CH-100-INFO - Can a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Help Me?

Summary

Can a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Help Me?

Text

Form ID: CH-100-INFO
Title: Can a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Help Me?
Effective Date: 2026-01-01
Mandatory Form: no
Languages: 汉语, 한국어, español, Tiếng Việt
Info Page: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/CH-100-INFO
Primary Download URL: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ch100info.pdf
Alternate Download URLs: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ch100infoc.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ch100infok.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ch100infos.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ch100infov.pdf
Form Detail Page:
Can a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Help Me?
(CH-100-INFO)
Explains what this type of restraining order is and how you can be eligible.
Get form CH-100-INFO
汉语
Get form CH-100-INFO in Chinese Simplified
(Chinese Simplified)
한국어
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(Korean)
español
Get form CH-100-INFO in Spanish
(Spanish)
Tiếng Việt
Get form CH-100-INFO in Vietnamese
(Vietnamese)
Effective: January 1, 2026
Go to
How-to instructions for Civil Harassment
Go to
Civil Harassment Form Packets
PDF Text:
Judicial Council of California, courts.ca.gov 
Rev. January 1, 2026, Optional Form 
Code Civ. Proc., § 527.6
Can a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Help Me? 
(Civil Harassment Prevention)
CH-100-INFO Can a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Help Me?
These instructions cannot cover all of the questions that may arise in a particular case. If you 
do not know what to do to protect your rights, you should see a lawyer.
What is a civil harassment restraining order?
It is a court order that helps protect people from  
harassment.
Can I get a civil harassment restraining  
order?
You can ask for one if you are worried about your safety 
because someone:
Is harassing you
Is stalking you
Has committed acts of violence against you, or 
Has threatened you with violence
You do not need to reside in California to file your request 
for a civil harassment restraining order.
How will the order help me?
The court can order a person to:
Not harass or threaten you
Not contact or go near you, and
For more information about the items a restrained 
person cannot have, please see 
Not have any firearms (guns), firearm parts, 
ammunition, or body armor. This includes firearm 
receivers and frames, and any item that may be used as 
or easily turned into a receiver or frame (see Penal Code 
section 16531).
You can also ask for protection for people who live with 
you and family members.
In a civil harassment case, the court cannot:
Order a person to move out of your residence
Order a person to pay child support to you
Make orders for custody and visitation
If you need these orders, you should proceed under the 
Domestic Violence Protection Act. File form DV-100.
The court also cannot:
Order a person to pay money that the person owes you
Order someone to move out of rental property that you 
own
Order someone to stop creating a nuisance that doesn’t 
involve harassment
If you need these remedies, you must file a civil action. 
How much does it cost?
That depends on the type of harassment. If the restrained  
person has used or threatened to use violence against you 
or has stalked you, you do not have to pay a filing fee; 
otherwise, you must pay the fee.
If you cannot afford to pay the filing fee, ask the clerk how 
to apply for a fee waiver. Form FW-001 is available for 
this purpose.
If the order is based on prior acts of violence, a credible  
threat of violence, or stalking, you are entitled to free 
service of the order by a sheriff or marshal. Also, if you are 
eligible for a fee waiver, you can ask the sheriff or marshal 
to serve the order for free. If you are not eligible for free 
service, you may pay the sheriff or marshal to serve the 
order. 
What forms do I need to get the order?
You must fill out all of form CH-100, Request for Civil 
Harassment Restraining Orders, and form CLETS-001, 
Confidential CLETS Information. If you need attachments, 
you may use form MC-025. You must also fill out items 1 
and 2 on form CH-109, Notice of Court Hearing, and items 
1, 2, and 3 on form CH-110, Temporary Restraining Order 
(CLETS-TCH).
Where can I get these forms?
You can get the forms from legal publishers or from the 
California Courts website at  
                                    . You also may be able to find them 
at your local courthouse or county law library.
What do I need to do to get the order?
You must go to the superior court in the county where the 
harassment took place, the person to be restrained resides, 
or you reside or are temporarily located. Another court may 
also have jurisdiction over your case. At the court, ask 
where you should file your request for a civil harassment 
restraining order. (A self-help center or legal aid 
association may be able to assist you in filing your 
request.) 
At the court, give your forms to the clerk of the court. The 
clerk will give you a hearing date on the Notice of Court 
Hearing form, and if your request for immediate orders is 
granted, a copy of the Temporary Restraining Order signed 
by a judicial officer.
 CH-100-INFO, Page 1 of 3

