# Serving California DVRO papers: who can serve and what to file > Official-source California DVRO service steps: you cannot serve the papers yourself, who can serve, free sheriff service, DV-200 proof of service, and the item 6 deadline. **Direct answer.** You cannot serve your own DVRO papers. The server must be 18 or older and not involved in the case. Sheriff service is free for restraining-order papers; after service, the server completes DV-200 proof of service by the item 6 deadline on DV-109. ## Use the court-returned papers, not your draft Service starts after the court returns the filed papers. The returned packet shows the hearing date, what the judicial officer issued, and which papers must be delivered. Compare the service set against the list on the returned DV-109 and any local instructions. A draft DV-110 is not proof that temporary orders were granted. Read item 6 on DV-109. It states how many days before the hearing the papers must be served. Count from the actual hearing date shown on the filed notice and follow any shorter time the court wrote. If the date is unclear or time is running short, contact the clerk or court Self-Help Center promptly. ## You cannot serve the papers yourself California Courts says the person asking for protection cannot serve the papers. The server must be 18 or older, not protected by the restraining order, and not involved in the case. A friend who meets those rules, a professional process server, or law enforcement may be able to serve. Safety matters. Do not ask someone to attempt service if doing so could put them in danger. The official guide specifically suggests considering the sheriff when personal delivery may be unsafe. JusticeOS does not locate the other person, arrange service, or decide whether a proposed server meets a court rule. ## Sheriff or marshal service is free for a DVRO request California Courts says a sheriff or marshal can serve domestic-violence restraining-order papers for free. The current process uses the Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers, form SER-001. The sheriff generally needs an address or location where the other person may be found and enough time to attempt service. Contact the sheriff in the county where the other person can be found, because the filing court and serving county may be different. Ask how that office accepts the request and papers. Some accept electronic delivery; others use in-person or mail procedures. If the person is in jail or a California prison, follow the special route described by the official guide. ## DV-200 is the proof of service After service, the server completes and signs DV-200, Proof of Personal Service. The person asking for protection does not sign as the server, and the restrained person does not need to sign. Review the completed proof for the correct names, date, time, place, forms served, and server information. File the proof of service with the court and keep a copy. Ask the sheriff whether it will file the proof or return it to you, because office practices can differ. Bring a copy to the hearing. Service and the proof of service are separate: delivering the papers is the event, and DV-200 documents that event for the court. If service is not completed, do not invent a date or file a false proof. California Courts describes ways to ask the court for more time and, after documented attempts, potentially request another method. Ask the clerk, Self-Help Center, or a lawyer about the correct next form. JusticeOS is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. ## Questions people ask next ### Can I serve DVRO papers myself? No. California Courts says you cannot serve your own papers. The server must be at least 18 and not protected by or involved in the case. ### Does the sheriff charge to serve a domestic-violence restraining order? California Courts says the sheriff or marshal can serve domestic-violence restraining-order papers for free. Contact the office where the other person can be found for its submission procedure. ### Where is the service deadline? Read item 6 on the file-stamped DV-109. It states how many days before the hearing service must be completed. Follow the actual returned form and any order changing that time. ## Official sources - [California Courts — Sheriff serves your request](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/DV-restraining-order/sheriff-serves-request) - [California Courts — Someone other than the sheriff serves](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/DV-restraining-order/other-serves-request) - [California Courts — DV-200 proof of personal service](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/DV-200) ## Related guides - [DV-109: the hearing notice, and the deadline for serving it](https://justiceos.ai/guides/dv-109) - [How California DVRO filing works after you finish the forms](https://justiceos.ai/guides/dvro-filing) - [California domestic violence restraining-order forms: the starting packet](https://justiceos.ai/guides/california-dvro-forms) - [Renewing a California restraining order: DV-700, and the deadline that ends the option](https://justiceos.ai/guides/dv-700) - [An out-of-state restraining order in California: you are already protected, and DV-600 is optional](https://justiceos.ai/guides/dv-600) - [DV-130: the judge granting your order is not the last step, and this form is the order](https://justiceos.ai/guides/dv-130) - [Organizing pictures, text messages, and emails for a DVRO hearing](https://justiceos.ai/guides/dvro-evidence) Published 2026-07-20. Reviewed against official California Courts guidance on 2026-07-20. --- 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/dvro-service