CHRO

• How do I apply for a Civil Harassment Restraining Order?

  Instructions and forms can be obtained in person at Civil Self-Help Services or from the California Court’s Self-Help Guide.

  The filing fee for a CHRO is $435 unless the request is made because the person you want protection from used or threatened to use violence against you, stalked you, or acted or spoke in another way that made you reasonably fear violence (Refer to question 13 in CH-100). You can also request a Fee Waiver.

  For assistance, you may have your completed documents reviewed by visiting Civil Self-Help Services.

• How do I file my forms?

  Once you have completed your forms, date and sign them in blue or black ink.

  You can submit documents for filing in person at or by mail at the Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento County Courthouse or via e-filing.

  Forms completed and filed Monday through Friday, excluding court holidays, by 11:30 a.m. will receive an order at 4 p.m. the same day.

  If the forms are filed after 11:30 a.m., the Order will be ready for pick up at 4:00 p.m. on the next court business day.

• How do I get the other party served?

  The Court provides a Step 2 packet detailing the forms required to be served on the other party.

  Anyone over 18 and not protected by the order can serve the forms for you. After this person serves the forms, they need to complete and sign either the Proof of Personal Service (CH-200). Ensure you or the person who did the service checks the boxes next to each of the served forms.

  If the respondent lives in Sacramento County, you may have the Sacramento Sheriff's Civil Bureau serve them. You must have at least one (1) address where you think the respondent might be between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The Sacramento Sheriff's Civil Bureau will not look up addresses for you. The Sacramento Sheriff's Civil Bureau charges $50.00 to serve. The Court may order it waived on the complete CH-110, or with a Fee Waiver.

  Online: You can submit requests for service to the Sheriff's Civil Bureau online. Find more information about this process at the e-Services Portal.

  In Person: The public counter is open Monday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., excluding holidays. A drop box is available in front of the Civil Bureau Office from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

  Sacramento Sheriff's Civil Bureau,
  2969 Prospect Park Drive, Suite 200,
  Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

  Kiosk: You may submit requests to serve to the Sheriff's Civil Bureau using the kiosk in the lobby of the Civil Bureau office. The kiosk is available during public counter hours.

  You must get your forms to the Sheriff's Civil Bureau a minimum of 15 days before the last day for service.

• What if I could not serve the restraining order in time for the court hearing, or want to continue the hearing?

  You may submit a Request to Continue Hearing (CH-115) and Order on Request to Continue Hearing (CH-116) to the Court by 11:30 a.m. the day before your scheduled hearing. If you cannot obtain a new hearing date before your hearing date, go to your hearing, and you may inform the judge that you were unable to get the papers served. You will get a new hearing date and paperwork that will extend your restraining orders and continue protecting you until the new date.

  The Order on Request to Continue Hearing (CH-116) will provide information about serving the other party.

• I have been accused of civil harassment and served with a restraining order. How do I respond?

  Forms can be completed online using the Law Help Interactive Interview.

  Additional information can be found on the Judicial Council of California's Self-Help Guide to California Courts and on How Can I Respond to a Request for Civil Harassment Restraining Orders? (CH-120-INFO).

  A copy of the Response must be served by mail on the Petitioner. The Sheriff's Civil Bureau will not serve anything that can be served by mail. Anyone over 18 can mail the forms by first-class mail. The person mailing the documents will complete the Proof of Service by Mail (CH-250). If you bring postage (stamp or pre-paid envelope), Civil Self-Help Services can do the service by mail, and fill out the Proof of Service by Mail (CH-250) for you.

  If you need more time to prepare a response, refer to the section above about continuing the court hearing.

  You can also appear in court on the date set for your hearing without having filed and served a Response.

• My restraining order is about to expire, but I still need to be protected. How can I extend the order?

  A protected person can ask the court to renew a restraining order, whether or not there has been any more violence or threats of violence. If renewal is needed, you may apply to renew the order up to 3 months before the original order expires. At the latest, the request to renew must be filed before 11:30 a.m. on the court day before it expires. To do this, complete the forms, Request to Renew Restraining Order (CH-700), Notice of Hearing to Renew Restraining Order (CH-710), and Order Renewing Civil Harassment Restraining Order (CH-730).

  On page 2 of CH-710, the court will indicate the number of days before the hearing that the restrained party must be served. The Court then provides a Step 2 packet detailing the forms required to be served on the other party.

• What if I could not serve the request to renew the restraining order before the court hearing, or want to continue the hearing?

  You may submit a Request to Reschedule Hearing to Renew Restraining (CH-715) and Order on Request to Reschedule Hearing to Renew Restraining Order (CH-716) to the Court by 11:30 a.m. the day before your scheduled hearing. If you cannot obtain a new hearing date before your hearing date, go to your hearing, and you may inform the judge that you were unable to get the papers served. You will get a new hearing date and paperwork that will extend your restraining orders and continue protecting you until the new date.

  The Order on Request to Continue Hearing (CH-116) will provide information about serving the other party.

• How do I respond to a request to renew a civil harassment restraining order?

  The following form is required to respond to a Request to Renew a Civil Harassment Restraining Order: Response to Request to Renew Restraining Order (CH-720).

  A copy of the response must be personally served to the restrained party. The Sheriff's Civil Bureau will not serve anything that can be served by mail. Anyone over 18 can mail the forms by first-class mail. Anyone over 18 and not protected by the order can serve the forms for you. The person sending the documents will complete the Proof of Service by Mail (CH-250). If you bring postage (stamp or pre-paid envelope), Civil Self-Help Services can do the service by mail, and fill out the Proof of Service by Mail (CH-250) for you.

  If you need more time to prepare a response, refer to the section above about continuing the court hearing.

  You can also appear in court on the date set for your hearing without having filed and served a Response.

• How do I modify or terminate a civil harassment restraining order?

  Either party can request to modify (change) or terminate (end) a Civil Harassment Restraining Order. To do so, file a Request to Modify/Terminate (CH-600), Notice of Hearing on Request to Modify/Terminate (CH-610), and Order on Request to CH-630 Modify/Terminate.

  The filing fee to ask the Court to modify or terminate an existing permanent Civil Harassment Restraining Order is $60. You can also request that the fee be waived with a Fee Waiver.

  The Court provides a Step 2 packet detailing the forms required to be served on the other party.

• How do I respond to a request to modify or terminate a civil harassment restraining order?

  The following form is required to respond to a Request to Modify or Terminate a Civil Harassment Restraining Order: Response to Request to Modify/Terminate (CH-620)

  A copy of the Response must be served by mail on the Petitioner. The Sheriff's Civil Bureau will not serve anything that can be served by mail. Anyone over 18 can mail the forms by first-class mail. The person mailing the document will complete the Proof of Service by Mail (CH-250). If you bring postage (stamp or pre-paid envelope), Civil Self-Help Services can do the service by mail, and fill out the Proof of Service by Mail (CH-250) for you.

  If you need more time to prepare a response, refer to the section above about continuing the court hearing.

  You can also appear in court on the date set for your hearing without having filed and served a Response.