Domestic Violence Restraining Orders in San Benito County, California

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.

San Benito County is a small Central Coast county just south of Santa Clara County. Domestic violence restraining order requests go through the Superior Court of California, County of San Benito, 450 Fourth Street, Hollister, CA 95023, (831) 636-4057. You can file at the courthouse, or you can file through the court's public e-filing portal at portal.sanbenito.courts.ca.gov at no extra cost.

California does not charge a fee to request a domestic violence restraining order. The San Benito Self-Help Center, (831) 636-4057, can help you fill out Form DV-100 and the related forms for free. Help is available during clerk hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

After you file, a judge can issue a temporary order the same day or the next court day. A full hearing is generally set within about 21 days under Family Code sections 242 and 6320. If the judge grants the order, the San Benito County Sheriff's Office, 2301 Technology Parkway, Hollister, CA 95023, will serve the restrained person at no cost. You can reach the civil division at (831) 636-4080. Local support is also available. Emmaus House has a crisis line at 1-877-778-7978 and can also be reached at 831-636-7224. Community Solutions, 310 Fourth Street in Hollister, has a crisis line at 1-877-331-8463 and an office line at 831-637-1094. Both provide domestic violence advocacy and support.

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 San Benito County. The basic steps are:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. The other person is served with the paperwork and can file a response (Form DV-120).
4. You attend a court hearing, usually within about three weeks.
5. 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 San Benito County

Restraining order requests in San Benito County are filed with the Superior Court of California, County of San Benito. Because courthouse locations, hours, and local domestic violence resources change over time, confirm current details using the official California Courts court finder:

Find the San Benito County Superior Court (official California Courts finder)

Local notes for San Benito County

Hollister has San Benito County's only family law courthouse, so your case will be heard there. The forms you need before you go to court or use the e-filing portal are the same throughout California. Use DV-100 for the request, DV-109 and DV-110 for the notice and temporary order, and CLETS-001 for the confidential information sheet. Senior Citizens Legal Service, 831-637-5458, is also available locally if your situation involves an older adult or elder abuse along with a domestic violence matter.

Form DV-100 can ask for more than a stay-away order. You can also ask the judge to set custody and visitation, order support, require the other person to move out of a home you share, and require them to turn in firearms.

If you were served with a restraining order request and want to respond, use Form DV-120. The Self-Help Center can explain your options and deadlines. Emmaus House and Community Solutions can both help with safety planning as well as the paperwork. Either one is a reasonable first call if you are not sure where to start.

Official restraining order resources in San Benito County

Superior Court of California, County of San Benito handles restraining-orders filings, located at 450 Fourth Street, Hollister 95023. Phone: (831) 636-4057.

The filing fee is $0 (no fee for DV-100 restraining order requests). E-filing is available. DV and GV restraining order requests can also be filed at no cost through the court's public e-filing portal at portal.sanbenito.courts.ca.gov.

San Benito Self-Help Center (https://www.sanbenito.courts.ca.gov/self-help/self-help-center) can help with procedure and paperwork.

• Superior Court of California, County of San Benito
• San Benito County domestic violence restraining order info
• San Benito Self-Help Center
• 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.

San Benito County Restraining Order FAQs