Elder Abuse Restraining Order Defense Attorney in Southern California – Power Trial Lawyers

Last updated: February 17, 2026

Attorney reviewed by: Attorney Matthew Barhoma

Being accused of elder or dependent adult abuse is one of the most damaging allegations a person can face in California. A single petition can trigger a temporary restraining order that removes you from your home, cuts off contact with a family member, costs you your job, and ends your professional career — all before you ever appear in court.

California courts move fast on these cases. The moment a petition is filed, a judge reviews it without you present. If the judge believes there is a reasonable showing of abuse, a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issues immediately. You are then served with that order and given a court date — typically within 21 to 25 days — to contest it.

That short window is everything. What you do between service and the hearing determines whether the order becomes permanent. Waiting, hoping the situation resolves itself, or showing up to court unprepared are not options. You need an attorney who understands the law, the evidence rules, and the courtroom dynamics that govern elder and dependent adult abuse restraining order proceedings in Southern California.

Power Trial Lawyers defends people accused of elder and dependent adult abuse across Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties. Call us at 888-808-2179 for a free consultation. The sooner you act, the stronger your defense. We can often review your paperwork the same day you call

What To Do Immediately After Being Served with a Elder Abuse Restraining Order

If you have been served with an elder or dependent adult abuse Temporary Restraining Order, treat the paperwork like a set of rules that apply right now, even if the allegations are false. The court set a hearing date within a short window, and the steps you take in the first 24 to 48 hours will shape what evidence you can use, what risks you face, and how strong your defense will be.

Immediate Checklist After Service

Use this checklist as a practical reset. It is designed to reduce criminal exposure, preserve evidence, and put you in the best position to fight the petition at the hearing.

• Read the TRO line by line and follow it exactly. Confirm the stay-away distance, the protected locations, and every named protected person. Do not guess. If a term is unclear, assume the strictest interpretation until your attorney reviews it.
• Stop all contact immediately. Do not call, text, email, DM, comment, tag, or send messages through anyone else. No contact means no contact, even if the protected person reaches out first or asks to talk.
• Avoid “accidental” contact zones. If the order lists the elder’s home, facility, workplace, or routine locations, reroute your commute and daily habits right away. If you share a neighborhood, church, medical provider, or store, pick alternatives for now.
• Preserve your entire communications record. Save full text threads, emails, call logs, voicemails, and social media messages. Do not rely on screenshots alone. Export or back up where possible, because missing context can be the difference between a threat and a misunderstanding.
• Collect your receipts and timeline proof. Gather calendar entries, GPS history if available, ride-share receipts, work schedules, keycard logs, facility sign-in sheets, and anything that shows where you were and what happened on the dates alleged.
• Secure medical and care-related records that help you. If the allegations involve injuries, neglect, medication, hygiene, or living conditions, identify where the records are kept and preserve what you can lawfully access, including discharge paperwork, care plans, medication lists, appointment summaries, and facility communications.
• Lock down financial documentation if money is mentioned. Download bank statements, canceled checks, wire records, Zelle or Venmo history, invoices, caregiver time sheets, and any written authorization or messages that show consent. Do this immediately, because account access and record availability can change fast once a petition is filed.
• Identify witnesses and write down what they know. Make a list of anyone who observed interactions, caregiving duties, family dynamics, or financial decisions. Include names, phone numbers, and what they can truthfully say. Do not coach anyone. Just capture who exists and what they saw.
• Do not post about the case. Social media posts, replies, and “subtweet” style comments routinely show up in court. Even a defensive post can be framed as harassment or intimidation. Stay silent publicly.
• Do not try to “fix” the situation yourself. Returning property, showing up to retrieve belongings, or attempting a “peace talk” can violate the order. If belongings or work access are an issue, your attorney can seek a court-approved plan or modification.
• Handle firearms lawfully and immediately if the order requires it. If the TRO includes firearm restrictions, follow the surrender instructions and deadlines exactly and keep proof. Do not wait until the last minute.
• Contact a defense attorney right away. The hearing arrives fast, and building a defense takes time. The goal is to get your response filed, your evidence organized, and your witness plan prepared before you ever walk into court.

