Restraining Orders

• If you are in immediate danger, call or text 9-1-1 or find safety now.
• The websites you view may later also be viewed by someone else on your computer or phone.  Clear your browsing history when you are finished searching the web.  If you have concerns, use a public or friend’s computer. 
• There is NO FEE to file for a domestic violence restraining order. 

If you need protection right now

You should:

• Call "911", or

• A local law enforcement agency, or

• A local domestic violence shelter 1-714-992-1931, or

• National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233; TDD 1-800-787-3224

• If the abuse is taking place in a licensed care facility (i.e. nursing home or board and care facility) contact the local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Service at [phone numbers]. Or, you may contact the statewide ombudsman at [phone numbers]. For more information on the Long-Term Care Ombudsman: link

Emergency Hot Lines

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What if I have a disability and need special accommodations?

If you have a disability and need help, fill out a Request for Accommodations By Persons With Disabilities (MC-410) and file it with the court as soon as possible, but at least five days before the trial date.

What if I need an interpreter?

Selecting an Interpreter

By law, in California all official court business must be conducted in English. When one of the parties or witnesses in a case does not speak English well, that person will need a court interpreter (who speaks English and the non-English speaker’s first language) so he or she can understand what is going on and talk to the judge.
For more information on how to request a free interpreter, please click here for the Court Interpreter page.

If you chose to hire your own interpreter, make sure you get an experienced court interpreter, you should consider a professional interpreter who has passed the required examinations and has officially registered and been approved as a court interpreter by the Judicial Council of California.

There are 2 types of officially-approved court interpreters in California:

• Certified court interpreters: Only interpreters who pass the Court Interpreter Certification Examination and register with the Judicial Council are referred to as “certified" in these 13 languages:
  American Sign Language, Arabic, Cantonese, Eastern Armenian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Western Armenian.
• Registered court interpreters: Interpreters of spoken languages for which there is no state certifying examination are called “registered interpreters of non-designated languages.” They must pass an English proficiency examination, and register with the state’s Judicial Council.

Translation of Documents

The California Courts website has a list of certified and registered interpreters for oral interpretation. Certified and registered interpreters may also translate documents, however, the California Courts does not test or certify an interpreter's written translation skills. The American Translators Association can also interpret documents.

Tips for Using an Interpreter

Using a court interpreter can be awkward because you have to go through another person to get your information or talk to the judge. Follow these tips when using an interpreter in a courtroom:

• Listen carefully to the interpreter.
• Wait for the interpreter to finish talking before you answer.
• Speak slowly so the interpreter can hear everything you say.

Do not interrupt, even if someone in court says something bad about you. You will get a chance to speak.

Interpreters for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Note: There are also American Sign Language interpreters and real time captioning for parties and witnesses that are deaf or hard-of-hearing (or have another disability). The court will provide a sign language interpreter or court reporter for you or other accommodation you may need. You can read more about this in the For Persons With Disabilities Requesting Accommodations section of this website to learn about the court's policy for accommodating persons with disabilities. Make your request as soon as possible, but at least 5 days prior to the hearing.

Can I bring children to court?

Children may be brought to the court and may stay in "Children’s Waiting Room" while their caregivers are conducting business with the court. Children’s Waiting Room is a safe drop-in center for children that lets children be children instead of spending long sessions listening to adult interactions that could be painful or frightening.

Children's Waiting Room

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