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What protections can I get in a civil harassment order?
A temporary ex parte order or an order issued after a hearing can do any of the following:
- prohibit the harasser from harassing, intimidating, molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually assaulting, battering, abusing, and telephoning you, including, but not limited to, making annoying telephone calls;
- prohibit the harasser from destroying your personal property or disturbing your peace;
- prohibit the harasser from contacting you, either directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise;
- order the abuser to stay a specified distance away from you;
- give you exclusive care, possession, or control of any animal that you own, possess, or that lived in your household; and
- order the respondent to stay away from the animal and to not take, transfer, hide, attack, hit, threaten, harm, or get rid of the animal;
- order the harasser to pay your court costs and attorney’s fees if you win the case; and
- order the harasser to give up (relinquish) any firearms that s/he owns or possesses. Note: Even if the judge doesn’t specifically order this, it is illegal for anyone who has a civil harassment order issued against him/her to own, possess, purchase, receive, or attempt to purchase or receive a firearm or ammunition while the protective order is in effect.1
If the judge believes there is a good reason to do so, you may be able to include other family or household members as additional protected parties on the order.2
1 Cal.C.C.P. § 527.6(a)(6), (s), (u)
2 Cal.C.C.P. § 527.6(c)
