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Legal Information: California

Restraining Orders

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Updated: 
January 11, 2024

What is the definition of "elderly" and "dependent adult" for the purposes of getting this restraining order?

An elderly person is anyone who is 65 years old or older.1 A dependent adult is defined as:

  1. anyone who is an inpatient in a 24-hour health facility, such as a nursing home; or
  2. someone between the ages of 18 and 64 who has physical or mental limitations that restrict his/her ability to carry out normal activities or to protect his/her rights, even if s/he lives independently. The person’s limitations or restrictions could be due to:
    • a physical or developmental disability;
    • diminished physical or mental ability due to age; or
    • other reasons.2

1 Cal Wel. & Inst. Code § 15610.27
2 ​Cal Wel. & Inst. Code § 15610.23

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