Respond to civil harassment restraining order

• Fill out the form, called the Response to Request for Civil Harassment Restraining Orders (form CH-120)
• Attach a copy of any evidence you have (pictures, text messages). If you need more time to put together evidence, you can let the judge know at your hearing (court date).

After you’ve filled out and signed the Response, form CH-120, make two copies. You'll need the two copies, plus the original, when you file with the court.

Take your forms and copies to the courthouse listed on the papers you were served.

At the courthouse, you’ll file the forms by giving the original and your copies to the clerk. The clerk will keep the original, stamp your copies, and return the copies to you. One copy is for your records. The other copy is for the other side.

You will not have to pay a fee to file your response (form CH-120) if:

1. The other person checked item 13a on their CH-100. 

2. You can’t afford the fees. You can ask the clerk for a fee waiver. You qualify for a fee waiver if you receive public benefits, your income is less than a set amount, or you can't afford the fee and meet your basic needs. You will need to fill out two extra forms:

• Request to Waive Fees (form FW-001). Learn more about how to fill out this form.
• Order on Request to Waive Fees (form FW-003). The court will complete most of this form. You only need to complete numbers 1 and 2. 

 If you do not qualify for a fee waiver for either of these reasons, you will need to pay a fee of $435-$450 to the clerk when you file your forms if you decide to file a response. 

Can I file my forms another way? 

Some courts have a drop box that you can use. If you use a drop box include the original and 2 copies to the clerk. After you drop your papers, you will have to go to the courthouse to pick up your copies. If your court hearing is only a few days away, do not use a drop box. Take your papers to the court clerk to file.  Some courts allow online filing, also called efiling. You can find out if your court has online filing by visiting your court’s website.