Ca_Law

court_form | California

DV-120-INFO - How Can I Respond to a Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order?

  • UIDca_court_forms:dv-120-info
  • CitationDV-120-INFO
  • Court / bodyJudicial Branch of California
  • Decision dateN/A
  • CollectionCA_COURT_FORMS
  • SourceOriginal

Summary

How Can I Respond to a Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order?

Text

Form ID: DV-120-INFO
Title: How Can I Respond to a Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order?
Effective Date: 2026-01-01
Mandatory Form: no
Languages: 汉语, 한국어, español, Tagalog, Tiếng Việt
Info Page: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/DV-120-INFO
Primary Download URL: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/dv120info.pdf
Alternate Download URLs: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/dv120infoc.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/dv120infok.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/dv120infos.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/dv120infot.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/dv120infov.pdf
Form Detail Page:
How Can I Respond to a Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order?
(DV-120-INFO)
Explains what a restraining order is and how you can respond to a request for a restraining order.
Get form DV-120-INFO
汉语
Get form DV-120-INFO in Chinese Simplified
(Chinese Simplified)
한국어
Get form DV-120-INFO in Korean
(Korean)
español
Get form DV-120-INFO in Spanish
(Spanish)
Tagalog
Get form DV-120-INFO in Tagalog
(Tagalog)
Tiếng Việt
Get form DV-120-INFO in Vietnamese
(Vietnamese)
Effective: January 1, 2026
Go to
How-to instructions for Domestic Violence
Go to
Domestic Violence Form Packets
PDF Text:
Judicial Council of California,  
Rev. January 1, 2026, Optional Form
DV-120-INFO, Page 1 of 4How Can I Respond to a Request for 
Domestic Violence Restraining Order? 
(Domestic Violence Prevention)
DV-120-INFO How Can I Respond to a Request for Domestic Violence  
Restraining Order?
I was served with form DV-100, DV-109, or 
DV-110. What does this mean?
Someone has asked for a domestic violence restraining 
order against you. On the forms, you are the “person  
in      ” and the person who wants a restraining order 
against you is listed in       on all the forms. 
2
1
Form DV-100: This form has all the orders that the 
person in       has asked the judge to order.1
Form DV-109: Your court hearing (court date) is 
listed on this form. You should attend the court 
hearing if you do not agree to the orders requested. If 
you do not attend, the judge can make orders against 
you without hearing from you.
Form DV-110: If you were served with form 
DV-110, it means that the judge granted a temporary 
restraining order against you. You must follow the 
orders. 
What is a domestic violence restraining 
order?
It is a court order that can help protect people who have 
been abused by someone they have been intimate with, or 
are closely related to. To be eligible, the person asking for 
the restraining order must be: 
 • Someone you date or used to date
• A spouse, ex-spouse, registered domestic partner, or 
ex-domestic partner
• Someone you live or lived with  
(more than a roommate)
• Your parent, sibling, child, grandparent, or grandchild 
related by blood, marriage, or adoption
What can a restraining order do?
In a restraining order, a judge can order you to:
• Not contact or harm the protected person, including 
children or others listed as protected people
• Stay away from all protected people and places
• Not have any firearms (guns), firearm parts,  
ammunition, or body armor. This includes 
homemade or untraceable guns, like “ghost guns”
• Move out of the place that you share with the 
protected person
• Follow custody and visitation orders
• Pay child support
• Pay spousal support
• Pay debt for property 
• Give control of property (examples: cell phone, 
car, home) to the person asking for protection
How long does the order last?
If the judge granted a temporary restraining order (form 
DV-110), it will last until the hearing date. At your court 
hearing, the judge will decide whether to extend the order 
or cancel the order. The judge can extend the order for up 
to five years. Custody, visitation, child support, and 
spousal support orders can last longer than five years and 
they do not end when the restraining order ends. 
What if I don't obey the order?
The police can arrest you. You can go to jail and pay a 
fine. You must still follow the orders even if you are not 
a U.S. citizen. If you are worried about your immigration 
status, talk to an immigration lawyer.

