If you have been served with a Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (Form DV-100), you have the right to respond before a judge decides whether to grant a longer term order against you. Form DV-120, Response to Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order, is how you do that.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. If you need to talk with someone about a domestic violence situation at any hour, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233. A court self-help center can also explain your options for responding safely.
Key Takeaway: DV-120 lets you tell the court, in writing, whether you agree or disagree with the orders requested against you, respond to the specific claims made, and ask the court to deny the request or grant different terms. Filing and serving it before the hearing gives the judge your side in advance, rather than relying only on what happens in the courtroom that day.
This guide walks through DV-120 in plain language. It is general information only, not legal advice, and it does not replace a conversation with a court self-help center or a licensed attorney about your specific situation.
<h2 id="what-is-dv-120">What Is Form DV-120?</h2>Form DV-120 is the California Judicial Council form filed by the person who has been asked to be restrained in a domestic violence restraining order (DVRO) case, generally called the responding party. It is the counterpart to Form DV-100, the request filed by the person asking for protection.
DV-120 gives the responding party a formal way to:
- State whether they agree or disagree with each of the orders requested
- Respond to the specific incidents and claims described in the DV-100
- Explain their own version of events
- Ask the court to deny the requested orders, or to grant more limited or different terms instead
There is no filing fee to respond to a domestic violence restraining order request in California.
DV-120 is filed by the person named as the restrained party in a DV-100 request, once they have been served with that request and any temporary restraining order. If you were served with paperwork asking a court to restrain you from contacting someone, DV-120 is generally the form you would use to respond.
If you are unsure whether the papers you received are a DV-100 request, or whether a Response is the right next step for your situation, a court self-help center can help you confirm what you have been served with before you proceed.
<h2 id="deadlines-and-service">Filing and Serving DV-120 Before the Hearing</h2>Timing matters a great deal with DV-120. In general:
- Once served with a DV-100 request and any temporary restraining order, you are also given notice of the hearing date, where a judge will decide whether to grant a longer term restraining order
- Filing your DV-120 with the court clerk, and then having it served on the other party, before the hearing puts your position in front of the judge in writing ahead of time
- Courts generally expect a Response to be filed and served with enough time before the hearing for the other party to see it, so waiting until the last moment can limit how much the judge is able to consider
Deadlines and required notice periods can vary and are strictly enforced. Confirm the exact filing and service timeline for your hearing with the court clerk or your county Superior Court self-help center as soon as you are served, rather than assuming you have more time than you do.
You are not legally required to file a written Response before appearing at the hearing, but doing so gives the judge a clear, advance record of your side, rather than leaving everything to what is said in the courtroom on the day of the hearing.
<h2 id="agree-or-disagree">Agreeing or Disagreeing With the Requested Orders</h2>A central part of DV-120 is telling the court, order by order, whether you agree or disagree with what was requested on the DV-100. The requested orders generally fall into a few categories.
| Order Type Requested | What You Can State on DV-120 |
|---|---|
| Personal conduct orders (no contact, no harassment) | Agree, disagree, or agree with modifications |
| Stay away orders (from home, work, school) | Agree, disagree, or propose different distances or locations |
| Move out orders | Agree, disagree, or explain circumstances the court should weigh |
| Temporary custody, visitation, and child support | Agree, disagree, or propose different arrangements |
You do not have to agree or disagree with every order in the same way. It is common to agree with some requests (for example, staying away from a workplace) while disagreeing with others (for example, a request affecting custody time with shared children).
DV-120 also gives you room to respond directly to the incidents described in the DV-100 and to explain your own version of events. This is often the part of the form that takes the most thought.
When completing this section, it generally helps to:
- Respond to the specific incidents described in the request, rather than only offering a general denial
- Include dates, locations, and other people present, where you remember them
- Explain any context you believe the court should know, in your own words
- Attach additional pages if you need more space, following the court's formatting rules
Judges generally weigh specific, detailed accounts more heavily than general statements. Writing "that is not true" carries less weight than describing what you say actually happened, when, and who else was there.
Because this section directly affects how a judge views the claims against you, and because the stakes at the hearing can be significant, many people find it worthwhile to have an attorney or self-help center staff review this part of the form before filing.
<h2 id="requesting-different-orders">Asking the Court Not to Make the Orders, or to Make Different Ones</h2>DV-120 also lets you ask the court for a different outcome than what was requested. Depending on your situation, this can include asking the court to:
- Deny the requested restraining order entirely
- Grant more limited orders than requested, such as peaceful contact only for exchanging shared children
- Set different stay away distances or locations than what was requested
- Order a different custody or visitation arrangement than what the other party proposed
If your case involves shared children, our guide on California Child Custody Laws Explained covers how custody and visitation are generally decided in family court, which can run alongside a DVRO case.
