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 San Benito County and the Central Coast, California
How to ask for a domestic violence restraining order anywhere in San Benito County and the Central Coast, from the forms you file at your county's Superior Court 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 being abused or threatened by a spouse, partner, someone you dated, a co-parent, or a close family member, a domestic violence restraining order can help protect you. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For free and confidential support at any hour, reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.
San Benito County is a small Central Coast county just south of Santa Clara County, centered on Hollister, its county seat, with the historic community of San Juan Bautista nearby. It is grouped on its own regional page, rather than folded into a larger cluster, because it is the only Central Coast county small enough to fit this consolidation while its Central Coast neighbors (Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo) each keep a standalone county guide.
You request a domestic violence restraining order in San Benito County through the Superior Court of California, County of San Benito, in Hollister, following the same statewide process used across California. The forms are the same statewide, and there is no filing fee. A judge can issue a temporary order quickly, often within a day, and it stays in place until your hearing, generally within about three weeks. An order granted after the hearing can last up to five years.
You do not need a lawyer to start. Local domestic violence advocates and the San Benito County court self-help center can help you fill out Form DV-100 at no cost. A domestic violence restraining order can include more than a stay-away order: it can set temporary child custody and visitation, order child or spousal support, require the other person to move out, and require them to surrender firearms. If the other person is a neighbor, coworker, or stranger rather than someone you have a close relationship with, ask the court about a civil harassment restraining order instead.
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 all of the counties in San Benito County and the Central Coast. 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.
Where to file by county in San Benito County and the Central Coast
San Benito County
San Benito County handles restraining order requests through its Superior Court in Hollister, the county seat, serving San Juan Bautista and the rest of the county. Confirm the current filing location and hours using the official California Courts court finder, and ask about the self-help center and local domestic violence resources, which can help you prepare Form DV-100 at no cost.
Find your county's Superior Court (official California Courts finder)
Step-by-step guides for the required forms
San Benito County and the Central Coast Restraining Order FAQs
How do I get a domestic violence restraining order in San Benito County?
You file a Request for a Domestic Violence Restraining Order (Form DV-100), with the related forms, at the Superior Court of California, County of San Benito, in Hollister. A judge can grant a temporary order quickly, and a hearing is set, usually within about three weeks. There is no fee to file, and the court self-help center or a local advocate can help you.
What can a San Benito County restraining order include?
A domestic violence restraining order can order the other person to stay away and stop all contact, and it can also set temporary child custody and visitation, order child or spousal support, require the person to move out, and require them to turn in any firearms. The judge decides what to include based on your situation.
Do I need a lawyer to get a restraining order in San Benito County?
No. You can request a domestic violence restraining order on your own, and San Benito County has court self-help resources and local domestic violence advocates who can help you complete the forms at no cost. Virdix is not a law firm and cannot give legal advice or represent you.
Can Virdix help with a San Benito County restraining order?
The restraining order forms are available at no cost through the court and local advocates, and Virdix is not a law firm and cannot give legal advice or represent you. If your situation also involves divorce, custody, or support, Virdix is a document preparation service that can help you prepare those related California Judicial Council forms accurately.
This page is general information about California domestic violence restraining order procedure in San Benito County and the Central Coast, 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 your county's Superior Court, a local domestic violence advocate, or the official California Courts self-help resources. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and is not a substitute for an attorney.
Restraining order guides for nearby counties
Preparing family court paperwork in San Benito County and the Central Coast
If your situation also involves divorce, custody, or support, Virdix can help you prepare the related California Judicial Council forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent. For the restraining order itself, the court and local advocates provide the forms at no cost.