We help you ask the court for a restraining order — quickly, carefully, and with a real lawyer behind every step. Attorney-supervised and mobile-first. Lawma’s guided intake is free; the licensed attorney you choose quotes a flat fee before any work starts (and California waives the court filing fee for restraining-order petitions).
If you are in immediate danger, call 911 first.
A restraining order is a powerful legal tool, but it is not an emergency response. If you are being hurt right now, or are afraid you're about to be, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233 — free, confidential, available 24 hours a day. When you're safe, come back here and we'll help you with the legal protection.
What a restraining order does
A restraining order is a court order that tells a specific person they cannot contact you, cannot come near you, and in many cases cannot own a firearm. Breaking it is a crime, which means police can act on it immediately.
California offers four types of restraining orders, and the right one depends on your relationship to the person you need protection from. We'll help you figure out which one fits — that choice matters more than most people realize.
The four California categories
California law uses a different form for each kind of relationship. Your attorney will confirm the right one — but here's a plain- English map.
Domestic violence (DV-100)
When the person is a current or former spouse or partner, someone you dated, the parent of your child, a close relative, or someone who lives in your home. No filing fee.
Civil harassment (CH-100)
When the person is a neighbor, a coworker, an acquaintance, a stranger — anyone you don't have a close family or romantic relationship with — who is harassing or threatening you.
Elder & dependent adult abuse (EA-100)
For protecting someone 65 or older, or a dependent adult, from physical, financial, emotional, or neglect-based abuse. Family members can ask on the elder's behalf.
Gun violence (GV-100)
Asks a court to temporarily remove firearms from someone who poses a danger to themselves or others. Family members, employers, teachers, and law enforcement can request one.
Note — California also offers workplace violence restraining orders (WV-100, requested by an employer) and elder/dependent abuse orders (EA-100). Your attorney will confirm the precise category that applies to your situation.
The process
How pricing works
Your lawyer charges a pre-negotiated flat fee for the whole matter — typically $200 to $3,500, depending on complexity. Restraining-order matters generally fall toward the higher end because of the hearing prep. That single fee covers your attorney's work AND everything Lawma does.
For comparison, an attorney-handled restraining-order matter typically runs $1,500 to $4,000 in attorney fees alone.
If you qualify for legal aid, your fee is waived. Permanently.That's a Lawma commitment.
Traditional-attorney fee ranges are market estimates from industry surveys; specific quotes vary by attorney, jurisdiction, and matter complexity.
California also waives the court filing fee for domestic violence, elder abuse, and gun-violence restraining orders — there is no fee to ask the court for the protection you need. Civil harassment cases carry a filing fee, which can be waived based on income; we help you file the waiver if you qualify.
Questions people ask
What if they don't know I'm asking?
You can ask for a temporary order without notifying them first — that's the whole point of a TRO. They'll be served afterward and given a chance to respond at the hearing.
Will they show up at the hearing?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Either way, your attorney is there with you, and the hearing rooms are courthouse courtrooms — public, supervised, protected.
Can I include my children?
Yes. A domestic violence restraining order can protect you and your children, set temporary custody, and order the other person to stay away from their school or daycare.
Is this on my public record?
The case is in the court system. Your safety is the priority — but your attorney can talk through what is and isn't visible, and how to keep your address out of court papers if you need to.
These vetted partners help with the things a restraining order does not directly cover — safety, mental health, advocacy. Lawma earns a small fee when you connect with one.
Process servers
Swift Serve
Same-day service on most family-court papers, with a certified Proof of Service handed back to your attorney.
Mental health
Warmlight Therapy
Vetted, licensed therapists with sliding-scale rates. Telehealth and in-person. Covers divorce, separation, parenting transitions, and trauma support.
DV advocacy
Open Arms
24/7 confidential advocacy, shelter referrals, and accompaniment to court hearings — at no cost to survivors. National network.
Intake happens on Lawma — you never hand your details to a third-party form. Lawma earns a small referral fee when you connect with a partner; we only list services that meet our review bar, and we never run ads on your case file.
A confidential first conversation. No commitment. No cost.
