Quick Resource Guide: Restraining Orders

How to:

• • Domestic Violence Restraining Orders 
  • Civil Harassment Restraining Orders 
  • Elder Abuse Restraining Orders  
  • Workplace Violence Restraining Orders: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/WV-restraining-order
  • Video: Serving Your Civil Harassment Restraining Order Court Forms 

Forms

• • Domestic Violence Restraining Order Forms 
  • Civil Harassment Restraining Order Forms  
  • Elder Abuse Restraining Order Forms 
  • Workplace Violence Restraining Order Forms 
  • Alameda County Next Steps after completing a request for a temporary restraining order:
    • Instructions in English  (PDF, external)
    • Instructions in Spanish (PDF, external)
  • Interactive Form Builder: Domestic Violence, Civil Harassment & Elder Abuse Restraining Orders

Library Books

• • California judges benchguides: civil and special proceedings. KFC970 .C34, shelf 108B.
    Included in this volume is Benchguide 20, Orders prohibiting civil harassment and workplace/postsecondary school violence.  This title is also available as an eBook
  • Family Law Basics, KFC115 .F36 2019, shelf 109B, see chapters 20 and 21 for discussion and forms about DVROs.
  • Judges guide to restraining orders: domestic violence restraining orders, KFC1121.4 .J83 R47 2023, shelf 108B

Videos

Is this Civil Harassment?
Learn the definition of civil harassment, how to identify harassment, and what tools and resources might be available.

Free Legal Help

Alameda County Court Self-Help Center

Contact the SHC via phone or chat to ask a questions, make an appointment, or register for a workshop. The Self-Help Center does not take walk-in patrons, but you may make an appointment to talk to someone in person.

LiveChat – Monday-Thursday, 9AM-12PM

• • • Access via “Need Help” chat widget
    • Login early. They may stop taking chats before the stated hours once reaching capacity.

Phones

• • • Call: (510) 272-1393, Mon-Thurs, 2PM-4PM
    • Voicemails can only be left during phone hours; Messages are returned within 5 business days

All for the Family Legal Clinic, Inc.

• • • 3137 Castro Valley Blvd, #210, Castro Valley, CA, 94546  (510)-999-7732
    • Providing equal access to justice for low-income and modest-means litigants in the Bay Area.

Bay Area Legal Aid 

• • • 1735 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA
    • Legal Advice Line: (510) 250-5270  Visit the Legal Advice Line page for clinic hours.
    • Bay Area Legal Aid gives bankruptcy counseling and consumer debt advice.

Community Legal Assistance Saturday Program (CLASP)  Free all-topics telephone legal clinic on the first Saturday of the month.  Volunteer attorneys speak with individuals for 15-20 minutes.  To make an appointment, call the intake line at (510) 485-9933 between 10:00 am – noon on the first Saturday/month and an attorney will call you back later that day.  CLASP Flyer:  (PDF)

Family Violence Law Center 

• • • 470 27th Street, Oakland, CA 94612
    • Phone: (800) 947-8301

Assists with domestic violence restraining order and family court orders.

Legal Assistance for Seniors:

• • • 333 Hegenberger Rd #850, Oakland, CA
    • Phone: (510) 832-3040

Assist seniors with elder abuse restraining orders.

Hire an Attorney

Alameda County Bar Association Attorney Referral Service
Receive a match with a carefully pre-screened local lawyer qualified to help you with your legal needs.  There is a $40 administrative fee, but the initial consultation with the attorney is free.  If you want to hire the attorney, you will need to discuss that separately.

• • • Call to make an appointment:  (510) 302-2222 x4
    • Can also self-book consultations online

BALI: Bay Area Legal Incubator
Affordable legal services.  Some attorneys offer sliding scale fees.  In-take form available on website, and you can also read the profiles and get contact information for the BALI attorneys.

• • • Address: 125 12^th St. Mezzanine Level, Oakland, CA  94611
    • Visit the website to view BALI attorneys and get individual contact information.

Updated April 14, 2026