Call us at 888-808-2179 for a free consultation

Two Critical Mistakes That Get People Arrested

Most restraining order violation cases come from avoidable moments, not dramatic confrontations. Keep these two rules in mind.
First, do not respond to contact, even if the protected person initiates it. The order binds you, not them, and a well-meaning reply can become a Penal Code 273.6 allegation.
Second, do not assume “public place” means “safe.” If the order restricts distance or lists locations, a chance encounter can still be treated as a violation if you stay, speak, or move closer instead of leaving immediately.

What To Bring To Your Attorney In the First Meeting

If you want your attorney to move fast, bring a clean package of information. This is what lets counsel spot defenses, procedural defects, and leverage points quickly.

• A complete copy of everything you were served, including attachments and the proof of service page
• A one-page timeline in date order, written plainly, covering the events alleged and what actually happened
• Screenshots and exports of communications, organized by date and full thread
• A witness list with contact information and a one-line description of each person’s knowledge
• Any medical, facility, employment, or financial records that relate to the allegations
• A list of locations you must avoid and any conflicts with work, housing, or caregiving responsibilities

The Goal of These Steps

These steps are not about arguing online, proving innocence in a text thread, or persuading the petitioner. They are about keeping you safe from violation charges, preserving the evidence that wins hearings, and positioning you to walk into court prepared instead of reactive. If you act immediately, you give your defense the time and structure it needs to beat the petition.

What Is an Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order Under California Law?

California’s Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, codified primarily at Welfare and Institutions Code sections 15600 through 15750, establishes a civil restraining order mechanism designed to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Unlike a domestic violence restraining order (governed by the California Family Code) or a civil harassment restraining order (governed by Code of Civil Procedure section 527.6), an elder abuse restraining order operates under its own statutory framework with distinct eligibility requirements, procedural rules, and burdens of proof.

Who Qualifies as a Protected Person?

The protected categories under Welfare and Institutions Code section 15610.27 include:

• Elders: Any person 65 years of age or older residing in California.
• Dependent adults: Persons between 18 and 64 who have physical or mental limitations that restrict their ability to carry out normal activities or protect their own rights. This includes persons admitted to 24-hour health facilities.

A broad range of people can seek or be named in these orders. Family members, paid caregivers, nurses, home health aides, financial advisors, neighbors, and even other residents of care facilities have been named as respondents.

What Conduct Is Alleged?

Under Welfare and Institutions Code section 15610.07, “abuse” of an elder or dependent adult includes:

• Physical abuse: Assault, battery, unreasonable physical constraint, sexual assault, or use of chemical or physical restraints.
• Neglect: Failure to provide basic necessities including food, water, clothing, shelter, or medication.
• Financial abuse: Taking, secreting, appropriating, obtaining, or retaining property of an elder or dependent adult for wrongful use or with intent to defraud. Defined at Welfare and Institutions Code section 15610.30.
• Isolation: Acts that prevent the elder or dependent adult from receiving mail, telephone calls, or visits from others.
• Abandonment: Desertion of an elder or dependent adult by a person who is responsible for providing care.
• Abduction: Removal from California against the elder’s will or in violation of a court order.
• Mental suffering: Behavior that causes fear, agitation, confusion, or other forms of mental distress to the elder or dependent adult.

These categories are broad. They are frequently alleged in family disputes, inheritance conflicts, contested conservatorships, and situations where a paid caregiver has been terminated.

Who Can File a Petition?

Under Welfare and Institutions Code section 15657.03, a petition for an elder or dependent adult abuse restraining order may be filed by:

• The elder or dependent adult themselves
• A conservator of the elder or dependent adult
• A trustee of the elder or dependent adult
• An attorney in fact under a durable power of attorney
• A person authorized by the elder or dependent adult
• A county adult protective services agency
• A long-term care ombudsman

This means a family member with legal authority — or even a government agency — can initiate proceedings against you without the elder or dependent adult ever requesting it.