Rev. January 1, 2026 DV-120-INFO, Page 2 of 4How Can I Respond to a Request for 
Domestic Violence Restraining Order? 
(Domestic Violence Prevention)
DV-120-INFO How Can I Respond to a Request for Domestic Violence  
Restraining Order?
What do I do next?
Part 1: Turn in or sell prohibited items
If there is a temporary restraining order against 
you (see form DV-110), then you must 
immediately turn in, sell, or store any 
prohibited items you have or own. 
Prohibited items include: 
Firearms, including any handgun, rifle, shotgun, and 
assault weapon
Firearm parts, meaning receivers, frames, and any 
item that may be used as or easily turned into a receiver 
or frame 
Ammunition, including bullets, shells, cartridges, 
and clips
You must then prove to the court that you’ve complied 
with the orders. Bring form DV-800/JV-270, Receipt for  
Firearms, Firearm Parts, and Ammunition, to a gun 
dealer or law enforcement when you turn in your items. 
After DV-800/JV-270 is complete, file it with the court. 
For more information, read form DV-800-INFO/JV-270-
INFO, How Do I Turn In, Sell, or Store My Firearms, 
Firearm Parts, and Ammunition?.
Part 2: Relinquish body armor
If there is a temporary restraining order against you (see 
form DV-110), you must relinquish any body armor that 
you have or own. 
 
Note: If you need to have and use body armor for your 
work, livelihood, or safety, you may ask for an exception 
with a chief of police or sheriff in the county where you 
will have and use the body armor (see Pen. Code,  
§ 31360(c)).
Part 3: Respond in writing (optional)
“Respond” means to let the judge and the other side 
know whether you agree or disagree with the request for 
restraining order, and why. Responding in writing is 
optional and there is no penalty if you don’t. If you need 
more time to prepare for your case, talk to a lawyer or 
self-help center staff before you file a response. 
If you want to respond in writing, complete form 
DV-120, Response to Request for Domestic Violence 
Restraining Order. After you complete the form, file it 
with the court. There is no court fee to file this form. 
Then “serve” the form on the person asking for the 
restraining order. “Serve” means to have someone 18 
years old or older mail a copy to the person asking for 
the restraining order. You cannot be the one to mail your 
papers. The person who mails your form must fill out 
form DV-250, Proof of Service by Mail. After form 
DV-250 is completed, file it with the court.
Part 4: Get ready and go to your court hearing
Your court hearing is listed on form DV-109, Notice of 
Court Hearing. You have the option of attending your 
hearing in-person or remotely (by phone, or 
videoconference if available). For information on how to 
attend your hearing remotely, go to the court's website. 
Some courts may require advance notice. At the hearing, 
you and the other side will have the opportunity to tell 
your side of the story. For more information, read form 
DV-520-INFO, Get Ready for Your Restraining Order 
Court Hearing. If you need more time to prepare your 
case, you may ask the judge for a new court date. The 
judge will decide whether to grant your request. Read 
form DV-115-INFO, How to Ask for a New Hearing 
Date, for more information. Note that if the judge does 
give you a new court date and if there is a temporary 
restraining order against you, the judge will usually 
extend the temporary restraining order until the next 
court date.

Rev. January 1, 2026 How Can I Respond to a Request for 
Domestic Violence Restraining Order? 
(Domestic Violence Prevention)
DV-120-INFO, Page 3 of 4
DV-120-INFO How Can I Respond to a Request for Domestic Violence  
Restraining Order?
Do I need a lawyer?
It’s possible to go through this process without a lawyer. 
But having a restraining order against you may have a lot 
of consequences, and you may want to hire a lawyer.  
If you don't hire a lawyer, you can get free help from 
your court’s self-help center.  
What if I was arrested or have criminal 
charges against me?
Anything you write in your court papers or say at a 
hearing for this case and for any criminal case can be used 
against you. Talk to a lawyer if you have any concerns 
about what you can do and say. 
What if I have more than one restraining 
order against me? 
If the police are called to enforce the order, they will 
need to follow the rules of enforcement (see “Conflicting 
Orders— Priorities for Enforcement” listed on the last 
page of form DV-110, DV-130, and CR-160). If you 
have questions about any of the orders against you, 
contact your local self-help center or talk to a lawyer. 
Find your local court’s self-help center at selfhelp.courts.
ca.gov/find. 
Where can I find a self-help center? 
Free legal help is available at your court’s self-help 
center. Find your local court’s self-help center at selfhelp.
courts.ca.gov/find. Self-help center staff will not act as 
your lawyer but may be able to give you information to 
help you decide what to do in your case, and help you 
with the forms. Staff may also refer you to other agencies 
that may be able to help you.
What if I have access to firearms or 
ammunition?
If a restraining order is granted against you, and you do 
not follow the judge’s order to turn in your firearms and 
ammunition, you have violated the restraining order and 
can be charged with a crime, fined, or go to jail. If you 
have a child, having illegal access to firearms or 
ammunition may impact your visitation (parenting time) 
and whether you have custody of your child. If the other 
parent is staying in a confidential shelter, the court must 
consider your access to firearms or ammunition when 
deciding whether you should have in-person visits with 
your child. 
What if I need to have a firearm or 
ammunition for my job?  
What if I have children with the person 
asking for a restraining order?
A restraining order can include orders for your children, 
including listing them as protected persons. It can also 
include child custody and visitation orders and orders to 
limit your ability to travel with your children. If the 
judge has granted a restraining order against you, any 
violation of the order may impact your time with your 
children. 
If the judge grants a restraining order against you, you 
cannot have firearms or ammunition. The judge may 
give you permission to have a firearm or ammunition 
for work. Before permission can be granted, you will be 
required to show the judge that (1) carrying a firearm or 
ammunition is required for your work, and (2) your 
employer is unable to reassign you to another position 
where carrying a firearm or ammunition is not 
necessary. There are other things you will have to prove. 
For more information, go to selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/
respond-to-DV-restraining-order/obey-firearms-orders/
exception, or see Family Code section 6389(h).

