PART 4. EX PARTE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS [240. - 246.]

Cal. Family Code - FAM 4.

in effect

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 240. Section 240.

This part applies where a temporary restraining order, including a protective order as defined in Section 6218, is issued under any of the following provisions: (a) Article 2 (commencing with Section 2045) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Division 6 (dissolution of marriage, nullity of marriage, or legal separation of the parties). (b) Article 3 (commencing with Section 4620) of Chapter 3 of Part 5 of Division 9 (deposit of assets to secure future child support payments). (c) Article 1 (commencing with Section 6320) of Chapter 2 of Part 4 of Division 10 (Domestic Violence Prevention Act), other than an order under Section 6322.5. (d) Article 2 (commencing with Section 7710) of Chapter 6 of Part 3 of Division 12 (Uniform Parentage Act).

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 241. Section 241.

Except as provided in Section 6300, an order described in Section 240 may not be granted without notice to the respondent unless it appears from facts shown by the declaration in support of the petition for the order, or in the petition for the order, that great or irreparable injury would result to the petitioner before the matter can be heard on notice.

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 242. Section 242.

(a) Within 21 days, or, if good cause appears to the court, 25 days from the date that a temporary restraining order is granted or denied, a hearing shall be held on the petition. If no request for a temporary restraining order is made, the hearing shall be held within 21 days, or, if good cause appears to the court, 25 days from the date that the petition is filed. (b) If a hearing is not held within the time provided in subdivision (a), the court may nonetheless hear the matter, but the temporary restraining order shall no longer be enforceable unless it is extended under Section 245.

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 243. Section 243.

(a) If a petition under this part has been filed, the respondent shall be personally served with a copy of the petition, the temporary restraining order, if any, and the notice of hearing on the petition. Service shall be made at least five days before the hearing. (b) On motion of the petitioner or on its own motion, the court may shorten the time for service on the respondent. (c) If service on the respondent is made, the respondent may file a response that explains or denies the allegations in the petition.

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 244. Section 244.

(a) On the day of the hearing, the hearing on the petition shall take precedence over all other matters on the calendar that day, except older matters of the same character, and matters to which special precedence may be given by law. (b) The hearing on the petition shall be set for trial at the earliest possible date and shall take precedence over all other matters, except older matters of the same character, and matters to which special precedence may be given by law.

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 245. Section 245.

(a) The respondent shall be entitled, as a matter of course, to one continuance for a reasonable period, to respond to the petition. (b) Either party may request a continuance of the hearing, which the court shall grant on a showing of good cause. The request may be made in writing before or at the hearing or orally at the hearing. The court may also grant a continuance on its own motion. (c) If the court grants a continuance, any temporary restraining order that has been issued shall remain in effect until the end of the continued hearing, unless otherwise ordered by the court. In granting a continuance, the court may modify or terminate a temporary restraining order. (d) If the court grants a continuance, the extended temporary restraining order shall state on its face the new date of expiration of the order. (e) A fee shall not be charged for the extension of the temporary restraining order.

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 246. Section 246.

A request for a temporary restraining order described in Section 240, issued without notice, shall be granted or denied on the same day that the petition is submitted to the court, unless the petition is filed too late in the day to permit effective review, in which case the order shall be granted or denied on the next day of judicial business in sufficient time for the order to be filed that day with the clerk of the court.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026