If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
For free, confidential support 24 hours a day, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (1-800-799-SAFE), or text START to 88788. Help is available in many languages, and your call does not create any court record.
Updated July 2026
Domestic Violence Restraining Orders in Modoc County, California
How to ask for a domestic violence restraining order in Modoc County, from the forms you file at the Superior Court of California, County of Modoc to temporary orders, the hearing, and where to find local help. There is no fee to file, and you do not need a lawyer to start.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.
Modoc County's courthouse is the Robert A. Barclay Justice Center, 205 South East Street, Alturas, CA 96101, (530) 233-6516. The courthouse is in California's far northeast corner, near the Oregon and Nevada borders. This one building handles every domestic violence restraining order request filed in the county. The Modoc Self-Represented Resources office uses the same phone line.
There is no fee to ask for a domestic violence restraining order anywhere in California, including Modoc. The Self-Represented Resources office can help you with Form DV-100 and the related papers before you file them in Alturas.
A judge can grant a temporary order on the same day you ask. The court then generally sets a hearing within about 21 days under Family Code sections 242 and 6320. Modoc has not posted its own same-day filing cutoff, so call 530-233-6516 to confirm timing before you plan your visit.
For service of the order, contact the Modoc County Sheriff's Office, (530) 233-4416. Modoc County Victim Services, (530) 233-3311, can connect you with more support after your case is filed.
How a domestic violence restraining order works in California
A domestic violence restraining order is for protection from someone you have a close relationship with, such as a spouse or former spouse, a partner you live with or used to live with, someone you dated, a co-parent, or a close family member. If the other person is a neighbor, coworker, or stranger, a different order called a civil harassment restraining order may apply instead. California uses the same statewide forms in every county, including Modoc County. The basic steps are:
- File a Request for a Domestic Violence Restraining Order (Form DV-100), with the related forms DV-109 and DV-110, at the court. There is no filing fee.
- A judge reviews your request, often the same day or the next court day, and can grant a temporary restraining order that lasts until your hearing.
- The other person is served with the paperwork and can file a response (Form DV-120).
- You attend a court hearing, usually within about three weeks.
- If the judge grants a restraining order after the hearing, it can last up to five years and can be renewed.
A domestic violence restraining order can do more than order someone to stay away. It can set temporary child custody and visitation, order child or spousal support, require the other person to move out, and require them to turn in any firearms. Local domestic violence advocates and the court's self-help center can help you fill out the forms, often at no cost.
Where to file in Modoc County
Restraining order requests in Modoc County are filed with the Superior Court of California, County of Modoc. Because courthouse locations, hours, and local domestic violence resources change over time, confirm current details using the official California Courts court finder:
Find the Modoc County Superior Court (official California Courts finder)
Local notes for Modoc County
The Modoc Crisis Center, (530) 233-4575, is a local resource for safety planning and advocacy during your restraining order case. It is separate from the courthouse process.
If you were served with a request and need to respond, the Self-Represented Resources office can direct you to Form DV-120. Staff can also explain your deadline to respond before the hearing date.
Modoc has not confirmed current clerk hours, its exact hearing-scheduling timeline beyond the statewide 21-day guideline, or remote hearing options. Call the Justice Center before you drive to Alturas, especially if you live far from town in a county this large.
An order can include more than a stay-away term. It can also set temporary custody, order child or spousal support, require the restrained person to leave a shared home, and require that person to surrender firearms. Tell the Self-Represented Resources office what applies to your situation when staff review your DV-100 paperwork.
Bring your completed DV-100 request, DV-109 hearing notice, and DV-110 order forms, plus a CLETS-001 confidential information form, to the Justice Center after your paperwork has been checked.
Many Modoc residents live far from Alturas. Ask the Self-Represented Resources office if mailing your paperwork before a filing appointment can help you avoid a second trip to the Justice Center.
Official restraining order resources in Modoc County
Robert A. Barclay Justice Center handles restraining-orders filings, located at 205 South East Street, Alturas 96101. Phone: 530-233-6516.
The filing fee is $0 (no fee for DV-100 restraining order requests). Confirm current e-filing availability with the clerk's office.
Modoc Self-Represented Resources (https://www.modoc.courts.ca.gov/self-help/self-represented-resources) can help with procedure and paperwork.
- Robert A. Barclay Justice Center
- Modoc County domestic violence restraining order info
- Modoc Self-Represented Resources
- Form DV-100 (Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order)
- California Courts Self-Help: Domestic Violence Restraining Order
Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.
Step-by-step guides for the Modoc County forms
Modoc County Restraining Order FAQs
Where do I file for a domestic violence restraining order in Modoc County?
File at the Robert A. Barclay Justice Center, 205 South East Street, Alturas, CA 96101, (530) 233-6516. The Modoc Self-Represented Resources office uses that same line and can help with Form DV-100 before you turn in your paperwork.
Is there a fee to request a restraining order in Modoc County?
Modoc does not charge a fee to file for a domestic violence restraining order. That follows state law for every county. A custody or support request added to the same case has a separate fee, but a completed Form FW-001 fee waiver application can remove it if you qualify.
Who serves the restraining order paperwork in Modoc County?
The Modoc County Sheriff's Office, (530) 233-4416, handles civil service of a signed restraining order at no charge. Modoc's population is spread across a large area, so ask how long service may take before you rely on a specific hearing date.
What local support is available in Modoc County besides the court?
The Modoc Crisis Center, (530) 233-4575, and Modoc County Victim Services, (530) 233-3311, both provide support outside the courthouse process. Either office can help with safety planning and connect you with more resources after your restraining order case is filed.
How soon can I get a temporary order in Modoc County?
Modoc has not posted its own same-day filing cutoff, so call 530-233-6516 to confirm timing before you file. Statewide, a judge can still sign a temporary order the day you request it. Your hearing generally follows within about 21 days under Family Code sections 242 and 6320.
What is the Robert A. Barclay Justice Center in Modoc County?
It is Modoc County's courthouse, at 205 South East Street in Alturas. It is the only building where restraining order requests in the county are filed and heard. Call (530) 233-6516 to confirm current hours before you drive there, especially from farther out in the county.
This page is general information about California domestic violence restraining order procedure in Modoc County, 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. Court locations, forms, and resources change; always confirm current details with the Superior Court of California, County of Modoc, a local domestic violence advocate, or the official California self-help center resources. Virdix is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney.
Restraining order guides for nearby counties
Preparing family court paperwork in Modoc County
If your situation also involves divorce, custody, or support, Virdix can help you prepare the related Judicial Council forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent. For the restraining orderitself, the court and local advocates provide the forms at no cost.
If the court clerk rejects a document we prepared, we fix it for free until it's accepted. See how the guarantee works