Response to Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order
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File DV-120 with Ezel
Fill DV-120 with Ezel
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What is DV-120?
California Judicial Council mandatory-use form for the respondent in a Domestic Violence Restraining Order case. Use DV-120 if you have been served with a DV-100 (Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order) and you want to tell the court in writing what you agree with, what you do not agree with, and any different orders you would accept. Filing DV-120 does not replace appearing at the hearing. There is no fee to file DV-120. The form does not let you ask for your own restraining order; for that, file your own DV-100. DV-120 travels with FL-150 (Income and Expense Declaration) if the petitioner asked for child support, spousal support, or lawyer's fees, and with DV-250 (Proof of Service by Mail) once a third party has served the petitioner with your filed papers.
What happens if you miss the deadline: If you do not file DV-120 and you do not appear at the hearing, the judge can grant the restraining order requested in DV-100 for up to five years. The order can include firearm relinquishment, stay-away orders covering your home and workplace, and child custody changes.
How to file
- Filing fee
- $0. DV-120-INFO Part 3 states: 'There is no court fee to file this form.'
- Filing method
- in-person, mail, efile (county-specific)
- Filing deadline
- DV-120 is optional. DV-120-INFO Part 3 states: 'Responding in writing is optional and there is no penalty if you don't.' If you do file, file before the hearing date listed on DV-109 so the judge has your position before the hearing. If a temporary restraining order (DV-110) is in place against you, items 5 and 11 of DV-110 set their own deadlines (turn in firearms within 24 hours, file DV-800/JV-270 receipt within 48 hours); those are independent of the DV-120 filing.
- How to serve
- Service by mail. DV-120-INFO Part 3 states: 'Serve means to have someone 18 years old or older mail a copy to the person asking for the restraining order. You cannot be the one to mail your papers. The person who mails your form must fill out form DV-250, Proof of Service by Mail. After form DV-250 is completed, file it with the court.' Mail goes to the petitioner's address listed on DV-100 (or to the petitioner's lawyer if one is listed).
- Wet signature
- Yes, sign in pen after printing.
- Notarization
- No
- Original and copies
- Original to the court, one copy for the petitioner (mailed by a third party), one copy for your own records.
Don't memorize the rules. Ezel walks you through DV-120 field by field, flags what the AI review treats as a blocker, and renders a court-ready PDF.
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Court name and address. Must match the court on the DV-100 you were served with; venue is fixed by the petition.
- Filers sometimes pick the courthouse closest to their own address rather than the court that issued DV-100. The case is open in the original court; you cannot change venue with DV-120.
Case number stamped on the DV-100 you were served with. The case is already open.
- Some filers leave this blank thinking the clerk fills it; the case already exists, so the respondent must copy the number from DV-100.
Item 1: name of the person asking for the restraining order, copied from item 1 of DV-100.
- Spelling drift. The clerk uses this name to match the response to the case file; a misspelling routes it incorrectly.
Item 2: your full legal name. Match the spelling on item 2 of DV-100 unless that spelling is wrong, in which case use the correct spelling and note the correction in item 4.
- Using a nickname or shortened name when DV-100 listed the legal name.
Mailing address where the court and the petitioner can send you papers. Privacy options: P.O. box, Safe at Home address, your lawyer's address, or another person's address with permission.
- Listing a home address you cannot safely reach; missing court mail delays or defaults the case.
City for the mailing address.
State for the mailing address. Two-letter postal code.
ZIP code for the mailing address.
Optional email. The court may use it to contact you.
Optional phone. Use a number you can answer safely; or leave blank.
Optional fax. Most respondents leave blank.
Optional. Your lawyer's name, if you have one.
Optional. Lawyer's California State Bar number, if you have one.
Optional. Lawyer's firm name, if you have one.
Item 4: corrections to the name, age, gender, or DOB the petitioner listed for you in item 2 of DV-100. Leave blank if it is all correct.
