Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
&
Gun Relinquishment in Contra Costa County
For Filing Parties
Stay Safe Contra Costa
If You Are Applying for a Restraining Order
Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs, also called Protective Orders) are civil legal orders that tell a person who has harmed an intimate partner or family member what they can and cannot do while the DVRO is in effect.
Every person’s situation is different. A judge reviews each restraining order application and grants orders that will best protect you and your family. If the person who harmed you has firearms, that information is important to share with the judge.
The goal of DVROs is to keep protected people safe. As part of keeping people safe, all restraining orders in California and Contra Costa include the legal requirement that the restrained person must give up any guns, gun parts, and ammunition they own, have or control.
How gun relinquishment works:
- Once served with the DVRO, the restrained person must turn in, sell or store their firearms (guns, gun parts and ammunition) within 24 hours, following the instructions on this California Courts page. The form “Receipt for Firearms, Firearm Parts, and Ammunition” (DV800/JV270) must be filed with the court.
- The judge must check the case file for proof that guns were turned in, stored or sold.
- If proof is not filed within 48 hours of the restraining order being served, the court must:
- Instruct law enforcement to get the firearms.
- Inform the District Attorney's Office about the restraining order violation.
Other Types of Restraining Orders
- Civil Harassment
- Workplace Violence
- Emergency Protective Order
- Elder & Dependent Adult Abuse
- Criminal Protective Order
- Gun Violence*
In California, all Restraining Orders include gun relinquishment requirements. To learn more about these types of ROs, visit this California Courts page.
*A Gun Violence Restraining Order restrains a person found to be at risk of harming themself or others only —harm need not yet have occurred, and no protected person or people are named. GVROs can be requested by law enforcement or concerned family and household members. To learn more about GVROs, visit this California Courts page.
Need more help?
In Contra Costa County, prevention and intervention help is available. Click in the boxes below to find out more information:
Contact a Navigator at the Contra Costa Family Justice Center
Richmond: 510-974-7200
Concord: 925-521-6366
Antioch: 925-281-0970
Fairfield 707-784-7635
Free consultations with Lawyers for Family Justice are available.
Bay Area Legal Aid provides legal advice to DV survivors and holds weekly Restraining Order clinics.
Advice line: 1-800-551-5544.
To make a clinic appointment call STAND! or Family Justice Center.
Connect with a Domestic Violence Advocate at STAND! for Families Free of Violence
888-215-5555
24-Hour Crisis Line
For a directory of Domestic Violence Organizations in California, click here.
Find more information and resources for DV survivors and service providers at endinggv.org
How Contra Costa responds to domestic violence:
Between 2010 and 2023, there were 122 domestic violence-related homicides or suicides in Contra Costa County. Of these, gunshot wounds were the most frequent cause of death (59%). For more information on domestic violence in Contra Costa, visit this page.
Intimate partner and family violence affect our whole community, and Contra Costa is creating a countywide response. Contra Costa County brings together staff from the District Attorney’s Office, Employment and Human Services Department, Bay Area Legal Aid, Public Defender’s Office, Probation Department, health providers, and domestic violence, child abuse and human trafficking organizations. These collaborative efforts include a High-Risk Domestic Violence Review Team, a Domestic Violence Death Review Team, and a Strangulation Task Force.
Teams meet on an ongoing basis to collaborate on high-risk cases and develop preventive strategies.