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Resources by Category
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Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) resources for both parties in new RO requests or modifications to active ROs
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Custody & Visitation
The rights and responsibilities between parents as it relates to their children and time spent with their children
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Child Support
A recurring payment from the noncustodial parent to the custodial parent for the support of their minor children
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Spousal Support
A recurring payment from one spouse to the other spouse during or after a divorce (aka. alimony)
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Restraining Orders
General information on other restraining order types (non-DV) such as CHROs, WVROs, EAROs, and GVROs
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Court Procedures
Learn about legal processes like filing court forms, service of process, and hearing preparation
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Division of Property
Separate, Community, and Quasi-Community property determinations (i.e. asset division in divorce cases)
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Divorce
Dissolution of Marriage or Dissolution of Registered Domestic Partnership cases involving no/minimal assets
Family Law Videos
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General CA Restraining Order & Family Law Information
This video provides an overview of the general steps and processes related to filing a Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) in the state of California.
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Petitioner's DV Restraining Order Videos (Party Seeking Protection)
This video explains how restraining order petitioners can request stay-away orders that, if granted, legally prohibit the restrained party from coming within a specified distance of select locations, providing an essential layer of protection in DVRO cases.
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Respondent's DV Restraining Order Videos (Party Against Whom DVRO is Sought)
This video provides an overview of the general steps and processes related to contesting a restraining order request by filing a Response to Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order in situations involving fabricated abuse allegations.
Common Legal Terms
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A restraining order is a court-issued order that directs a person to stop harming, threatening, contacting, or coming near another person. It can impose a wide range of protections, including no-contact orders, stay-away distances, removal from a shared residence, child custody and visitation orders, support orders, and more.
In California, several types of restraining orders are available depending on the situation, including Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs), Civil Harassment Restraining Orders (CHROs), Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Orders (EAROs), Workplace Violence Restraining Orders (WVROs), and Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs). Each type is designed to protect individuals from different forms of abuse, harassment, or threats—whether by a family member, acquaintance, caregiver, coworker, or someone posing a risk of firearm violence.
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The right and responsibility to make important decisions about a child’s health, education, and well-being. Legal custody can be joint (shared by both parents) or sole (given to one parent).
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A written statement filed with the court and completed by a process or other personal server, which states that a copy of a document was served on its intended recipient.
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This legal standard is used in California family law to determine a range of decisions affecting a child, including custody, visitation, and parenting plans. According to California Family Code Section 3011, the court considers several factors to determine what will best serve the health, safety, and welfare of the child. These factors include, but are not limited to:
The health, safety, and welfare of the child.
Any history of abuse by one parent or any other person seeking custody against any related child, a parent of the child, or a person with whom the parent or child has resided.
The nature and amount of contact with both parents.
The habitual or continual illegal use of controlled substances or habitual or continual abuse of alcohol by either parent.
Any other factors considered relevant by the court.
FREE California Judicial Council Forms (Court Forms)
