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Legal Information: California

Restraining Orders

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Laws current as of April 1, 2025

In which county can I file?

A petition can be filed in:

  • the superior court in any of the following counties:
    • where you live or are temporarily located, even if you are not a California resident;
    • where the abuser lives;
    • where the harassment took place; or
  • any other court that may have power (jurisdiction) over the parties or the subject matter of the case.1

1 Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 527.6(a)(2)

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