- Filers sometimes use this box to argue the merits; it is for identity corrections only.
Item 5: whether the petitioner correctly described the relationship in item 3 of DV-100. The relationship category determines whether the court has jurisdiction under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (Family Code section 6211).
- Picking 'no' when the relationship is correct just because the respondent does not like the label. The category is statutory, not adversarial.
If item 5 is 'no', describe the actual relationship.
Item 6: corrections or additions to the prior court cases or restraining orders the petitioner listed in item 4 of DV-100.
Item 6: checkbox indicating you are attaching a copy of an existing order for the judge.
Item 7: agree or disagree with the petitioner's request to also protect family or household members (DV-100 item 8).
- Leaving blank because item 8 of DV-100 was blank; if no extra people were listed, the safe answer is 'agree' (no order requested = nothing to oppose).
If you disagreed with item 7, explain why or describe a different order.
Item 8: agree or disagree with the no-abuse order requested in DV-100 item 10.
- Disagreeing on principle. The no-abuse order only prohibits already-illegal conduct; refusing to commit to non-abuse is rarely a winning posture and often hurts the respondent at the hearing.
Optional explanation when you disagree with item 8.
Item 9: agree or disagree with the no-contact order in DV-100 item 11.
If you disagree with the no-contact order, propose a peaceful-contact carve-out (for example, to coordinate parenting).
Item 10: agree or disagree with the stay-away order in DV-100 item 12.
If you disagree with stay-away, explain unavoidable contact (shared workplace, shared school events).
Item 11: agree or disagree with the move-out order in DV-100 item 13. Family Code section 6321 controls.
If you disagree with move-out, describe your housing situation: lease or deed status, alternative housing, who pays rent or mortgage.
Item 12: agree or disagree with any 'other orders' in DV-100 item 14.
- Filers default to agree without reading item 14, which is a catch-all that can include broad orders.
If you disagree with item 12, describe what you would accept.
Item 13: whether you are the parent of any children listed in DV-105.
Item 13b: if you are a parent, agree or disagree with custody / visitation in DV-105. If you disagree, you must also file DV-125 (Response to Request for Child Custody and Visitation Orders).
- Disagreeing without attaching DV-125. The judge cannot craft alternative custody orders without the structured input DV-125 collects.
Item 14: agree or disagree with animal-protection orders in DV-100 item 16. Family Code section 6320(b) governs.
If you disagree about an animal, explain (registration in your name, service animal, sole care).
Item 15: agree or disagree with control-of-property orders in DV-100 item 17.
- Confusing 'control of property' with 'ownership'. The DV order does not change title; it gives temporary use to one party.
Optional explanation when disagreeing with item 15.
Item 16: agree or disagree with the insurance freeze order in DV-100 item 18.
Optional explanation when disagreeing with item 16.
Item 17: agree or disagree with the order allowing the petitioner to record communications (DV-100 item 19). No text explanation field is provided on the form.
Item 18: agree or disagree with the property-restraint order in DV-100 item 20. Routine necessaries (rent, food, business expenses) remain allowed.
Optional explanation when disagreeing with item 18.
Item 19: agree or disagree with the order to pay debts owed for property (DV-100 item 22). May include a coercive-control finding.
Optional explanation when disagreeing with item 19.
Item 20: agree or disagree with the order to pay expenses caused by abuse (DV-100 item 23). Family Code section 6342 lets the court order restitution for medical bills, moving costs, lost earnings.
Optional explanation when disagreeing with item 20.
Item 21: position on the child support request (DV-100 item 24). Three options: agree, disagree, agree to pay guideline. Guideline support is the formula amount under Family Code section 4055.
- Picking 'agree' without filing FL-150 (Income and Expense Declaration). The judge needs FL-150 to run the guideline calculation.
Item 22: agree or disagree with the spousal support request (DV-100 item 25). For spouses or registered domestic partners.
Optional explanation when disagreeing with item 22.
