If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, please call 911 right now. If you need to talk with someone about abuse at any hour, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233. This article is general information only, and it is never a substitute for immediate help.
Safety first. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support any time of day, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. A domestic violence advocate or your county's court self-help center can also help you understand your order and plan for your safety, at no cost.
Form DV-110, Temporary Restraining Order (CLETS-TRO), is the order a California judge issues after someone files a DV-100 request for a domestic violence restraining order. Unlike DV-100, this is not a form you fill out yourself. It is a court order, written and signed by the judge, that puts protections in place quickly while the case moves toward a full hearing.
This guide explains what DV-110 covers, who is responsible for completing it, and what a protected person needs to do and expect once it is issued. It is information only, not legal advice, and it does not replace a conversation with an advocate, a self-help center, or an attorney about your specific situation.
<h2 id="what-is-dv-110">What Is Form DV-110?</h2>Form DV-110 is the California Judicial Council order titled "Temporary Restraining Order (CLETS-TRO)." A judge issues it after reviewing a DV-100 request, generally the same day or very soon after filing, often without the restrained person present.
DV-110 is meant to bridge the gap between the moment someone asks for protection and the full court hearing where both sides can be heard. It grants some or all of the protections requested on DV-100, on a temporary basis, so a protected person is not left waiting weeks with no order in place at all.
Because DV-110 is a court order rather than an application, it becomes enforceable by law enforcement once it is issued and the restrained person has been properly served with a copy.
The judge, not the person requesting protection, completes and signs Form DV-110. The judge reviews the DV-100 request, along with any supporting information, and decides which of the requested protections to grant on a temporary basis.
That said, understanding DV-110 still matters for the protected person. It tells you exactly what protections are currently in place, what the restrained person is and is not allowed to do, and what your responsibilities are before the hearing, including making sure the restrained person is formally served with a copy of both the order and the hearing paperwork.
If any part of the order is unclear, or if you believe it should include a protection that was left out, a domestic violence advocate or your court's self-help center can help you understand your options, including whether you can ask the court to address it before or at the hearing.
<h2 id="orders-a-tro-can-include">Orders a Temporary Restraining Order Can Include</h2>A DV-110 can include several categories of protection, depending on what was requested and what the judge finds appropriate based on the facts presented.
| Order Type | What It Generally Does |
|---|---|
| Personal conduct orders | Prohibit the restrained person from contacting, harassing, threatening, or abusing you and other protected people |
| Stay away orders | Require the restrained person to keep a set distance from you, your home, your workplace, and your children's school |
| Move out orders | Require the restrained person to leave a home you share, when appropriate |
| Temporary custody and visitation | Set short term custody arrangements and, if applicable, limited or supervised visitation with shared children |
| Firearms restrictions | Prohibit the restrained person from owning, possessing, or purchasing firearms and ammunition, and generally require surrender of any firearms already owned |
Personal Conduct Orders
These are the core of most temporary restraining orders. They prohibit the restrained person from contacting you directly or indirectly, including by phone, text, email, social media, or through a third party, and from harassing, threatening, or abusing you or other protected people named in the order.
Stay Away Orders
A stay away order sets a specific distance, commonly measured in yards, that the restrained person must keep from you, your home, your job, your vehicle, and your children's school. These distances are meant to reduce the chance of an unplanned encounter while the case is pending.
Move Out Orders
When you and the restrained person share a home, the judge can order them to move out temporarily, even if the home is jointly owned or leased. This order is meant to give you a safe place to stay while the case proceeds.
Temporary Custody and Visitation
If you share children with the restrained person, a DV-110 can set temporary custody with you and establish limited, supervised, or no visitation for the restrained person until the hearing. These arrangements are temporary by design and are revisited at the hearing.
Firearms Restrictions
When firearms restrictions apply, the restrained person is generally prohibited from owning, possessing, or attempting to purchase firearms or ammunition, and is required to turn in any firearms they already own according to the court's instructions, for as long as the order is in effect.
Key Takeaway: A DV-110 only includes the protections a judge actually grants, which are based on what was requested on DV-100 and the facts presented. If you believe a protection is missing, a domestic violence advocate or self-help center can help you understand whether it can still be addressed before the hearing.
A DV-110 is, by design, temporary. It generally remains in effect from the date the judge signs it until the date of the scheduled court hearing, which is typically set within about three weeks of filing.
The order does not extend indefinitely on its own. At the hearing, a judge decides whether to issue a longer term restraining order, generally lasting up to five years and renewable afterward, deny the request, or make some other order based on what both sides present. If service on the restrained person has not been completed in time, courts commonly reschedule the hearing and extend the temporary order to cover the new date so protection does not lapse.
<h2 id="serving-the-restrained-person">Serving the Restrained Person</h2>A DV-110 is only enforceable against the restrained person once they have been formally served with a copy of the order and the related hearing paperwork. Service means the documents are delivered to them in a way the court recognizes, generally by someone over 18 who is not a party to the case, such as a process server, sheriff, or another eligible adult.
