Mendocino — CH-120-INFO

Source: http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ch120info.pdf

How Can I Respond to a Request forCH-120-INFO Civil Harassment Restraining Orders? What is a civil harassment restraining order? What if I don't obey the order? It is a court order that prohibits you from doing certain The police can arrest you. You can go to jail and pay a things and going to certain places. fine. What does the order do? Do I have to serve the other person with a The court can order you to: copy of my response? Not contact the person who asked for the order Yes. Have someone age 18 or older—not you—mail a Stay away from that person and the person’s home and copy of completed form CH-120 to the person who asked workplace for the order (or that person’s lawyer). (This is called Not have any firearms (guns), firearm parts, “service by mail.”) ammunition, or body armor as long as the order is in The person who serves the form by mail must fill out form effect. This includes firearm receivers and frames, and CH-250, Proof of Service by Mail. Have the person who any item that may be used as or easily turned into a did the mailing sign the original. Take the completed form receiver or frame (see Penal Code section 16531). back to the court clerk or bring it with you to the hearing. For more information about the items you would not be allowed to have, please see selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/ Should I go to the court hearing? restraining-orders/prohibited-items. Yes. You should go to court on the date listed on form Who can ask for a civil harassment CH-109, Notice of Court Hearing. If you do not go to the restraining order? hearing, the judge can make orders against you without hearing from you.A person who is worried about safety because they have been or are being: Stalked Harassed Assaulted, including sexually, or Threatened with violence I've been served with a request for civil harassment restraining orders. What do I do now? Read the papers served on you very carefully. The Notice of Court Hearing tells you when to appear in court. There may also be a Temporary Restraining Order forbidding you from doing certain things. You must obey the order until the hearing. What if I don't agree with what the order says? You still must obey the order until the hearing. If you disagree with the orders the person is asking for, fill out form CH-120, Response to Request for Civil Harassment Restraining Orders, before your hearing date and file it with the court. If you need to include attachments, you can use form MC-025. You can get the forms from legal publishers or from the California Courts website at courts.ca.gov/rules-forms/find-your-court-forms. Forms may also be at your local courthouse or county law library.

Judicial Council of California, courts.ca.gov CH-120-INFO, Page 1 of 2Rev. January 1, 2026, Optional Form How Can I Respond to a Request for Civil Code Civ. Proc., §§ 527.6, 527.9 Harassment Restraining Orders? (Civil Harassment Prevention)

How Can I Respond to a Request forCH-120-INFO Civil Harassment Restraining Orders?

How long does the order last? What if I have a firearm (gun), firearm part, or ammunition?If the court issued a temporary restraining order before the hearing, it will last until your hearing date. At that time, the If a restraining order is issued, you cannot own, possess, or court will decide to continue or cancel the order. Any order have a firearm (gun), firearm parts, ammunition, or body issued at the hearing can last for up to five years. armor while the order is in effect. If you have a firearm (gun), firearm parts, or ammunition, you must sell it to or store it with a licensed gun dealer, or turn it in to a lawDo I need a lawyer? enforcement agency. Having a lawyer is always a good idea, but it is not required, and you are not entitled to a free, court-appointed What if I need to have a firearm or attorney. Ask the court clerk about free and low-cost legal ammunition for my job? services and self-help centers in your county. If the judge grants a restraining order against you, you cannot have firearms or ammunition. The judge may give Will I see the person who asked for the order you permission to have a firearm or ammunition for work. at the court hearing? Before permission can be granted, you will be required to show the judge that (1) carrying a firearm or ammunition isYes. Assume that the person who is asking for the order required for your work, and (2) your employer is unable towill attend the hearing. Do not talk to them unless the reassign you to another position where carrying a firearmjudge or that person’s attorney says that you can. or ammunition is not necessary. There are other things that you will have to prove. For more information, go to Can I bring a witness to the court hearing? selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/respond-to-CH-restraining-order/ Yes. You can bring witnesses or documents that support obey-firearms-orders/exception, or see Code of Civil your case to the hearing. But if possible, you should also Procedure section 527.9(f). bring the witnesses’ written statements of what they saw or heard. Their statements must be made under penalty of What if I need to have body armor? perjury. You can use form MC-030 for this. If you need to have and use body armor for your work, livelihood, or safety, you may ask for an exception with What if I don't speak English? the chief of police or sheriff in the county where you will have and use the body armor (see Penal Code sectionWhen you file your papers, ask the clerk if a court 31360(c)).interpreter is available. You can also use form INT-300, Request for Interpreter (Civil), or a local court form or website to request an interpreter. For more information Can I agree with the protected person to about court interpreters, go to selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/ cancel the order? request-interpreter. No. Once the order is issued, only the judge can change or cancel it. You or the protected person would have to file a Information about the process is also request with the court to cancel the order. available online. What if I have a disability? See selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/CH-restraining-order. If you have a disability and need an accommodation while you are at court, you can use form MC-410, Disability For help in your area, contact: Accommodation Request, to make your request. You can also ask the ADA Coordinator in your court for help. For[Local information may be inserted.] more information, see form MC-410-INFO, How to Request a Disability Accommodation for Court.

Rev. January 1, 2026 How Can I Respond to a Request for Civil CH-120-INFO, Page 2 of 2 Harassment Restraining Orders? (Civil Harassment Prevention) For your protection and privacy, please press the Clear button after you have printed the form. Print Save Clear