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HomeFamily CodeDiv. 10Pt. 3Ch. 2§ 6251 Emergency Protective Order Requirements

§ 6251 Emergency Protective Order Requirements

Family Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 6251 Emergency Protective Order Requirements

This law says a judge can make an emergency order to protect someone if there's a big risk of harm right now, like domestic violence, child abuse, or elder abuse.

Key Takeaways

  • •The order is only for emergencies where someone is in danger right now.
  • •It can protect against domestic violence, child abuse, child abduction, or abuse of an elder.
  • •A judge must believe the order is needed to stop the harm from happening or happening again.

Example

A neighbor hears loud screaming and sounds of hitting from the apartment next door.

If the neighbor calls the police and they believe someone is in immediate danger, a judge can quickly issue an order to protect the person being hurt.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 6251 Emergency Protective Order Requirements

An emergency protective order may be issued only if the judicial officer finds both of the following: (a) That reasonable grounds have been asserted to believe that an immediate and present danger of domestic violence exists, that a child is in immediate and present danger of abuse or abduction, or that an elder or dependent adult is in immediate and present danger of abuse as defined in Section 15610.07 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (b) That an emergency protective order is necessary to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of domestic violence, child abuse, child abduction, or abuse of an elder or dependent adult. (Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 561, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2000.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

emergency protective orderimmediate and present dangerdomestic violencechild abusechild abductionabuse of an elder or dependent adult

Related Statutes

  • § 6250 Emergency Protective Orders
  • § 3044 Custody Presumption After Domestic Violence
  • § 6250.3 Emergency Protective Order Validity
  • § 6252 Emergency Child Protective Orders
  • § 6254 Emergency Protective Order Eligibility

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Family Code. Section 6251.
View Official Source