- The restrained person generally cannot be held to the order's terms until they have actually been served
- You cannot serve the papers yourself
- Service must typically happen a set number of days before the hearing, so it should be arranged as soon as possible after the DV-110 is issued
- If the restrained person cannot be located or served in time, the hearing is often rescheduled and the temporary order extended
Your court's self-help center or clerk's office can explain the local process for arranging service, including any free or low cost options such as service by the sheriff's department in domestic violence cases.
<h2 id="the-hearing">What Happens at the Hearing</h2>The hearing is where both you and the restrained person have the opportunity to appear before a judge and be heard. In general:
- Both parties can present evidence, testimony, and any documentation supporting their position
- The judge reviews everything presented, along with the original DV-100 request and the temporary order already in place
- The judge decides whether to issue a longer term restraining order, deny the request, or make another order, such as continuing the case for more information
- If a longer term order is granted, it generally replaces the temporary DV-110 and can last up to five years, with the possibility of renewal later
Bring any additional evidence you have, such as messages, photos, or witness information, and consider asking a domestic violence advocate to attend with you. Because the outcome affects your ongoing safety and, often, custody of your children, speaking with an advocate, your court's self-help center, or an attorney before the hearing is strongly recommended. If you and the restrained person share children, our guide on How to Fill Out Form DV-100 covers how the underlying request and custody terms fit together.
<h2 id="staying-safe-after-filing">Staying Safe and Prepared After Filing</h2>Once a DV-110 is issued, a few practical steps can help you stay protected and prepared for the hearing.
- Keep a copy of the DV-110 with you, and give copies to your workplace, your children's school, or anyone else named in the stay away provisions
- Arrange service on the restrained person as soon as possible, using a process server, sheriff, or another eligible adult
- Save any new evidence of contact or violations, including messages, call logs, and photos
- Contact law enforcement if the restrained person violates the order once they have been served
- Reach out to a domestic violence advocate or your court's self-help center to prepare for the hearing
If your situation also involves a related divorce, separation, or custody matter, our guide on DIY Divorce vs Hiring a Lawyer in California walks through when it makes sense to bring in an attorney, and domestic violence is one of the clearest situations where legal advice is worth seeking alongside any advocate support you already have.
<h2 id="faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>What is Form DV-110 used for?
Form DV-110, Temporary Restraining Order (CLETS-TRO), is the California Judicial Council order a judge signs after reviewing a DV-100 request. It grants some or all of the requested protections on a short term basis, generally until the date of the full court hearing.
Do I fill out and sign DV-110 myself?
No. The judge completes and signs DV-110 based on what you asked for in your DV-100 request and any supporting information you provided. Your job is to understand what the order says once it is issued, not to draft it yourself.
How long does a DV-110 last?
A DV-110 is temporary. It generally stays in effect from the date it is issued until the court hearing date, which is typically scheduled within about three weeks. At the hearing, a judge decides whether to issue a longer term restraining order.
What kinds of protection can a DV-110 include?
A DV-110 can include personal conduct orders (no contact, harassment, or threats), stay away orders from your home, work, or your children's school, a move out order requiring the restrained person to leave a shared residence, temporary custody and visitation terms, and, where applicable, firearms restrictions requiring the restrained person to turn in or refrain from owning guns and ammunition.
Does the restrained person automatically know about the DV-110?
No. The restrained person must be formally served with a copy of the DV-110 and the hearing paperwork before the hearing date. Until they are served, the order generally cannot be enforced against them, so prompt, proper service matters.
What happens if the restrained person is not served before the hearing?
If service has not been completed in time, the court will typically need to reschedule the hearing and extend the temporary order to cover the new date. This is common, but it does delay a final decision, so it helps to arrange service as soon as possible after the DV-110 is issued.
Can a DV-110 require someone to give up their firearms?
Yes. When a DV-110 includes firearms restrictions, the restrained person is generally required to not own, possess, or attempt to purchase firearms or ammunition, and to turn in any firearms they already have according to the court's instructions, while the order is in effect.
What happens at the hearing after a DV-110 is issued?
At the hearing, both the protected person and the restrained person have the opportunity to appear and be heard. The judge reviews the evidence and testimony and decides whether to issue a longer term restraining order, which can last up to five years and can later be renewed, deny the request, or make some other order.
How Virdix Helps
Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and this article is information, not legal advice. Because a DV-110 is a court order tied to your immediate safety, we strongly encourage anyone navigating a temporary restraining order to also work with a domestic violence advocate, your county's self-help center, or an attorney about the specific facts of your case. Virdix can help with the surrounding paperwork:
- Plain language explanations, so the protections listed on your DV-110 are easy to understand
- Consistency checks, so related custody, support, or divorce paperwork lines up with your restraining order
- Organized records, so evidence and documentation are ready if your case continues to a hearing or a related family law matter
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed California family law attorney.
Sources: California Courts Self-Help Center (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov), Judicial Council of California