The Legal Advocacy Project helps to permanently end a legal marriage and/or registered domestic partnership and to establish rights to community and separate property for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

If you are interested in filing for divorce or would like more information about your rights during divorce proceedings, please contact the LAP team at lapinfo@peaceoverviolence.org.

For more information: http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-divorce.htm

In California, each parent has a right to share physical and legal custody of their minor child. Although there is a presumption of joint custody, there are circumstances where the court can vary the custody arrangement. This is often true when the court finds that the other parent has committed domestic violence in the last five years. The parties may reach their own custody and visitation agreement, but the judge can make the final decision.

The Legal Advocacy Project provides services to request custody and visitation rights of minor children and modify current orders depending on the circumstances of the case.

For assistance with child visitation and custody, or for more information about your rights, please contact the LAP team at lapinfo@peaceoverviolence.org.

For more information: http://www.courts.ca.gov/17975.htm

The Legal Advocacy Project helps parents with initial requests for support orders for minor children, including health and child care expenses. LAP can also help with requests to modify current orders for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

If you require assistance filing for child support or modifying a current order, please contact the LAP team at lapinfo@peaceoverviolence.org.

For further information, visit: http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-support.htm

The Legal Advocacy Project helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault who are separated from their partner to get initial orders for spousal or partner support (including health insurance) as well as assists with requests to modify orders.

For more information: http://www.courts.ca.gov/1038.htm

The Legal Advocacy Projects helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault with Petitions to Establish Paternal Relationships and or respond/defend against Petitions to Establish Paternal Relationships. The Legal Advocacy Project also assists with paternity issues in divorce cases.

If you have concerns regarding establishing paternity, please contact the LAP team at lapinfo@peaceoverviolence.org.

For further information visit: http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-parentage.htm

If a police officer responds to a domestic violence call, depending on the severity of the case and/or the safety of the survivors, the police officer might be able to request an EPO from a judge or a commissioner. The EPO protection can last anywhere between 3 to 7 days.

A TRO or a Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) is a short-term civil order issued by a state court judge. The TRO must be served upon the respondent (opposing party) to give the respondent notice of the TRO terms and time to respond at the Permanent Restraining Order hearing. The TRO cannot be served by a person who is a party to the case and he/she must be over the age of 18. Proof of service must be filed with the court at least 5 days before the Permanent Restraining Order hearing. A TRO is valid for up to 25-30 days.

DescripWhen a TRO is granted, a hearing date date is set for a Permanent Restraining Order. Both parties present themselves in front of a state court judge. The judge grants or denies the protective order and decides how long it shall remain in effect, typically ranging from 1-5 years.

If you are a survivor of domestic violence or sexual abuse and would like assistance in filing for a restraining order or have questions about the process, please contact us at lapinfo@peaceoverviolence.org.

For more information: http://www.courts.ca.gov/1264.htm

If you are worried that someone you care about may be a danger to the public, generally if they have access to firearms, the Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) may be a legal remedy to consider accessing. Members of the public can ask law enforcement to get an emergency GVRO and law enforcement can request that the court issue these orders for a short period of time or up to 5 years. Household members, employers, schools, and others may also be able to go to court directly to seek a GVRO. If granted by a judge, the GVRO will require the restrained person to turn in any guns, ammunition and magazines either to the police or to a licensed gun dealer. The person will also be prevented from purchasing guns, ammunition, and magazines while the order is in place.

More info on GVROs

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Click here to learn more about the GVRO and how to request one. 
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California Courts’ webpage on Gun Violence Restraining Orders
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Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence webpage on Gun Violence Restraining Orders: This website provides detailed information about the GVROs, who can request an order, the process, and what a GVRO requires of the restrained person.