Quick answer
Filing a domestic violence restraining order in El Dorado County: Placerville and South Lake Tahoe locations, forms, fees, and self-help. The Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado lists these DVRO filing locations in its official restraining-order packets:
Filing in El Dorado County
How to File a Domestic Violence Restraining Order in El Dorado County, California
Filing a domestic violence restraining order in El Dorado County: Placerville and South Lake Tahoe locations, forms, fees, and self-help.
Direct answer
When someone you have a close relationship with is hurting or threatening you, the court can order them to stop and stay away. This page explains how to file that request in El Dorado County: where to go on the West Slope or in South Lake Tahoe, which forms to complete, and what happens next.
Where to file in El Dorado County
The Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado lists these DVRO filing locations in its official restraining-order packets:
Confirm current hours on the court's official site: eldorado.courts.ca.gov
- Placerville Building C Branch (West Slope): 2850 Fairlane Court, Suite 120, Placerville, CA 95667. Phone: (530) 621-5047.
- South Lake Tahoe Branch: 1354 Johnson Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. Phone: (530) 573-3075.
The forms you'll need
The court provides a free DVRO packet with all required Judicial Council forms. It also offers a local coversheet, F-111, for requests involving minor children, but F-111 is explicitly marked "Optional Use" (revised 3/16/2026), so it is not required. If you're asking for custody or visitation orders, the packet lists DV-105, DV-108, DV-140, DV-145, and DV-150 as applicable. One more local form worth knowing: C-30 (Request and Order for Free Service of Orders) is required only if you're asking for free law-enforcement service from an agency outside El Dorado County.
Filing online or by e-file: El Dorado lets you submit DVRO forms online through separate Western Slope and South Lake Tahoe links on the court's site. Self-represented filers are exempt from mandatory e-filing but may e-file. If you do: filings must be text-searchable PDFs, every page numbered, and documents of 10+ pages with sections or exhibits must include bookmarks. Common rejection reasons the court publishes include wrong PDF grouping, mismatched data/document images, the wrong payment type, wrong case/location/party type, duplicate or late submissions, and noncompliance with the rules: check your packet against the court's e-filing requirements before submitting.
- DV-100: the request for the restraining order itself; describes what happened and what protection you need.
- DV-109: notice of the court hearing date.
- DV-110: the temporary restraining order a judge can grant before the hearing.
- DV-130: the restraining order after hearing (blank at filing; the judge completes it if your request is granted).
- CLETS-001: confidential information for law enforcement (kept private from the other party).
- DV-105: if the case involves minor children, request custody and visitation orders on this form (file it with the initial packet when children are involved).
- DV-120: the form the other party uses to respond; you don't fill it out yourself, but you serve a blank copy on them with your other papers.
What it costs
There is no filing fee for a domestic violence restraining order in California: state law charges no fee to request, modify, or enforce one (Gov. Code § 70671(f)). You don't need FW-001 (the fee-waiver request) for the DVRO itself. If a separate fee-bearing filing comes up (for example, the divorce packets the court publishes list a $435 filing fee), FW-001 asks the court to waive it. The Family Law Facilitator's Office can also answer questions about fees and waivers.
What happens after you file
Under Fam. Code § 6326, a judge issues or denies an ex parte request the same court day it is submitted, or the next court day if filed too late for review that day. If a temporary order is granted or denied, the hearing date is on the stamped DV-109 (Fam. Code § 242). The other party must be legally served with the papers. Bring your forms and any evidence (messages, photos, police reports) to the hearing.
Local help in El Dorado County
The court's Family Law Facilitator / Self-Help Center provides free assistance with domestic violence restraining orders, now located at the Placerville Building C Branch (2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville, CA 95667). Phone: (530) 621-5098. Check the court's website for walk-in clinic and call-in hours. South Lake Tahoe: (530) 573-3066.
Questions people ask next
How long does it take?
The judge's first review is usually within 24 hours; the hearing is typically scheduled within 21 days.
Do I need a lawyer?
No. The Family Law Facilitator's Office gives free help with DVRO paperwork, and many people file on their own.
What if I can't afford the fee?
There's no fee for the DVRO request itself. For any separate fee-bearing filing, submit FW-001 with your request and ask the judge to waive the fees.
What if I'm in danger right now?
Call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 is free, confidential, and staffed 24/7.
Can I file in Spanish?
Many courts offer Spanish forms and help: ask the Self-Help Center what El Dorado County provides.
Official sources
Open the current source before acting. Court forms and county procedures can change.
Ready for the document step?
Use the guide to understand the process, then review every field before a packet leaves your hands.