Gun Violence Restraining Orders
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Overview
There are different types of restraining orders. A gun violence restraining order can stop someone from having, owning, or buying any firearms (guns), firearm parts, ammunition, or magazines.
Requesting a Gun Violence Restraining Order
Requesting a restraining order can be an overwhelming process, but there are resources to help. Additional information including who can ask for a gun violence restraining order as well as the steps required for filing a Gun Violence Restraining Order can be found on the California Courts' Self-Help page Gun Violence Restraining Orders in California.
Online Submission Process
The Court provides the ability to submit your domestic violence and gun violence restraining order documents online.
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Prepare Your Forms
You will need to fill out at least four forms to ask for a gun violence restraining order. For additional information and to find the forms that are required, visit the California Courts' Self-Help Guide page Fill out gun violence restraining order forms.
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Online Submission System
Once you have prepared all the necessary documents and have them saved to your device, you can proceed to the Domestic Violence & Gun Violence Restraining Order Online Submission System to upload your forms and submit them to the court for processing.
Domestic Violence & Gun Violence Restraining Order Online Submission System
Alternatively, you can print and file your forms with the clerks office at the Hall of Justice. If filing at the Hall of Justice, you will need to make two copies. You'll need the two copies, plus the original, when you file with the court.
There are no fees for filing these documents.
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After Submission
After you file your forms with the court, a judge will review your court papers to decide whether to grant temporary protection, if you asked for it. After the judge decides, you'll need to pick up the papers from the court. After you get your papers back, be sure to look at them to see what the judge ordered.
You must have someone give a copy of your court papers to the other person you want a restraining order against (the other side in your case). This is called serving court papers. The Sheriff's Office will serve your court papers for free. Contact the Sheriff's Office at (530) 251-8014 or visit the Civil page of the Sheriff's Office website for additional information. If you don't want the sheriff to serve your court papers, you can hire a process server or ask someone you know to be your server. If you want someone you know to serve your papers, they must be:
- 18 or over, and
- not part of your case
You can't serve your papers yourself. Think about safety when choosing your server.
Find additional information on serving the other side, going to court, finishing your case, and more on the California Courts' Self-Help Guide. See the Restraining Order Process for Gun Violence Cases page.
Restraining Order Process for Gun Violence Cases
You may appear remotely at your court hearing. To view additional information and for the Zoom connection details, see the Domestic Violence & Gun Violence Restraining Order Petitions section of the Zoom Appearance page.
Respond to Gun Violence Restraining Order
If someone has filed court papers to ask for a gun violence restraining order against you, carefully read over the papers you were given to see what steps you need to take. For additional information to help you figure out what is required and in determining your options, see the What if someone asked for a restraining order against me? section on the California Courts' Self-Help Guide page Gun Violence Restraining Orders in California.