Burden of Proof

The petitioner must establish abuse by a preponderance of the evidence — meaning it is more likely than not that the alleged abuse occurred. This is a lower standard than the criminal “beyond a reasonable doubt” threshold. It means even disputed or weak evidence can result in a restraining order if you do not effectively contest it.

What Judges Focus On At the Hearing

At the contested hearing, the judge is not there to sort out family history or decide who is the “better person.” The judge is deciding a narrower question: whether the petitioner proved elder or dependent adult abuse by a preponderance of the evidence, and whether the specific restrictions requested are justified by the facts. Your case rises or falls on what the judge believes, what the documents show, and whether the requested order is appropriately tailored to the alleged risk.

Credibility Drives the Outcome

Judges make credibility calls all day in restraining order court. They look at how each person testifies, whether the story stays consistent under questioning, and whether the testimony sounds like personal knowledge or a rehearsed narrative. Credibility issues often show up when a petitioner exaggerates, changes details, or adds new claims only after a dispute escalates. If the petitioner’s testimony shifts, courts notice. If your testimony is calm, specific, and supported by records, courts notice that too.

Corroboration Matters More Than Emotion

A petitioner can be genuinely upset and still be wrong. Judges look for corroboration, especially when the allegations are serious. Corroboration can include third-party witnesses, facility incident reports, camera footage, police reports, medical notes, bank statements, caregiver logs, or even neutral communications like appointment reminders and billing records. When a petition relies entirely on a single declaration without independent support, that gap becomes a central defense point.

Contemporaneous Records Carry More Weight Than After-the-Fact Summaries

Courts tend to trust records created close in time to the alleged events. A text message sent the same day, a facility log entry, a chart note, or an email to a supervisor can be far more persuasive than a declaration written weeks later once litigation strategy and family pressure set in. Judges know that memory changes and motivations harden over time. Contemporaneous records reduce that uncertainty and often decide the case.

Motive in Family Disputes Is a Real Issue, Not a Side Story

In many elder abuse restraining order cases, the underlying conflict is not safety. It is control. Judges often see petitions filed during inheritance disputes, contested conservatorships, arguments over who “gets” to manage care, and conflicts about access to money, housing, or decision-making authority. A court will take alleged abuse seriously, but it will also evaluate whether the petition is being used as leverage to remove someone from the picture. If the timing of the filing lines up with a financial dispute, a caregiver termination, or a battle over estate planning documents, that motive evidence matters.

Medical Documentation Can Confirm or Undercut the Allegations

When the petition claims physical abuse, neglect, overmedication, dehydration, malnourishment, or unsafe living conditions, judges look for medical documentation that matches the story. That may include emergency room records, primary care notes, photos taken by medical staff, facility assessments, medication administration records, and caregiver instructions. Defense strategy often turns on showing an alternative explanation for injuries, a documented baseline condition, or a medical record that simply does not support the accusation being made in court.

Financial Paper Trails Win Financial Abuse Cases

Financial abuse allegations often sound compelling in a declaration, but they live or die on documentation. Judges focus on the paper trail: bank statements, canceled checks, wire transfers, account access logs, Power of Attorney documents, trust records, invoices, caregiver contracts, and communications showing consent or authorization. Courts also pay attention to whether the alleged “wrongful” transfers match the elder’s prior spending habits, whether there were gifts consistent with past behavior, and whether the petitioner’s claims are precise or vague. A clean paper trail can defeat a petition quickly. A missing paper trail is where petitioners try to create suspicion.

Narrow Tailoring of Requested Orders Is Not Optional

Even if a judge believes some misconduct occurred, the judge still has to decide what restrictions are necessary. Overbroad requests can backfire. Judges look at whether the requested terms match the alleged problem. If the petition claims a phone harassment issue, a judge may question why a move-out order is needed. If the petition claims financial exploitation, a judge may narrow the relief to financial restrictions rather than sweeping stay-away provisions. This is a key place where a defense attorney can push the court toward a limited, practical order or toward denial when the requested relief is not supported by the facts.

