROCEDURE

Requesting an Order without Filing a Petition

CSW Responsibilities

  1. Assess the family's situation to ensure that both of the following conditions exist prior to considering the use of a Protective Order.
    1. The CSW believes that the non-offending parent/legal guardian/current caregiver can and will enforce a Protective Order. Factors to consider in assessing this are:
      • The willingness and ability of the non-offending parent/legal guardian/current caregiver to follow through with the necessary steps to involve the court and obtain a restraining order and protect the children;
      • The non-offending parent's/legal guardian's/current caregiver's dependence on the financial/emotional support of the person to be restrained ; and,
      • The emotional stability and support network of the non-offending parent/legal guardian/current caregiver.
    2. The CSW believes that if the RO is issued, Dependency Court involvement will not be necessary because there are no additional risk factors.
      • It may be necessary to involve the parents in Voluntary Family Maintenance services in order to monitor these situations closely and provide services to meet the family's needs.
  2. Conduct a case conference with SCSW to discuss the reasons an RO would be appropriate.
    1. If SCSW approval is not obtained, reassess the family's current situation and take the necessary steps to protect the child.
    2. If SCSW approval is obtained proceed to step 3.
  3. Documentt all discussions with SCSW in the CWS/CMS Contact Notebook.
  4. Contact the law enforcement agency which has jurisdiction over the area in which the child's home is located to request assistance in evaluating the situation for the possible use of an RO. Obtain any police reports or incident reports.
    1. If law enforcement agrees to obtain an EPO, they will complete all of the required paperwork.
      • Court and/or law enforcement ensures that the parties are served.
  5. Discuss the circumstances of the case with the responding law enforcement officer and explain why an RO appears to be a more viable alternative than filing a petition in dependency court.
  6. In conjunction with the law enforcement officer, evaluate the ability of the non-offending parent/legal guardian/caregiver to enforce the Protective Order as well as the likelihood that the restrained party will honor the Protective Order.
    1. Whenever possible, interview both parties.
    2. If it appears that one or both will not agree, reassess the current situation and take the necessary steps to protect the child.
  7. If there is no agreement, inform all parties of DCFS' intention to initiate dependency court proceedings and follow procedures outlined in Orders for Children Under the Jurisdiction of Dependency Court.
  8. Discuss the following with the non-offending parent/legal guardian/caregiver:
    • The RO process,
    • The need to follow through with obtaining a permanent order, and
    • The need to contact law enforcement immediately if the restrained party violates the order.
  9. Document all contacts with law enforcement, parents/legal guardian(s)/caregiver(s) and all other pertinent information in the Contact Notebook.
  10. If ongoing services are necessary, explore Family Maintenance Services with either Court or Voluntary intervention.
  11. If ongoing services are not necessary close the referral.

SCSW Responsibilities

  1. Review the SDM Safety and Risk Assessment and the SDM Safety Plan for approval.
  2. Approve the SDM Safety and Risk Assessment, and SDM Safety Plan tools and return to the CSW.
    • If not approved, return the SDM tools to the CSW for corrective action prior to approval.

Orders for Children under the Jurisdiction of Dependency Court

The following procedures must be following if:

  • After the issuance of an EPO or TRO, information comes to the attention of DCFS which indicates that the child cannot be protected by the EPO.
  • At some point after a petition has been filed, information comes to the attention of DCFS which indicates that an RO is necessary to protect the child.

Case-Carrying CSW Responsibilities

  1. Assess the family's situation using SDM Safety and Risk assessment tools.
  2. Conduct a case conference with the SCSW and the out-stationed County Counsel to discuss the facts of the case and determine if a petition and/or an application for a RO should be requested.
  3. Take the child into temporary custody if they are described under WIC 300(b) or (g) or, in all other situations, request that law enforcement do so.
    1. If law enforcement refuses, proceed with taking the children into temporary custody.
      • Although some children in these situations are not detained, IDC will initiate an accelerated non-detained petition procedure for placing the case on the Dependency Court calendar.
  4. In cases where Dependency Court is already involved (i.e., after the detention hearing and prior to the Disposition Hearing), contact IDC to request a change of order pursuant to WIC 385.
  5. Contact IDC so the case can be heard prior to the expiration of an EPO or TRO, or notify IDC immediately when it becomes necessary to request a TRO on a case where a petition has been filed.
  6. Receive notification from IDC of the date and time the required documents are due at IDC and when the hearing will be held.
    • These matters are calendared within one (1) to two (2) business days.
  7. Document all contacts with the family, law enforcement, as well as all other pertinent case information in the CWS/CMS Contact Notebook.

