Calabasas Domestic Violence Attorney
If you were served with domestic violence restraining-order papers, read every order, deadline, and court date immediately. We help Calabasas clients comply with temporary terms, prepare a response and evidence, and coordinate the hearing with an existing Los Angeles County custody or divorce case. We also represent people requesting protection. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or seek safety first.
Testimonials
Why Clients Trust Our Family Law Firm
Shireen, Stephanie, and the rest of the team are incredibly thorough, efficient, and knowledgeable. I didn't have a question they couldn't answer, and those answers were prompt and detailed whenever I asked them. They always kept my best interests at the forefront and did everything they could to make a difficult time as seamless as possible. I can't recommend their services enough.
I cannot say enough good things about Mahdavi & Mahdavi Family Law! This legal team is amazing and helped me through my divorce with ease. Being able to work so closely with both Stephanie and Lisa made a world of difference during this difficult process. I am so grateful and will recommend Stephanie and her team to anyone who needs their services.
Shireen, Stephanie, Jami and Carlos, and the entire team at Mahdavi & Mahdavi Family Law provided outstanding support, equipping me with the knowledge and options needed to navigate my case effectively. Their dedication, clear guidance, and diligent advocacy made all the difference. I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking knowledgeable and compassionate legal representation. Thanks team!
Start With the Papers, Temporary Orders, and Hearing Date
Being served with a restraining-order request can create immediate restrictions before the court hears both sides. Read the entire packet, identify the hearing date and any response deadline, and note every temporary term involving contact, distance, residence, firearms, children, property, or support. The California Courts response guide explains the basic process for a person who has been served.
Follow every temporary order while it remains in effect, even if you dispute the allegations or intend to oppose the requested orders. Do not assume that an existing parenting plan permits contact that the temporary order prohibits. Legal advice can help identify a compliant way to address exchanges, property, communication, or another urgent issue without creating a separate allegation of disobedience.
People requesting protection also deserve prompt, safety-first representation. The California Courts request guide describes available orders and filing steps, while our domestic violence practice guide provides broader information about requesting protection, responding to papers, and related family law concerns.
Preparing a Response and Evidence for the Hearing
A restraining-order hearing is an opportunity for both parties to present relevant information before the court decides whether longer-term orders should issue. If a written response is filed, it should address the orders being requested and the allegations in dispute without ignoring facts that require explanation. Starting promptly leaves time to confirm any filing and service instructions and organize materials for the hearing.
Evidence preparation begins with a focused chronology. Keep the papers you received, existing court orders, messages, emails, photographs, recordings, medical or police records, and the names of people with firsthand knowledge. Preserve original material and surrounding context rather than selecting isolated excerpts. Relevance, authentication, admissibility, and any privacy concerns should be reviewed before a document or recording is offered in court.
A measured response distinguishes between facts that are admitted, denied, or outside the responding party's knowledge. It can also identify whether requested terms would conflict with another order or require specific arrangements for children, property, or communication. The goal is to give the court an organized record, not to retaliate against the person who filed the request.
If the request includes temporary parenting terms, the evidence should address the child's safety and current routine as well as the disputed allegations. Our Calabasas child custody page explains how parenting plans, Los Angeles County orders, and safety concerns can intersect.
The same preparation principles matter for a person requesting protection: preserve relevant evidence, explain why each requested order is needed, and plan for a hearing even when temporary protection has been granted. Immediate safety comes first, and the litigation strategy should not require unsafe direct contact with the other party.
Coordinate the Restraining-Order and Family Law Cases
Calabasas is in Los Angeles County, so a new local family law matter is generally handled through the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The correct courthouse can depend on residence, an existing case, venue rules, and the type of request. Use the official Los Angeles Superior Court family law locator, then confirm the courthouse and case number shown on filed papers before submitting a response.
If a Calabasas divorce or custody case already exists, the restraining-order papers, prior orders, case numbers, and hearing dates should be reviewed together. Statements or requested relief in one proceeding can affect the other, and proposed parenting, support, residence, or communication terms should be checked for consistency.
Custody consequences require particular attention. When a court finds that a parent seeking custody committed domestic violence within the previous five years, California Family Code section 3044 creates a rebuttable presumption that awarding that parent sole or joint physical or legal custody is detrimental to the child's best interest. The statute lists factors the court must consider before the presumption can be overcome, so the finding and the evidence supporting or opposing it matter beyond the restraining-order hearing itself.
No-contact or stay-away terms may change how parents communicate, exchange a child, or obtain information. Until a court changes an order, comply with its exact terms and use only communication or exchange methods the order permits. A coordinated request can ask the court to address practical conflicts without relying on informal arrangements that may violate temporary protections.
Whether you need protection or were served with papers, bring the complete court packet and every related family law order to your consultation. That allows counsel to evaluate deadlines, compliance, evidence, and custody or divorce issues as one coordinated matter while preserving both safety and due process.
Prepare Before the Court Date
If you were served, seek advice promptly and bring the full packet, court date, proof of service if included, and every related family law case number. A written response is optional; if you choose to file one, confirm any filing and service timing in the papers and court instructions. Early preparation leaves time to review issued temporary orders and organize relevant evidence before the hearing.
Continue complying with every temporary order the judge issued while it remains in effect. If an issued order prohibits contact, approaching a location, transferring property, or changing parenting arrangements, do not rely on an informal understanding to do otherwise.
If you are requesting protection, prioritize a safe location and emergency help when needed, preserve relevant evidence, and get guidance on the orders required for you and any children. We represent requesting and responding parties with a focus on safety, an accurate record, and a fair hearing.
Contact our team to discuss the papers, the immediate safety or compliance issue, and the next court date.
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