The Practical Reality

In most hearings, the side that presents a clearer, better-supported story wins. Judges do not want speculation. They want specifics, documents, and testimony that holds up under cross-examination. If you build your defense around credibility, corroboration, strong contemporaneous records, motive evidence in family conflicts, objective medical documentation, a clean financial paper trail, and the overbreadth of what the petitioner is asking for, you give the court a structured reason to deny the petition or sharply limit the relief.

What Happens After a Petition Is Filed?

Understanding the procedural timeline helps you act strategically from the moment you learn a petition has been filed or served.

1. Filing the Petition. The petitioner files a request using Judicial Council Form EA-100. The filing includes declarations and supporting documentation alleging specific acts of abuse. No notice to you is required at this stage.
2. Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) Issued. A judge reviews the petition immediately — typically the same day. If the judge finds a reasonable showing of past or future abuse, a TRO issues without any hearing. This order can require you to stay away from the petitioner, move out of a shared home, and surrender firearms. The TRO is enforceable the moment you are served.
3. Service on the Respondent. You must be personally served with the TRO and the notice of hearing. Service can be made by a process server, law enforcement, or any adult not named in the case. Once served, the restraining order is active.
4. Hearing Date Set. The court sets a hearing date within 21 to 25 days of the TRO. This is the contested hearing where both sides present evidence and argument. You have the right to appear, testify, present witnesses, subpoena records, and cross-examine the petitioner.
5. Contested Hearing. At the hearing, the court determines whether the allegations are supported by a preponderance of the evidence. If so, a permanent order — which can last up to five years and may be renewed — is issued. If not, the case is dismissed and the TRO is dissolved.

The 21-to-25-day window between service and hearing is when your defense must be built. Gathering evidence, identifying witnesses, subpoenaing records, and preparing cross-examination all require lead time. Do not wait.

What the Court Can Order If the Petition Is Granted

If the court grants an elder or dependent adult abuse restraining order, the terms can be sweeping. Under Welfare and Institutions Code section 15657.03, the court may order:

• Stay-away order: Requiring you to remain a specified distance from the protected person, their home, workplace, vehicle, school, or other locations.
• Move-out order: Requiring you to vacate a shared residence immediately, even if you own or lease the property.
• No-contact order: Prohibiting all contact — in person, by phone, by text, by email, through third parties, or on social media.
• Firearm surrender: Requiring you to immediately relinquish all firearms and ammunition to law enforcement or a licensed dealer, and prohibiting possession for the duration of the order.
• Property control: In financial abuse cases, the court may order you to return property, disgorge funds, or be subject to a financial freeze while proceedings continue.
• Care restrictions: If you are a paid caregiver, the order can prohibit you from working with the protected person and may be reported to licensing agencies.
• Attorney fees and costs: Under Welfare and Institutions Code section 15657.03(a)(6), the court may award the petitioner reasonable attorney fees.

The Real Consequences of an Elder Abuse Restraining Order

This is not a civil formality. The consequences of a granted elder or dependent adult abuse restraining order reach into nearly every area of your life.

CLETS — State and Federal Database Entry

Every California restraining order is entered into the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) and reported to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC). The order is immediately accessible to every law enforcement agency in the country. Background checks will disclose it. Future employers, landlords, and licensing agencies can see it.

Criminal Exposure

Violating a restraining order — including any unintentional contact — is a criminal offense under Penal Code section 273.6. A first violation can be charged as a misdemeanor. Subsequent violations, or violations involving violence, can be charged as felonies. Even a single phone call, text message, or chance encounter can result in arrest and criminal prosecution.

Gun Ban

Under California Penal Code sections 29825 and 18250, and federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8), a person subject to a domestic violence or elder abuse restraining order is prohibited from owning, possessing, purchasing, or receiving firearms or ammunition for the duration of the order. Violation is a federal crime with up to ten years imprisonment.

Immigration Consequences

For non-citizens, an elder abuse restraining order may trigger severe immigration consequences. Under 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(E), a civil protective order related to domestic violence or elder abuse can form the basis for removal proceedings. Even a TRO — a temporary order — can surface in immigration proceedings. If you are not a U.S. citizen, the immigration consequences must be addressed from day one.

