# DV-100 "Describe Abuse": what items 5, 6 and 7 ask > Plain-English walkthrough of the DV-100 Describe Abuse section: dates, witnesses, weapons, harm, police, details, extra pages (DV-101). Official form citations. Not legal advice. **Direct answer.** On DV-100, items 5, 6 and 7 ask about the most recent abuse and other incidents. For each one the form asks the date (an estimate is OK), who saw or heard it, whether a weapon was used, any harm, whether police came, details in your own words, and how often it happened. Need more room? Use DV-101 or an extra page titled "Describe Abuse." ## Before you start: the other person will read this A copy of DV-100 is served on the restrained person. CLETS-001 is the confidential form kept out of the public court file. You can use a mailing address on DV-100 when the form allows it. See our address privacy guide for how courts handle safe addresses. If this device is not private, use Quick exit (Escape twice) or private browsing before you continue. ## What the form means by "abuse" The form’s page 2 introduction says you should explain how the person in item 2 has been abusive and that the judge will use this information to decide your request. It lists examples such as repeated unwanted contact, tracking or controlling movements, isolating you, threats based on immigration status, stopping you from accessing money, interfering with contraception or pregnancy, harassment, hitting, threatening, choking or strangling, abusing a pet, destroying property, or abusing your children. The form says: "It is not a complete list." California law defines abuse in Fam. Code § 6203 and § 6320. This page does not judge whether your facts meet those definitions; a judicial officer decides that. ## Item 5: Most recent abuse, question by question Item 5a asks for the date (the form says an estimate is OK if you do not know the exact date). Item 5b asks for witnesses. Item 5c asks whether a gun or other weapon was used. Item 5d asks about emotional or physical harm. Item 5e asks whether police came. Item 5f asks for more details in your own words, with examples such as text messages, emails, or pictures. Item 5g asks how often it happened, with checkboxes for just once, two to five times, weekly, or other (with dates or estimates). ## Item 6: Abuse in a different way Item 6 is for abuse that happened in a different way than what you described in item 5. The form uses the same sub-questions (dates, witnesses, weapon, harm, police, details, how often). ## Item 7: Other abuse you want the judge to know about Item 7 is for any other abuse you want the judge to know about, using the same sub-questions as items 5 and 6. ## Out of room? DV-101 or an extra page Check the box on page 4 if you need more space. Use form DV-101, Description of Abuse, or a separate sheet titled "Describe Abuse." Enter the total page count in item 32. Sign item 33 under penalty of perjury; the date line is separate from the printed name. ## How JusticeOS helps with this section JusticeOS helps you fill in the forms you choose, at your direction. The guided interview asks each item 5 sub-question one at a time and places your words in the right boxes and continuation pages. It does not write your story or tell you what to include. Free Clerk Check flags blank required items and missing signatures. We help you complete the forms you select, at your direction. ## Questions people ask next ### What is the "Describe Abuse" section of DV-100? Items 5 to 7 on pages 2 to 4, where you explain in your own words how the other person has been abusive. The form says the judge uses this to decide your request. ### Do I need exact dates? The form says to give an estimate if you do not know the exact date. ### Can I mention texts, emails or photos? Item 5f lists text messages, emails, or pictures as examples of details. Bringing evidence to the hearing is covered in our hearing evidence guide. ### What if I run out of space? Check the box on page 4 and use DV-101 or a separate page titled "Describe Abuse," then enter the page count in item 32. ### Will the other person see what I write? Yes, they get a copy of DV-100. CLETS-001 is the confidential form. ### Does it have to be physical abuse? The form’s own examples include non-physical acts, and it says the list is not complete. Whether a situation qualifies is for the judge. ### Can JusticeOS tell me what to write? No. We explain what each question asks and put your answers on the form. For advice, contact a court self-help center or a lawyer. ### Is there a fee to file DV-100? No court fee. JusticeOS prep is one payment per case, shown as {price} from the site price config; free with a fee waiver. ## Official sources - [Judicial Council DV-100 (Rev. Jan 1, 2025)](https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/dv100.pdf) - [Judicial Council DV-101 (Rev. Jan 1, 2017)](https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/dv101.pdf) - [California Courts: Fill out DVRO forms](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/DV-restraining-order/fill-forms) - [Fam. Code § 6203 (abuse definition)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAM§ionNum=6203.) - [Fam. Code § 6320 (behavior enjoinable)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAM§ionNum=6320.) ## Related guides - [DV-100: what the California request form asks for](https://justiceos.ai/guides/dv-100) - [Does a restraining order show your address? What the other person sees, and the form field that protects you](https://justiceos.ai/guides/dvro-address-privacy) - [Organizing pictures, text messages, and emails for a DVRO hearing](https://justiceos.ai/guides/dvro-evidence) - [CLETS-001: the confidential form the other person never sees](https://justiceos.ai/guides/clets-001) - [How to check California DVRO forms for common completeness problems](https://justiceos.ai/guides/check-california-dvro-forms) Published 2026-10-13. Reviewed against official California Courts guidance on 2026-10-13. --- 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. Canonical HTML: https://justiceos.ai/guides/dv-100-describe-abuse