# Do I need a lawyer for a restraining order in California?

> What California Courts says about asking for a domestic violence restraining order without a lawyer, the free help at every court, how to find a lawyer through a State Bar certified referral service if you want one, and how to prepare the forms yourself.

**Direct answer.** You can ask for a domestic violence restraining order in California without a lawyer. California Courts states: “There is no court fee to file to ask for a domestic violence restraining order, and you do not have to have a lawyer.” The court self-help center in your county can help you with the forms for free. If you want a lawyer, the State Bar of California lists certified lawyer referral services by county, and lawyers referred through them offer a first consultation for a reduced fee or no fee.

## Steps at a glance

1. Get the forms: DV-100, CLETS-001, DV-109 and DV-110
2. Ask your court’s Self-Help Center for free help with them, or prepare them yourself
3. File the forms with the superior court in your county
4. Have an adult who is not you serve the other person
5. Go to the hearing on the date written on DV-109

## What California Courts says

The California Courts self-help guide for domestic violence restraining orders states: “There is no court fee to file to ask for a domestic violence restraining order, and you do not have to have a lawyer.” The same page says that if you want help with the forms, you can contact your court’s self-help center.

The guide also states that once you turn in your forms, the judge decides on temporary protection the same day or by the next business day, and that people 12 or older can ask for a restraining order on their own.

For the person a restraining order is filed against, California Courts states: “You don’t have to have a lawyer in this case, but if you want one you will need to hire a lawyer.” That person can also get free help from a court self-help center.

## Free help at every court

California Courts states that every superior court has a Self-Help Center that provides free legal help to people who do not have a lawyer, and that it does not matter how much money you make. Both sides of a case can use it. Any lawyer you speak with there works for the court and is not your lawyer, and what you say is not confidential.

A family law facilitator is a lawyer with experience in family law who works for the court. California Courts states some facilitators help with domestic violence, and that a facilitator can give you the court forms and help you fill them out.

- Self-Help Center staff can tell you about your case, help with the forms you need, and explain your legal options.
- They cannot give legal advice or go to court for you.
- Help can be in person, over the phone or online, depending on the court.

## Free court help in the counties people search for most

These are the self-help offices each court names on its own website. Hours and appointment rules change, so check the court’s page before you go.

| County | Free help named by the court | Court page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sonoma | Family Law Facilitator’s Office; the court’s Domestic Violence page posts the restraining order form packets and states there is no fee for the request | sonoma.courts.ca.gov/self-help/domestic-violence |
| San Bernardino | Self-Help Center, with in-person help from court staff | sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/self-help |
| Ventura | Family Law Self-Help Center at the Ventura Courthouse and the Oxnard (El Rio) courthouse | ventura.courts.ca.gov/self-help/family-law-self-help-center |
| Kern (Bakersfield) | Self-Help Center and Family Law Facilitator | kern.courts.ca.gov/self-help/help-resources |
| Marin | Legal Self-Help Center | marin.courts.ca.gov/self-help/legal-self-help-center |

## If you want a lawyer

The State Bar of California certifies lawyer referral services and publishes a directory you can search by county, area of law and language. The State Bar states that a certified service can help you work out whether your problem can be resolved without a lawyer, that referred lawyers must be in good standing and carry professional liability insurance, and that they offer a first consultation for a reduced fee or no fee. You are not obligated to hire the lawyer you are referred to.

The State Bar itself is not a lawyer referral service and cannot direct you to a lawyer. Your court’s Self-Help Center can also point you to local referral options.

## Preparing the forms yourself

Most people start with four forms: DV-100, CLETS-001, DV-109 and DV-110. JusticeOS is software that fills in those four forms from your answers to plain questions, plus the FAM-020 cover sheet for Los Angeles cases. You review every field, sign, and file the packet with your county court yourself.

The court charges no fee to file the request (Fam. Code § 6222). JusticeOS costs $19.99 once per case for the packet, or nothing with a fee waiver, and the Clerk Check for common completeness problems is free.

## Questions people ask next

### Do I need a lawyer for a restraining order in Sonoma County?

No. California Courts states you do not have to have a lawyer to ask for a domestic violence restraining order. The Sonoma County Superior Court’s Family Law Facilitator’s Office helps people without a lawyer, and the court’s Domestic Violence page posts the form packets and states there is no fee for the request.

### How do I find a restraining order attorney in Sonoma County?

Search the State Bar of California’s directory of certified lawyer referral services by county and area of law. Lawyers referred through a certified service must be in good standing with the State Bar and carry professional liability insurance, and they offer a first consultation for a reduced fee or no fee.

### Can I get a restraining order in Bakersfield without a lawyer?

Yes. California Courts states you do not have to have a lawyer. The Kern County Superior Court lists a Self-Help Center and a Family Law Facilitator on its help resources page, and there is no court fee to file the request.

### Is there free legal help for a restraining order in California?

Yes. California Courts states every superior court has a Self-Help Center, free for anyone without their own lawyer whatever their income. Staff can help with the forms and explain your options, but they cannot give legal advice or go to court for you.

### Does it cost anything to file a restraining order without a lawyer?

No. There is no court fee to ask for a domestic violence restraining order (Fam. Code § 6222), and California Courts states the sheriff can serve the papers for free.

### Do I need a lawyer if someone filed a restraining order against me?

No. California Courts states you do not have to have a lawyer, but if you want one you will need to hire one. You can also get free help from a court self-help center. If you were served with DV-110, you must follow every order on it.

## Official sources

- [California Courts: Domestic violence restraining orders in California](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/DV-restraining-order)
- [California Courts: Court-based self-help services](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/court-based-self-help-services)
- [California Courts: Find your Self-Help Center](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/self-help/find-self-help)
- [State Bar of California: Find a Lawyer Referral Service](https://www.calbar.ca.gov/public/find-legal-professionals/find-lawyer-referral-service)
- [Superior Court of Sonoma County: Domestic Violence](https://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/self-help/domestic-violence)
- [Superior Court of San Bernardino County: Self-Help](https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/self-help)
- [Superior Court of Ventura County: Family Law Self-Help Center](https://ventura.courts.ca.gov/self-help/family-law-self-help-center)
- [Superior Court of Kern County: Help Resources](https://www.kern.courts.ca.gov/self-help/help-resources)
- [Superior Court of Marin County: Legal Self-Help Center](https://www.marin.courts.ca.gov/self-help/legal-self-help-center)
- [California Family Code § 6222 (no filing fee)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAM&sectionNum=6222)

## Related guides

- [DVRO form preparation in California](https://justiceos.ai/guides/dvro-form-preparation-california)
- [How to File a Domestic Violence Restraining Order in Sonoma County, California](https://justiceos.ai/guides/sonoma-county-dv-restraining-order)
- [How to File a Domestic Violence Restraining Order in Kern County, California](https://justiceos.ai/guides/kern-county-dv-restraining-order)
- [How to File a Domestic Violence Restraining Order in Ventura County, California](https://justiceos.ai/guides/ventura-county-dv-restraining-order)
- [How to File a Domestic Violence Restraining Order in San Bernardino County, California](https://justiceos.ai/guides/san-bernardino-county-dv-restraining-order)
- [How to File a Domestic Violence Restraining Order in Marin County, California](https://justiceos.ai/guides/marin-county-dv-restraining-order)

Published 2026-10-21. Reviewed against official California Courts guidance on 2026-10-21.

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JusticeOS is not a law firm, is not your lawyer, and does not give legal advice. It explains California court forms and procedure in plain language and cites official sources. In immediate danger call 911. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233.

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