Rev. January 1, 2026 How Can I Respond to a Request for 
Domestic Violence Restraining Order? 
(Domestic Violence Prevention)
DV-120-INFO, Page 4 of 4
DV-120-INFO How Can I Respond to a Request for Domestic Violence  
Restraining Order?
What if I want to leave the county or state?
You must still comply with the restraining order, 
including custody and visitation orders. The restraining 
order is valid anywhere in the United States.
Can I use the restraining order to get 
divorced or end a domestic partnership?
No. These forms will not end your marriage or registered 
domestic partnership. You must file other forms to end 
your marriage or registered domestic partnership.
What if I need a restraining order against 
the other person?
Do not use form DV-120 to request a domestic violence 
restraining order. For information on how to file your own 
restraining order, read form DV-505-INFO, How to Ask 
for a Domestic Violence Restraining Order. You can also 
ask the court clerk about free or low-cost legal help.
What if I am a victim or survivor of domestic 
violence?
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides free 
and private safety tips. Help is available in over 100 
languages. Visit online at thehotline.org or 
call 1-800-799-7233.
Information about the court process is also 
available online
selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/respond-to-DV-restraining-order
What if I need an interpreter?
You may use form INT-300 to request 
an interpreter or ask the clerk how you can request one.
I have a disability. How can I get help?
You may use form MC-410 to request assistance. 
Contact the disability or ADA coordinator at your local 
court for more information.
Request for Accommodations 
Assistive listening systems, computer-assisted 
real-time captioning, or sign language 
interpreter services are available if you ask at 
least five days before the hearing. Contact the 
clerk’s office or go to courts.ca.gov/forms for 
Disability Accommodation Request (form 
MC-410). (Civ. Code, § 54.8.)

Retrieval chunks

  • #1

    Form ID: DV-120-INFO Title: How Can I Respond to a Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order? Effective Date: 2026-01-01 Mandatory Form: no Languages: 汉语, 한국어, español, Tagalog, Tiếng Việt Info Page: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/DV-120-INFO Primary Download URL: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documen…

  • #2

    been abused by someone they have been intimate with, or are closely related to. To be eligible, the person asking for the restraining order must be: • Someone you date or used to date • A spouse, ex-spouse, registered domestic partner, or ex-domestic partner • Someone you live or lived with (more than a roommat…

  • #3

    and clips You must then prove to the court that you’ve complied with the orders. Bring form DV-800/JV-270, Receipt for Firearms, Firearm Parts, and Ammunition, to a gun dealer or law enforcement when you turn in your items. After DV-800/JV-270 is complete, file it with the court. For more information, read form …

  • #4

    form DV-115-INFO, How to Ask for a New Hearing Date, for more information. Note that if the judge does give you a new court date and if there is a temporary restraining order against you, the judge will usually extend the temporary restraining order until the next court date. Rev. January 1, 2026 How Can I Respo…

  • #5

    consider your access to firearms or ammunition when deciding whether you should have in-person visits with your child. What if I need to have a firearm or ammunition for my job? What if I have children with the person asking for a restraining order? A restraining order can include orders for your children, inc…

  • #6

    languages. Visit online at thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-7233. Information about the court process is also available online selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/respond-to-DV-restraining-order What if I need an interpreter? You may use form INT-300 to request an interpreter or ask the clerk how you can request one. I hav…