<h2 id="the-hearing">What Happens at the Restraining Order Hearing</h2>The hearing is where a judge decides whether to grant a restraining order after hearing from both sides, and, if so, on what terms. In general, at the hearing:
- Both the requesting party and the responding party have the opportunity to speak and present evidence
- The judge considers the DV-100 request, any DV-120 response that was filed, and whatever is said or presented at the hearing itself
- The judge decides whether to issue a longer term restraining order, which can last for a period of years and can later be renewed
- If issued, the order can include personal conduct, stay away, move out, and custody or support terms
Because this hearing determines whether a restraining order is issued and what it covers, arriving prepared, with your DV-120 filed and served in advance, and with any supporting evidence organized, matters. Given what is at stake, consider speaking with an attorney or your court's self-help center before the hearing, even if you plan to represent yourself that day.
<h2 id="whats-at-stake">Custody, Firearms, and Housing: What Is at Stake</h2>A domestic violence restraining order case is not only about contact between two people. The outcome at the hearing can carry consequences that extend well beyond the order itself.
- **Child custody and visitation**, since a restraining order can shape temporary and long-term parenting arrangements
- **Firearms rights**, since California law generally prohibits a person subject to certain restraining orders from owning or possessing firearms while the order is in effect
- **Housing**, since a move out order can require the restrained person to leave a shared home
- **Future proceedings**, since a restraining order can be referenced in later custody, support, or family court matters
Because these consequences can be significant and long lasting, it is worth taking the DV-120 process seriously and seeking help early rather than waiting until the hearing date.
<h2 id="common-mistakes">Common Mistakes to Avoid</h2>- Missing the deadline to file and serve DV-120 before the hearing
- Giving only a general denial instead of responding to the specific incidents described
- Failing to address every requested order, leaving the court without your position on some of them
- Not requesting the specific alternative terms you actually want, such as modified custody or contact arrangements
- Skipping a conversation with a self-help center or attorney given what can be decided at the hearing
- Arriving at the hearing without organized copies of the DV-120 and any supporting evidence
If you are also weighing whether the original request against you was properly filed, or want to understand the process from the other side, our guide on How to Fill Out Form DV-100 walks through what the requesting party files and why.
<h2 id="faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>What is Form DV-120 used for?
Form DV-120, Response to Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order, is the California Judicial Council form filed by the person who has been asked to be restrained (sometimes called the responding party) in a domestic violence restraining order case. It lets that person tell the court whether they agree or disagree with the requested orders, respond to the claims made against them, and ask for different terms if they wish.
Do I have to file a DV-120 before the hearing?
You are not legally required to file a Response, but doing so, and serving it on the other party, gives the judge your side of the story in writing before the hearing. Without a filed Response, the judge only has the Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DV-100) and any temporary order in front of them, and you will be relying entirely on what you say in person at the hearing.
What happens if I do not respond at all?
You can still appear at the hearing and speak even without filing a written Response, but arriving without one means the judge and the other party have had no advance notice of your position. A written, timely served Response generally gives you a stronger footing to present your side and request specific terms.
Can I ask for different orders than what was requested?
Yes. DV-120 includes a section where you can state that you disagree with some or all of the requested orders and ask the court to deny them, or to grant more limited or different terms, such as peaceful contact for exchanging children instead of no contact at all.
Does a restraining order affect custody or firearms rights?
It can. A domestic violence restraining order can affect temporary and long-term child custody and visitation, and California law generally prohibits a person subject to certain restraining orders from owning or possessing firearms while the order is in effect. These are significant, real consequences, which is why many people choose to consult an attorney before the hearing.
Should I talk to a lawyer before my DV-120 hearing?
Given what can be decided at the hearing, including custody, firearms rights, and who stays in the home, it is worth strongly considering a consultation with a family law attorney or your county Superior Court self-help center before the hearing, even if you plan to represent yourself.
Can Virdix help me prepare my DV-120?
Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and this article is information, not legal advice. We can help you organize your response and make sure it is complete and consistent before you file and serve it, but we strongly encourage anyone responding to a restraining order request to also speak with a self-help center or an attorney about their specific situation.
How Virdix Helps
Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and this article is information, not legal advice. Because a restraining order hearing can affect custody, firearms rights, and housing, we strongly encourage anyone responding to a DV-100 request to also speak with a court self-help center or a licensed attorney about their specific situation before the hearing. Virdix can help with the practical side of the paperwork:
- Guided questions, plain-language prompts that help you organize your response to each requested order
- Completeness checks, so every requested order and claim has a stated response before you file
- Consistency checks, so your DV-120 lines up with any related custody or support requests
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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