Professional License Consequences

California’s professional licensing boards treat restraining orders as disciplinary triggers. Professionals in the following fields face mandatory reporting requirements and potential license suspension or revocation:

• Physicians and surgeons (Medical Board of California)
• Registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses (Board of Registered Nursing / BVE)
• Certified nursing assistants and home health aides (Department of Public Health / HCAI)
• Licensed clinical social workers and marriage and family therapists (BBS)
• Licensed care facility administrators (CDSS)
• Attorneys (State Bar of California)
• Real estate agents and brokers (CalDRE)
• Financial advisors and fiduciaries (DFP / FINRA)

If you hold a professional license and face an elder abuse restraining order, the stakes are not just personal — they are career-ending if the order is granted. Fight now.

Housing and Employment Consequences

A move-out order can remove you from your own home with 24 hours notice. Background checks run by landlords and employers will reveal the restraining order. In healthcare and eldercare, the order alone — regardless of any criminal charge — can result in immediate termination and exclusion from future employment in the field.

How Power Trial Lawyers Defends Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Orders

A strong defense starts with understanding why the petition was filed, what evidence exists, and where the petitioner’s case is weak. Every case is different. But these are the defense strategies we use most often — and most effectively.

Attacking the Underlying Allegations

The petitioner must establish specific acts of abuse by a preponderance of the evidence. Vague, generalized, or contradicted claims do not meet that standard. We examine every declaration, every exhibit, and every piece of supporting documentation filed with the petition. We look for inconsistencies, lack of corroboration, and contradictions with objective evidence such as medical records, financial records, and surveillance footage.

Exposing False and Fabricated Allegations

Elder abuse restraining orders are frequently weaponized in family disputes, contested estate proceedings, and battles over conservatorship. A family member seeking control of an elder’s finances may file an abuse petition to sideline a competing heir or remove a legitimate caregiver. We have seen this pattern repeatedly. When the allegations are motivated by something other than genuine concern for the elder, the evidence trail usually shows it.

Text Messages, Emails, and Digital Evidence

Digital communication records are often the most powerful evidence in these cases — in both directions. The petitioner’s own text messages may show the allegations are exaggerated, retaliatory, or fabricated. We subpoena phone records, request preservation of digital evidence, and conduct forensic analysis when the situation warrants. We also ensure any digital evidence you have is properly authenticated and admitted.

Medical and Financial Records

In physical abuse and neglect cases, we subpoena medical records to establish the elder’s actual condition and rule out alternative explanations for injuries. In financial abuse cases, we obtain bank statements, wire records, account history, and gift documentation to show that any transfers were authorized, consensual, and consistent with the elder’s expressed wishes.

Cross-Examination of the Petitioner and Witnesses

The credibility of the petitioner is central to the court’s decision. Through targeted, methodical cross-examination, we expose inconsistencies in the petitioner’s account, prior false statements, financial motives, and personal conflicts of interest. We do not let unchallenged testimony stand.

Expert Witnesses

In complex cases — particularly those involving cognitive impairment, disputed medical findings, or contested financial transactions — we retain qualified experts. Geriatric psychiatrists, forensic accountants, and elder law specialists have testified on behalf of our clients to rebut the petitioner’s narrative with authoritative, credible evidence.

Procedural and Constitutional Challenges

We examine the petition and TRO for procedural defects that may warrant dismissal or relief from the order. We will also verify that service was properly effected, that the petition was filed in the correct court, and that the declarations contain sufficient specific facts — not just conclusory statements. Then, we raise due process challenges where appropriate, particularly in emergency move-out situations where the respondent had no meaningful opportunity to be heard.

Caregiver-Specific Defense Issues

Paid caregivers and professional healthcare workers face unique challenges. Allegations often arise from family members who disagree with a caregiver’s decisions, who want to take over care themselves, or who suspect the caregiver of having financial influence over the elder. We address these dynamics directly — presenting documentation of the caregiver’s professional conduct, care plans, communications with other family members, and the elder’s own expressed preferences.

