If law enforcement showed up to an incident and gave you some of protective order before leaving, it is most likely an emergency protective order (EPO). There should be a title at the top of the document. You can verify whether it’s an EPO and what that means by contacting the Santa Cruz County DIstrict Attorney and requesting to speak with a victim’s advocate.

Our helpline advocates can provide general information about EPOs and what they are, but they cannot access any information specifically about your case.

You will need to fill out some paperwork and submit it to the county court clerk. You can get the paperwork at:

• Walnut Avenue or Monarch Services

• The Self-Help Center or Law Library

• Online at the California Self-Help website

After submitting your paperwork, a judge will review what you wrote and decide whether or not to grant the terms you requested.

There are four main phases of applying for a restraining order:

1. Submit your paperwork petition asking the court for an RO

2. Serve a copy of your paperwork along with the judge’s decision to the other party

3. Prepare for your hearing

4. Appear in person or via Zoom for your hearing

This process is the same for both domestic violence and elder abuse restraining orders, even though the paperwork is a little bit different for each one.

Everyone has a Constitutional right to know the details of what another person is alleging about them in the court system. This means that the person who harmed you will, by law, have an opportunity to read anything you’ve written in restraining order document.

For some people, this is not an option. You may reach out to our helpline at any time to talk about safety-planning and alternatives.

Yes. The person who is asking for protection from a restraining order must appear in court and speak with a judge.

However, you do not need to appear in person. Santa Cruz County allows people to appear in court via Zoom using links that are available on the Santa Cruz County court website.