If you need a domestic violence restraining order in Alameda County, here is exactly what to file, where to file it, and what happens next. There is no fee, and you do not need a lawyer to start.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For free, confidential help any time, day or night, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788. Alameda County's own domestic violence resources are listed further down this page.
Quick Answer: File Form DV-100 (Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order), along with CLETS-001 and, if you want protection right away, DV-110, at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland or the Hayward Hall of Justice. There is no filing fee. A judge can grant a temporary order the same day or the next court day, with a full hearing generally scheduled within about three weeks.
If You Are in Danger Right Now
A restraining order takes time to work through, even on a fast track, so it is not the first thing to reach for if you are in immediate danger.
- If you are in immediate danger, call 911
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233, available 24/7
- Text START to 88788 to reach the hotline by text
- Alameda County Family Justice Center: local advocacy and safety planning support (acfjc.org)
Once you are safe, the steps below explain how to formally ask the court for a restraining order.
Where to File in Alameda County
The Superior Court of California, County of Alameda accepts domestic violence restraining order filings under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act at two courthouse locations:
- Rene C. Davidson Courthouse, 1225 Fallon Street, Oakland, CA 94612
- Hayward Hall of Justice, 24405 Amador Street, Hayward, CA 94544
You can file at either location regardless of where in the county you live, though your hearing may be scheduled at a different courtroom than where you filed. Alameda County family law courtrooms also offer remote hearing options; if you want to appear by video rather than in person, you generally need to file a Notice of Remote Appearance (Form RA-010) ahead of time. Confirm current locations, hours, and remote hearing procedures directly with the Alameda County Superior Court before you go, since court operations and room assignments can change.
The Forms You Need: DV-100, CLETS-001, DV-109, DV-110
California uses the same statewide Judicial Council forms in every county, including Alameda County. For a domestic violence restraining order, you will generally work with:
- Form DV-100, Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order. The core form that opens your case: who you want protected, who you want restrained, what happened, and what orders you are asking for. See our full walkthrough, How to Fill Out Form DV-100.
- Form CLETS-001, Confidential CLETS Information. A confidential form, not placed in the public case file, that gives law enforcement the identifying information they need to enforce your order. See How to Fill Out Form CLETS-001.
- Form DV-109, Notice of Court Hearing. Confirms your hearing date and tells the other person when and where to appear. See How to Fill Out Form DV-109.
- Form DV-110, Temporary Restraining Order. The order a judge signs if they grant you protection on a temporary basis, ahead of your full hearing. See How to Fill Out Form DV-110.
If the other person disagrees with your request, they can file Form DV-120, Response, before the hearing. Our guide to Form DV-120 explains what that looks like from the other side.
Filing Steps in Alameda County
The process is the same statewide process California uses everywhere, applied at your Alameda County courthouse of choice:
- Complete Form DV-100, describing the relationship, the abuse, and the orders you want
- Complete Form CLETS-001 alongside it
- If you want protection before your hearing, complete Form DV-110 as well
- File all forms at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse or the Hayward Hall of Justice; there is no fee
- A judge reviews your request, often the same day or the next court day
- If granted, you receive a temporary restraining order that lasts until your hearing
- The other person must be formally served with your paperwork before the hearing
- Attend your hearing, generally scheduled within about three weeks of filing
There Is No Fee to File
California does not charge a filing fee for a domestic violence restraining order request, in Alameda County or anywhere else in the state. You do not need to submit a fee waiver, because there is nothing to waive. Cost should never be the reason someone in Alameda County does not ask the court for protection.
What Happens After You File
Once you file, a judge reviews your DV-100 request, generally the same day or the next court day, without the other person present. If the facts support it, the judge can issue a temporary restraining order on Form DV-110 that takes effect immediately and lasts until your hearing.
A domestic violence restraining order in Alameda County can do more than order someone to stay away. Depending on what you request and what the judge grants, it can also:
- Set temporary child custody and visitation
- Order child or spousal support
- Require the other person to move out of a shared home
- Require the other person to turn in any firearms
The other person must be served with your paperwork before the hearing and can file a response (Form DV-120). At the hearing, both sides can be heard, and the judge decides whether to grant a longer-term order, which can last up to five years and can later be renewed.
Alameda County Self-Help and Advocate Resources
You do not have to complete this process alone. The Alameda County Superior Court's Self-Help Center assists with domestic violence restraining orders and other family law matters at no cost. As of this writing, the Self-Help Center can be reached by phone at (510) 272-1393, Monday through Thursday from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, or by LiveChat Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Voicemails are generally returned within about five business days. Confirm current hours directly with the court, since they can change.
The Alameda County Family Justice Center (acfjc.org) also connects survivors of domestic violence with local advocates, safety planning, and support services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a restraining order in Alameda County?
File a Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (Form DV-100), along with Form CLETS-001 and, if you want protection right away, Form DV-110, at either the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland or the Hayward Hall of Justice. There is no fee. A judge can review your request the same day or the next court day and can issue a temporary order that lasts until your hearing, which is generally scheduled within about three weeks.
Which Alameda County courthouse do I file a restraining order at?
Alameda County accepts domestic violence restraining order filings at two locations: the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse (1225 Fallon Street, Oakland) and the Hayward Hall of Justice (24405 Amador Street, Hayward). Both accept DV-100 filings; confirm current hours and any local procedures with the Alameda County Superior Court before you go, since courthouse assignments can change.
Does it cost anything to file a restraining order in Alameda County?
No. California does not charge a filing fee for a domestic violence restraining order request, and that applies statewide, including in Alameda County. You do not need to file a fee waiver because there is no fee to waive.
How long does it take to get a restraining order in Alameda County?
A judge can grant a temporary restraining order the same day or the next court day after you file, based on your written request alone. That temporary order generally lasts until your full hearing, which Alameda County generally schedules within about three weeks of filing. If the judge grants a longer order after the hearing, it can last up to five years.
Do I have to go to the courthouse in person to get a restraining order in Alameda County?
You generally need to file your initial paperwork in person or, where available, through the court's e-filing system, but Alameda County family law courtrooms offer remote hearing options for the hearing itself. To appear by video, you generally need to file a Notice of Remote Appearance (Form RA-010) in advance; confirm the current process with the Alameda County Superior Court.
Can Virdix help me get a restraining order in Alameda County?
The restraining order forms are free through the court and local advocates, and Virdix is not a law firm and cannot give legal advice or represent you at a hearing. If your situation also involves divorce, custody, or child support in Alameda County, Virdix is a document preparation service that can help you prepare those related California Judicial Council forms accurately.
How Virdix Helps
The restraining order forms themselves are free through the Alameda County Superior Court and local advocates, and Virdix is not a law firm and cannot give legal advice or represent you at a hearing. If your situation also involves a California divorce, custody, or child support case in Alameda County, Virdix is a document preparation service that can help you prepare those related Judicial Council forms accurately and consistently.
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This article is general information about California and Alameda County restraining order procedure, not legal advice for your situation, and it is not a substitute for help in an emergency. If you are in danger, call 911, or reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Courthouse locations, hours, and self-help resources change; always confirm current details with the Alameda County Superior Court, a local domestic violence advocate, or the official California Courts self-help resources. Virdix is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
Sources: Superior Court of California, County of Alameda (alameda.courts.ca.gov), California Courts Self-Help Center (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov), Judicial Council of California, Alameda County Family Justice Center (acfjc.org)