Restraining orders.

Assembly Member Quirk-Silva centers restraining-order relief in a digitally oriented framework, authorizing electronic filing for harassment, domestic violence, and elder or dependent-adult protective orders, and permitting remote appearances at hearings with no fees starting January 1, 2027. Petitioners who file electronically would receive the request, notice of the court date, and copies to serve on the respondent electronically, unless they designate that documents will be picked up from the court.

Key changes cover each order type through parallel mechanisms. For harassment petitions, the bill allows electronic filing and requires the request, notice, copies for service, and any temporary restraining order to be provided electronically to the filer, with an option to pick up these documents instead. It also authorizes a party or witness to appear remotely at the hearing, and directs counties to develop, and post online, local rules and instructions governing remote appearances. For domestic violence protections, courts would accept electronic filings at no charge to the petitioner, and would prohibit charging a fee for remote appearances, while requiring electronic delivery of the related documents unless pickup is chosen; counties must post remote-appearance rules online and display information about electronic filing and self-help resources on the homepage. For elder or dependent-adult protective orders, petitions would be accepted electronically at no cost, with the same electronic document delivery and remote-appearance provisions, plus a requirement that information about electronic filing and access to the court’s self-help center be prominently displayed on each court’s homepage and that self-help centers maintain materials on elder abuse restraining orders. The bill also contemplates an alternative method of service in certain ex parte situations when personal service cannot be accomplished, and requires counties to post local rules for remote hearings.

Implementation aspects emphasize standards and access: courts would post rules and instructions for remote appearances, ensure electronic filing information is easy to locate on court homepages, and require self-help centers to provide materials related to these orders. In addition, the measure envisions transmission of order information to law enforcement and requires documentation and proof of service to be managed in a streamlined, digitally oriented manner. Through expanding electronic filing, removing certain filing and remote-appearance fees, and formalizing online guidance, the proposal situates restraining-order procedures within contemporary court practices and aims to improve access to protective remedies for petitioners and coordination with law enforcement and support services.