If You Are a Caregiver Served with an Elder Abuse Restraining Order: What to Do Right Now

Being served with an elder or dependent adult abuse TRO while you are — or were — a caregiver is a specific kind of crisis. You are not just facing a court order. You are facing the potential end of your livelihood, the loss of your professional license, and the reputational damage that comes from being officially accused of harming someone you were paid to protect.

Most caregivers served with these orders make the same mistakes in the first 48 hours. Those mistakes make everything harder. Here is what you need to know — and what you need to do — immediately.

Step One: Do Not Contact the Protected Person or the Petitioner

The moment you are served, the TRO is legally binding. Any contact with the protected person — or anyone named in the order — is a criminal violation under Penal Code section 273.6, regardless of who initiates it. This means:

• Do not call the elder to explain yourself or express concern for their wellbeing.
• Do not text, email, or send messages through third parties.
• Do not go to the elder’s home or care facility, even to retrieve personal belongings.
• Do not ask a mutual friend, coworker, or family member to deliver a message on your behalf.
• Do not respond on social media, even to correct false statements made publicly about you.

If the protected person contacts you first, you are still bound by the order. Walk away, do not respond, and document the attempted contact immediately. Tell your attorney.

Step Two: Preserve Every Document and Communication You Have

The evidence that exists today may not exist in three weeks. Begin preserving records immediately.

• Text messages and emails: Screenshot every communication between you and the elder, the elder’s family members, or anyone connected to the case. Back them up to a secure location not dependent on a single device.
• Care logs and shift notes: If you maintained care notes, activity logs, medication records, or shift documentation, gather and preserve them now. These records establish your professional conduct and chronology.
• Payment records: Bank statements, invoices, Venmo or Zelle records, and any documentation of financial transactions between you and the elder. This is especially important if financial abuse is alleged.
• Employment records: If you worked through a home health agency or care placement company, preserve your employment agreement, performance reviews, incident reports, and any agency communications relating to your assignment.
• Witness contacts: Identify any coworkers, neighbors, family members, or healthcare providers who observed your work with the elder and can speak to your conduct. Write down their names and contact information while your memory is fresh.
• Photographs: If you have photographs showing the elder’s condition, living environment, or any incident relevant to the allegations, preserve them and provide them to your attorney.

Do not delete anything. Even communications that seem unflattering may be useful in context. Destruction of evidence — even informal destruction — can have serious consequences in litigation.

Step Three: Understand Your Rights as a Respondent

Being served with a TRO does not mean you have been found guilty of anything. It does not mean the allegations are true. It means a judge reviewed a one-sided declaration and found a sufficient showing to issue a temporary order pending a hearing. You have not had your opportunity to respond yet. That opportunity comes at the noticed hearing — and it is the most important moment in this case.

As a respondent in an elder or dependent adult abuse restraining order proceeding, you have the right to:

1. Appear at the hearing and contest the petition
2. File a written response and supporting declarations prior to the hearing
3. Present witnesses on your behalf
4. Subpoena records — including medical records, financial records, and communications
5. Cross-examine the petitioner and any witnesses they present
6. Request a continuance if you need additional time to prepare — though courts are conservative in granting these in TRO matters

Failing to appear at the hearing is one of the worst things you can do. If you do not show up, the court will almost certainly grant the permanent order based on the petitioner’s declarations alone. A five-year restraining order will issue by default. Your professional life, your gun rights, and your immigration status are at risk — and you will have given up your only realistic chance to stop it.

Step Four: Understand Your Reporting Obligations and Protect Your License

Depending on your profession, you may have mandatory reporting obligations triggered by a restraining order. Certified nursing assistants, home health aides, and personal care workers employed by licensed facilities are typically required to self-report certain adverse legal events to the California Department of Public Health or the Health Care Access and Information Agency (HCAI). Failure to report when required can itself constitute grounds for license revocation.

Before you report anything to any licensing board, speak with an attorney. The way a report is framed — what information is disclosed, in what order, with what context — matters enormously to how the licensing board responds. A report submitted without legal guidance can trigger an investigation that would not have occurred if the matter had been handled correctly from the start.