SCSW Responsibilities

  1. Review the SDM Safety and Risk Assessment and the SDM Safety Plan for approval.
  2. Approve the SDM Safety and Risk Assessment, and SDM Safety Plan tools and return to the CSW.
    • If not approved, return the SDM tools to the CSW for corrective action prior to approval.

IDC, DI or Case-Carrying CSW Responsibilities

  1. Prior to creating the required paperwork, review all supporting documents such as the police report, medical report, and school report.
    1. The Detention Report and JV-245, Application and Declaration for an RO, are completed by the ER, DI or Case-Carrying CSW on initial filings and faxed to IDC.
    2. Document the necessity for the court to issue a RO in the Detention Report.
  2. Create the JV-245 in theCWS/CMS Court Notebook and complete all of the required fields.
    • The Case-Carrying CSW must complete and fax the JV-245 and the Ex Parte Application and Order on cases where there is existing dependency status to Juvenile Court Services Liaison to request a Set on/Walk On hearing.
  3. For cases with new petition filings, fax the completed paperwork to IDC.

When a CSW or Any Member of Their Family Has Been Threatened

CSW Responsibilities

  1. Immediately notify the SCSW, ARA, and RA as to the nature, type and extent of the threat/or endangerment.
  2. Notify the County Counsel assigned to the case.
    • They will prepare the JV-245, Application and Declaration for an RO, as well as the Restraining Order for the court to sign if issued.
  3. Contact the police department to make a report and explain in detail how safety has been threatened and why a restraining order is needed.
    • Notify law enforcement of available evidence (i.e. letters, e-mails, or threatening messages on an answering machine or voicemail). Do not erase messages. Make a copy of any messages including the dates they were received.
  4. Ask for the police report number and when completed, obtain a copy of the official police report.
  5. Prepare a report to court detailing all facts that evidence the need for a Protective Order and attach any police reports to the report.
  6. Sign the report under penalty of perjury.
  7. When the restraining order is granted by the Court, request that County Counsel provide you with a certified copy of the RO.
  8. Ensure that the office manager, law enforcement, SCSW, ARA, RA and everyone involved have a copy of the RO for enforcement purposes.
  9. File a copy of the RO in the case file.
  10. Document all contacts with law enforcement and other involved parties in the CWS/CMS Contact Notebook.
APPROVALS

Supervisor Approval

  • SDM Safety and Risk Assessment
  • SDM Safety Plan Tools
  • Detention Report
  • Ex Parte Application and Order
HELPFUL LINKS

Attachments

Types of Restraining Orders

Forms

CWS/CMS

Detention Report

JV-100, Juvenile Dependency Petition

JV-245, Application and Declaration for Restraining Order

LA Kids

JV-100, Juvenile Dependency Petition

JV-245, Application and Declaration for Restraining Order

Hard Copy

EPO-001, Emergency Protective Order

REFERENCED POLICY GUIDES

0070-537.10, Assessment of Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence

0070-548.10, Investigation, Disposition and Closure of Emergency Response Referrals

0070-548.20, Taking Children into Temporary Custody

0080-502.25, Court Family Maintenance and Voluntary Family Maintenance

0100-510.21, Voluntary Placement

0300-301.05, Filing Petitions

0300-303.07, Non-Disclosure Orders

0300-303.15, Writing the Initial Hearing Report

0300-503.30, WIC 385: Requesting a Change in Order

0300-503.94, Set-On/Walk-On Procedures

0300-506.05, Communication with Attorneys, County Counsel, and Non-DCFS Staff

0400-503.10, Contact Requirements and Exceptions

Management Directive 95-06, Acts/Threats of Violence Again Employees in the Workplace

FYI 07-43, Use of Restraining Orders in Cases of Domestic Violence

STATUTES AND OTHER MANDATES

California Rules of Court (CROC), Chapter 8, Rule 5.630(a) – States that after a petition has been filed under section 300, 601, or 602, and until the petition has been filed under section 300,601, or 602, and until the petition is dismissed or dependency or ward ship is terminated, or the ward is no longer on probation, the court may issue restraining orders as provided in WIC, section 213.5.

