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 Tuolumne County, California
How to ask for a domestic violence restraining order in Tuolumne County, from the forms you file at the Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne 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.
Tuolumne County's family law court is at the Tuolumne County Justice Center, 12855 Justice Center Drive, Sonora, CA 95370, (209) 533-5555, in the Sierra foothills, part of Gold Country. You can file a domestic violence restraining order request in person at the Family Law window on the first floor. You can also email your completed forms to legalprocessing@tuolumne.courts.ca.gov.
Filing costs nothing anywhere in California, and Tuolumne County does not add a local fee. The Tuolumne Self-Help Center can help you complete Form DV-100 and the related forms for free. Help is available for filing in person or by email during clerk hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
A judge can grant 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. Statewide, the sheriff serves the paperwork, not the person requesting the order. There is no cost for that service. The Self-Help Center can help find the current civil division phone number. If you were previously approved for a remote hearing, contact the court to confirm the current department and Zoom link, since some calendars have moved to new departments.
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 Tuolumne 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 Tuolumne County
Restraining order requests in Tuolumne County are filed with the Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne. Because courthouse locations, hours, and local domestic violence resources change over time, confirm current details using the official California Courts court finder:
Find the Tuolumne County Superior Court (official California Courts finder)
Local notes for Tuolumne County
Sonora's Justice Center is Tuolumne County's only family law courthouse, so your case is heard there. If you file at the Family Law window or by email, have a completed DV-100, the DV-109 and DV-110 forms, and a CLETS-001 confidential information sheet ready to send or hand over.
A judge can order more than keeping the other person away. Temporary custody and visitation, child or spousal support, a move-out order for a shared home, and a requirement to surrender firearms can all be included in the same DV-100 request.
If you were served with a request, use Form DV-120 to respond, and the Self-Help Center can explain your deadlines. Tuolumne County has more than one local advocacy option. The Center for a Nonviolent Community, the Mountain Women's Resource Center, and the Tuolumne County District Attorney's Victim Witness Program can help with safety planning and referrals along with the court paperwork. Confirm current hours and remote hearing details directly with the court before you go in.
Official restraining order resources in Tuolumne County
Tuolumne County Justice Center handles restraining-orders filings, located at 12855 Justice Center Drive, Sonora 95370. Phone: (209) 533-5555.
The filing fee is $0 (no fee for DV-100 restraining order requests). E-filing is available. Forms can be completed and submitted by email to legalprocessing@tuolumne.courts.ca.gov, or filed in person at the Family Law window on the first floor of the Justice Center.
Tuolumne Self-Help Center can help with procedure and paperwork.
- Tuolumne County Justice Center
- Tuolumne County domestic violence restraining order info
- Tuolumne 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.
Step-by-step guides for the Tuolumne County forms
Tuolumne County Restraining Order FAQs
Where do I file for a domestic violence restraining order in Tuolumne County?
File at the Tuolumne County Justice Center, 12855 Justice Center Drive, Sonora, CA 95370, (209) 533-5555, at the Family Law window on the first floor. You can also email your completed forms to legalprocessing@tuolumne.courts.ca.gov. There is no filing fee. The Tuolumne Self-Help Center can help you complete Form DV-100 first.
Can I email my restraining order paperwork in Tuolumne County?
Yes. You can submit completed forms by email to legalprocessing@tuolumne.courts.ca.gov. You can also file in person at the Family Law window on the first floor of the Justice Center. Confirm receipt with the clerk's office before you assume your case has been opened.
What are the clerk's hours for restraining orders in Tuolumne County?
In-person hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., though the building itself stays open until 5:00 p.m. Arrive with time to spare if you need help from the Self-Help Center.
Does it cost anything to get a restraining order in Tuolumne County?
No. Filing a domestic violence restraining order request is free everywhere in California, including Tuolumne County. A separate custody or support case has its own fee. A fee waiver on Form FW-001 is available if paying would be a hardship.
Who serves the restraining order on the other person in Tuolumne County?
As in every California county, the sheriff serves the restrained person at no cost after a judge grants the order. Ask the Tuolumne Self-Help Center or the clerk's office for the current sheriff civil division contact, since a direct number for that unit was not posted on the court's site.
Is there local domestic violence support in Tuolumne County?
Yes. There are several options. The Center for a Nonviolent Community and the Mountain Women's Resource Center provide local advocacy. The Tuolumne County District Attorney's Victim Witness Program can connect you with additional resources as your case moves forward.
This page is general information about California domestic violence restraining order procedure in Tuolumne 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 Tuolumne, 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 Tuolumne 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