Item 23: optional checkbox asking the petitioner to pay your lawyer's fees and costs. Available only if (1) the request for restraining order is denied, (2) the judge finds it was frivolous or made to abuse, intimidate, or cause delay, AND (3) the petitioner can afford to pay.
- Checking this box without meeting all three conditions; the judge will deny it.
Item 24: agree or disagree with the batterer intervention program order (DV-100 item 27). Penal Code section 1203.097 requires a 52-week program if the order is granted.
Optional explanation when disagreeing with item 24.
Item 25: agree or disagree with the wireless phone account transfer (DV-100 item 28). Family Code section 6347 authorizes the transfer.
Optional explanation when disagreeing with item 25.
Item 26: firearm status. Three options: no prohibited items owned; turned in / sold / stored prohibited items; ask for a work exception under Family Code section 6389(h). DV-120-INFO Part 1 lists prohibited items as firearms (handguns, rifles, shotguns, assault weapons), firearm parts (receivers, frames), and ammunition (bullets, shells, cartridges, clips). 'Ghost guns' (untraceable / homemade) are included.
- Checking 'I do not own' when the respondent has hunting rifles or family heirlooms in storage; possession includes constructive possession of firearms in your name or under your control. Confer with a lawyer if you are uncertain.
Item 26b sub-option: where the DV-800/JV-270 receipt for turned-in items lives. 'Attached' if you are filing it now; 'already filed' if you filed it earlier.
- Checking 'attached' but not actually attaching the receipt; the clerk catches this at filing.
Item 26c(1): whether you are a sworn peace officer. Required to evaluate the work exception.
Item 26c(2): whether any other orders or laws prohibit you from having firearms or ammunition. Examples: prior DV restraining order, certain misdemeanor convictions (Penal Code 29805), federal prohibitions under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). The judge cannot grant a work exception if any apply.
Item 26c(2) explanation if 'yes'.
Item 26c(2) explanation if 'I don't know'.
Item 26c(3): explain your job and why you need a firearm or ammunition. Family Code section 6389(h) requires you to show (1) carrying a firearm is required for your work AND (2) your employer cannot reassign you to a position where it is not necessary.
- Vague descriptions like 'security guard' without showing the employer cannot reassign. The judge needs concrete employer details.
Item 27: body armor status. Three options: do not own any; relinquished what you had; granted (or asking for) a Penal Code section 31360(c) exception from a chief of police or sheriff. DV-120-INFO Part 2 controls.
Item 28: agree or disagree with the order barring you from looking up the protected person's location (DV-100 item 31).
Optional explanation when disagreeing with item 28.
Item 29: free-text overall reasons you do not agree. Optional but the most useful narrative space on the form.
- Using this box to attack the petitioner's character rather than describing what happened. The judge weighs concrete facts; emotional attacks tend to backfire.
Overflow checkbox: indicates you are attaching a continuation sheet titled 'DV-120, Additional Reasons I Do Not Agree with the Request'.
Item 30: optional out-of-pocket expense claim if the judge denies the restraining order. Family Code section 6342 lets the court order the petitioner to pay your expenses if the TRO was granted without sufficient supporting facts.
- Filers list speculative damages (lost reputation, emotional distress); only documented out-of-pocket expenses are recoverable.
Expense 1 description.
Expense 1 reason.
Expense 1 dollar amount.
Expense 2 description.
Expense 2 reason.
Expense 2 dollar amount.
Expense 3 description.
Expense 3 reason.
Expense 3 dollar amount.
Item 31: number of pages attached. Count any MC-025 overflow, order copies, or DV-800/JV-270 receipts.
Item 32: signature date. The form is sworn under penalty of perjury under California law.
Item 32: typed or printed name of the respondent. Wet-ink signature goes on the printed copy filed with the court.
Item 33: lawyer signature date, if you have a lawyer.
Item 33: lawyer name, if you have a lawyer.
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