Who does an elder abuse restraining order protect?

Where can I get help filing for an Elder or Dependent Adult

Abuse Restraining Order?

Bet Tzedek Legal Services and the Los Angeles Superior Court have partnered to offer a self-help

elder abuse restraining order clinic at Stanley Mosk Courthouse where you can get information

and assistance with completing and filing restraining order applications and responses.

Bet Tzedek’s Elder Abuse Restraining Order Clinic

Stanley Mosk Courthouse111 N. Hill Street, Room 245, 2nd Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Monday & Thursday, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

(323) 648-4730 • eaclinic@bettzedek.org

www.bettzedek.org(323) 939-0506

CONNECT WITH US @BetTzedek

Can an Elder and Dependent Adult

Abuse Restraining Order Help You?

• People 65 years old or older;

• people of any age who are developmentally disabled; and

• people of any age who depend on others for care or to carry out activities of daily living.

Who can apply for an elder abuse restraining order?

•The elder or dependent adult experiencing abuse

•A conservator or trustee of the person being abused

•An agent under powers of attorney for the person being abused

•A guardian ad litem who is an attorney or is represented by an attorney

•A family member or friend of an elder abuse victim may be able to get authority from the court to file a restraining order on behalf of the victim. Please visit the self-help center at Stanley Mosk courthouse to get more information.

What is elder and dependent adult abuse?

Physical abuse: Hitting, kicking, pushing, slapping, burning, sexual assault, or an attempt to cause injury.

Emotional abuse/mental suffering: Harming an elder or dependent adult’s self-worth or emotional well-being by name calling, threatening, intimidating, harassing, or making false or misleading statements.

Neglect and abandonment: A caregiver’s failure to meet basic needs of the elder or dependent adult like medical care, housing, food, clothing, and safety; leaving an elder alone and not providing care.

Financial abuse: Using an elder or dependent adult’s money, property, or assets without consent. Examples include unauthorized use of credit cards or ATM/debit card, stealing or forging checks, unauthorized property transfers.

Isolation: Preventing an elder or dependent adult from seeing visitors, receiving or making phone calls, accessing mail, or leaving his/her home.

Abduction: Removing an elder or dependent adult from California and/or preventing the elder/dependent adult from returning to California.

There are many forms of abuse that a restraining order can protect against.

How will the restraining order protect me?

A judge can make different types of orders to help you stay safe.

Conduct: This order prevents the abuser from conduct such as abusing, intimidating, molesting, attacking, stalking, or threatening you or destroying your personal property.

Communication: This order prevents the abuser from contacting you in person or by phone, email, text or any other way. (You can ask the judge to allow the abuser to contact you if you want to maintain a relationship with the abuser.)

Stay Away: This order prohibits the abuser from coming near you, your home, car, caregiver, or other people who live with you. You can ask the judge to allow visits in controlled circumstances if you want to maintain a relationship with the abuser.

Move-Out: This order requires the abuser to move out of a home or apartment that you own or lease. However, a restraining order cannot be used to evict someone solely because the person has not paid rent.

Animals: This order can give you sole possession of your animal or an animal that lives in your house.

Other orders: The judge can make any order that prevents the defendant from doing something that hurts you.

It is free to file an elder abuse restraining order. Visit the self-help clinic at Stanley Most courthouse for assistance with completing and filing the restraining order application.