CROC, Chapter 8, Rule 5.630(b) – States that an application for restraining orders may be made orally at any scheduled hearing regarding the child who is the subject of a petition under section 300, 601, or 602, or may be made by written application, or may be made on the court's own motion. The written application must be submitted on Judicial Council Form Application and Affidavit for Restraining Order (JV-245).

Family Code (FAM) Section 6218 – In part, states that "Protective order" means an order that includes any of the following restraining orders, whether issued ex parte, after notice and hearing, or in a judgment: An order described in Section 6320 enjoining specific acts of abuse, an order described in Section 6321 excluding a person from a dwelling, and an order described in Section 6322 enjoining other specified behavior.

FAM Section 6240-6241 – Summarizes that the superior court in each county must designate at least one judge, commissioner, referee to be reasonably available to issue orally, by telephone or otherwise, emergency protective orders at all times whether or not the court is in session. Further, that the designated law enforcement officer be able to request or enforce an emergency protective order as referred to in section 6241.

FAM Section 6250.3 – States that an emergency protective order is valid only if it is issued by a judicial officer after making the findings required by Family Code Section 6251 and pursuant to a specific request by a law enforcement officer.

FAM Section 6251 – Outlines that an emergency protective order may be issued under certain conditions.

FAM Section 6275 – States that a law enforcement officer who responds to a situation in which the officer believes that there may be grounds for the issuance of an emergency protective order pursuant to Section 6250 of this code or Section 646.91 of the Penal Code, shall inform the person for whom an emergency protective order may be sought, or, if that person is a minor, their parent or guardian, provided that the parent or guardian is not the person against whom the emergency protective order may be obtained, that they may request the officer to request an emergency protective order pursuant to this part. Notwithstanding Section 6250, and pursuant to this part, an officer shall request an emergency protective order if the officer believes that the person requesting an emergency protective order is in immediate and present danger.

FAM Section 6320 and Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 213.5 – State if a petition has been filed and the matter is related to domestic violence, the Juvenile Court may issue an ex parte order enjoining a party from molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually assaulting, battering, harassing, telephoning, including, but not limited to, annoying telephone calls as described in Section 653m of the Penal Code, destroying personal property, contacting, either directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise, coming within a specified distance of, or disturbing the peace of the other party, and, in the discretion of the court, on a showing of good cause, of other named family or household members.

FAM Section 6321 – States that the court may issue an ex parte order excluding a party from the family dwelling, the dwelling of the other party, the common dwelling of both parties, or the dwelling of the person who has care, custody, and control of a child to be protected from domestic violence for the period of time and on the conditions the court determines, regardless of which party holds legal or equitable title or is the lessee of the dwelling.

FAM Section 6322 – States that the court may issue an ex parte order enjoining a party from specified behavior that the court determines is necessary to effectuate orders under Section 6320 or 6321.

FAM Sections 6389 – States that a willful and knowing violation of a protective order is a crime punishable as provided by section 273.6 of the penal Code.

Senate Bill (SB) 320 – Requires Courts to order perpetrators of domestic violence to relinquish firearms and ammunition, including the manner in which relinquishment shall occur. Further, the Court may consider the possession of firearms and ammunition by a perpetrator when determining physical and legal custody at the time jurisdiction is being terminated.

Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 304 – Summarizes that after a petition has been filed pursuant to Section 311, and until the time that the petition is dismissed or dependency is terminated, no other division of any superior court may hear proceedings regarding the custody of a child or the establishment of a guardianship for the child. All issues regarding the child's custody while under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court shall be heard by the juvenile court which may review any records that would be available to the domestic relations division of a superior court hearing that matter.

WIC Section 340.5 – Summarizes that when a social worker is assigned to provide child welfare and other services to a dependent child of the juvenile court, the juvenile court may for good cause shown, and after an ex parte hearing, issue its order restraining the parents of the dependent child from threatening

WIC Section 362.4 – States that when the juvenile court terminates its jurisdiction over a minor who has been adjudged a dependent child of the juvenile court prior to the minor's attainment of the age of 18 years, and proceedings for dissolution of marriage, for nullity of marriage, or for legal separation, of the child's parents, or proceedings to establish the paternity of the minor child brought under the Uniform Parentage Act, are pending in the superior court of any county, or an order has been entered with regard to the custody of that child, the juvenile court on its own motion, may issue a protective order, and an order determining the custody of, or visitation with the child, the social worker, or any member of the social worker's family with physical harm.