How to prepare
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Organize what you need to bring
- Make copies of court papers. Take copies of all your papers to your court hearing, including a copy of your Proof of Service.
- Gather any evidence that the restrained person has violated your restraining order:
- pictures (for example, pictures of injuries, damage to property)
- text messages
- emails
- Make 3 copies of any document you want the judge to see.
- One copy is yours, one is for the other side, and one is for your court file.
- If you have recordings (video or audio), check in with your local self-help center before your court date.
- Sometimes judges may require a transcript for a recording.
- Talk to your witnesses. Witnesses are people who can help support your case.
- If you have witnesses, take them with you to your court date. Make sure they know when and where to go.
- Make notes of what you plan to say.
- It can help to plan out and make notes about what you want to say to the judge.
- Read over the court papers in your case and write out anything else you want the judge to know.
- You can read from your notes in court if you need to.
- Take a support person, if you want one. Your support person can sit next to you when you present your case. But, your support person cannot speak for you.
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Prepare for your remote hearing, if needed
If you know you will be attending your hearing remotely, by phone or by video:
- Follow the instructions you received from your court.
- If you plan to share evidence, like photographs, audio, or video, follow any instructions the court has on how to do that including how to send the court and other side a copy.
- Review the remote court hearing section for more general tips about how to prepare.
If you would like to have a remote hearing, contact the court to find out if it is an option in your case.
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Ask for court services if needed
🌐 If you don't speak English well, ask for an interpreter right away.
♿ If you have a disability, ask for an accommodation.
What's next?
If the judge renewed the restraining order, you will need to have a copy served on the restrained person, even if they were in court.