Rev. January 1, 2026
Can a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Help Me? 
(Civil Harassment Prevention)
CH-100-INFO Can a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Help Me?
How soon can I get the order?
If you ask for a temporary restraining order, the court will 
decide within 24 hours whether or not to make the order. 
Sometimes the court decides sooner. Ask whether you 
should wait or come back later to get the signed Notice of 
Court Hearing and Temporary Restraining Order.
How long does the order last?
If the court makes a temporary order, it will last until your 
hearing date. At that time, the court will decide to continue 
or cancel the order. The order could last for up to five 
years.
How will the person to be restrained know  
about the order?
Someone age 18 or older— not you or anyone else to be 
protected by the order—must “serve” (give) the person to 
be restrained a copy of the order. The server must then fill 
out form CH-200, Proof of Personal Service, and give it to 
you to file with the court. For help with service, ask the 
court clerk for form CH-200-INFO, What Is “Proof of 
Personal Service”?
What if the restrained person does not obey 
the order?
Call the police. The restrained person can be arrested and 
charged with a crime.
Do I have to go to court?
Yes. Go to court on the date the clerk gives you. (See item 
3 on form CH-109, Notice of Court Hearing.)
The court may or may not let witnesses speak at the  
hearing. So, if possible, you should bring their written  
statements under oath to the hearing. (You can use form 
MC-030, Declaration, for this.)
Do I need to bring a witness to the court  
hearing?
Witnesses are not required, but it helps to have more proof 
of the harassment than just your word. You can bring:
Witnesses
Written statements from witnesses made under oath
Photos
Medical or police reports
Damaged property
Threatening letters, emails, or telephone messages
Do I need a lawyer?
Having a lawyer is always a good idea, but it is not  
required and you are not entitled to a free, court-appointed 
lawyer. Ask the court clerk about free and low-cost legal 
services and self-help centers in your county.
Will I see the restrained person at the court  
hearing?
If the person comes to the hearing, yes. But that person  
does not have the right to speak to you. If you are afraid,  
tell the court officer.
Can I bring someone with me to court?
Yes. You can bring someone to sit with you during the  
hearing. But that person cannot speak for you in court.  
Only you or your lawyer (if you have one) can speak for  
you.
 CH-100-INFO, Page 2 of 3

For your protection and privacy, please press the Clear 
button after you have printed the form.
Rev. January 1, 2026
Can a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Help Me? 
(Civil Harassment Prevention)
CH-100-INFO Can a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Help Me?
What if I have a disability?
If you have a disability and need an accommodation while 
you are at court, you can use form MC-410, Disability 
Accommodation Request, to make your request. You can 
also ask the ADA Coordinator in your court for help. For 
more information, see form MC-410-INFO, How to 
Request a Disability Accommodation for Court.
Information about the process is also 
available online.
See selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/CH-restraining-order.
For help in your area, contact:
[Local information may be inserted.]
What if I don't speak English?
When you file your papers, ask the clerk if a court 
interpreter is available. You can also use form INT-300, 
Request for Interpreter (Civil), or a local court form or 
website to request an interpreter. For more information 
about court interpreters, go to 
Can I agree with the restrained person to  
cancel the order?
No. Once the order is issued, only the judge can change or 
cancel it. You or the restrained person would have to file a 
request with the court to cancel the order.
 CH-100-INFO, Page 3 of 3

Retrieval chunks

• #1

  Form ID: CH-100-INFO Title: Can a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Help Me? Effective Date: 2026-01-01 Mandatory Form: no Languages: 汉语, 한국어, español, Tiếng Việt Info Page: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/CH-100-INFO Primary Download URL: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ch100info.pdf Alternate Dow…

• #2

  In a civil harassment case, the court cannot: Order a person to move out of your residence Order a person to pay child support to you Make orders for custody and visitation If you need these orders, you should proceed under the Domestic Violence Protection Act. File form DV-100. The court also cannot: Order a p…

• #3

  Hearing form, and if your request for immediate orders is granted, a copy of the Temporary Restraining Order signed by a judicial officer. CH-100-INFO, Page 1 of 3 Rev. January 1, 2026 Can a Civil Harassment Restraining Order Help Me? (Civil Harassment Prevention) CH-100-INFO Can a Civil Harassment Restraining …

• #4

  does not have the right to speak to you. If you are afraid, tell the court officer. Can I bring someone with me to court? Yes. You can bring someone to sit with you during the hearing. But that person cannot speak for you in court. Only you or your lawyer (if you have one) can speak for you. CH-100-INFO, Page 2…