If the order names your specific workplace or the facility where the elder resides, the stay-away terms may prevent you from going to work. You will need to notify your employer. Again, do this with your attorney’s guidance — your communications to your employer become part of the record and may be discoverable.

Step Five: Retain a Defense Attorney Before You Do Anything Else Public-Facing

Every public statement you make about this case — on social media, to coworkers, to other family members of the elder, to news outlets — can and likely will be used against you at the hearing. The same is true for anything you post online, anything you say to the petitioner’s family, and any informal attempts to “clear the air” or “tell your side of the story” before you have legal guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions: Elder Abuse Restraining Order Defense in California

Related Practice Areas

If you are facing related proceedings, the following resources may assist:

• Domestic Violence Restraining Order Defense
• Civil Harassment Restraining Order Defense
• How to Gather and Preserve Evidence for Your Hearing
• Elder Abuse Restraining Order Defense in Los Angeles

Southern California Elder Abuse Restraining Order Defense

Power Trial Lawyers defends respondents in elder and dependent adult abuse restraining order cases throughout all five counties of Southern California. Courthouse familiarity, local judicial temperament, and procedural habits vary significantly by jurisdiction. Experience in the specific courthouse your case is in makes a material difference.

Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County Superior Court handles the highest volume of elder and dependent adult abuse restraining order cases in the state. The courthouse where your case is assigned depends on the petitioner’s address. Cases are heard at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles for central district residents, at the Van Nuys Courthouse for the San Fernando Valley, at the Pasadena Courthouse for the San Gabriel Valley, at the Long Beach Courthouse for the south bay coastal areas, at the Torrance Courthouse for the South Bay, at the Airport Courthouse near LAX, and at the Santa Monica Courthouse for the Westside. We practice in all of these courtrooms.

Orange County

Orange County Superior Court assigns restraining order hearings based on where the petitioner resides. Hearings take place at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana for central and south county residents, at the Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange for inland mid-county, at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach for coastal south county residents, at the North Justice Center in Fullerton for north county, and at the West Justice Center in Westminster for west county residents including Garden Grove, Westminster, and Huntington Beach.

Riverside County

Riverside County holds elder abuse restraining order hearings at the Riverside Historic Courthouse for city of Riverside residents, at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta for Southwest Riverside County including Temecula, Murrieta, and Lake Elsinore, and at the Larson Justice Center in Indio for the Coachella Valley including Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and Indio.

San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County Superior Court assigns elder and dependent adult abuse restraining order cases to courthouses based on the filing location. We appear regularly at the San Bernardino Justice Center, the Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse serving Ontario, Chino, and the western Inland Empire, and the Victorville Courthouse for residents of the High Desert including Victorville, Hesperia, and Apple Valley.

San Diego County

San Diego County Superior Court holds elder and dependent adult abuse restraining order hearings at the Central Courthouse in downtown San Diego, at the Vista Courthouse for North County residents including Escondido, Carlsbad, and Oceanside, and at the Chula Vista Courthouse for South County residents including Chula Vista, National City, and El Cajon.

Talk to a Southern California Elder Abuse Restraining Order Defense Attorney Today

If you have been served with an elder or dependent adult abuse TRO, or if you believe a petition is about to be filed against you, do not wait. The hearing is scheduled within 21 to 25 days of service. That is the window within which your defense must be built. Evidence gathered now may not be available later.

Power Trial Lawyers handles elder and dependent adult abuse restraining order defense across Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego. We appear in courtrooms throughout Southern California — from the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles to the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta to the Central Courthouse in San Diego.

Every case is different. The facts, the evidence, the relationships, and the dynamics behind the allegations all shape the defense strategy. What we can tell you now is this: the earlier you retain counsel, the stronger your position at the hearing.

Call Power Trial Lawyers now at 888-808-2179 for a free consultation. You can also reach us through our online contact page. We respond promptly and consult in confidence. This call is free. Your defense starts today.