Temporary Restraining Order Assistance

A restraining order is a court-ordered document signed by a judge, and it prohibits the restrained person from harassing, making contact with, or assaulting the person seeking the order. There are various types of restraining orders available for an individual to file. Below are the three types of restraining orders which a domestic violence victim can obtain to use as a tool to help protect herself/himself from the abuser.

  • Emergency Protective Order (EPO). Issued by law enforcement and is valid for five days

  • Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Order (TRO). Civil order that is temporary for three weeks and can then be made permanent for one to three years

  • Criminal Protective Order (“No Contact” Order). Can be obtained through the request of a deputy district attorney at the Domestic Violence Home Court for active prosecution cases

These orders are issued to prevent the restrained person from:

  1. Annoying, harassing, striking, following or otherwise disturbing the peace of the protected person(s)

  2. Having direct or indirect, personal, telephonic, electronic or written contact with the protected person(s)

  3. Coming within 100 yards of the protected person’s residence, work or school

  4. Attempting to or actually preventing or dissuading any victim or witness from attending a hearing, testifying, or making a report to any law enforcement agency or person

If you are seeking a civil harassment restraining order, you can obtain the necessary paperwork at the downtown Sacramento Superior Court, located at 720 9th Street Sacramento, CA 95814.

The Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center (FJC) can assist with applying for a Domestic Violence TRO by visiting the Center at the Family Relations Court House, located at 3701 Power Inn Road on the third floor.

There is also a free class that you can attend in order to help you through the paperwork to process the Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Order. In-person classes are held on Fridays at the Family Relations Courthouse, Room 114 at 3341 Power Inn Rd, Sacramento. Zoom classes for the Monday and Wednesday workshops can be found here: Domestic Violence Restraining Orders: Sacramento Superior Court (ca.gov)

Family Relations Courthouse

Days of Operation: Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:45 a.m. in Room 114 of the Family Relations Courthouse (Spanish language interpreters are provided by the court).

For those not wishing to attend the workshop, the forms can be downloaded from the court’s website or picked up in the Family Relations Courthouse before 4:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays only (Spanish interpreters available both days).

Public Transportation/Parking: Readily accessible by light rail and bus services. Shuttle service is also available from light rail to the courthouse at 720 Ninth Street. Parking is available at the Family Relations Courthouse at $0.50 per hour.

Childcare: Free childcare is available for children between the ages of 1 to 12 while attending the workshop. This is available starting at 8:30 a.m., on a first-come, first-served basis.