A sizable portion of the California Family Code deals with the prevention of domestic violence.

definition of domestic violence
The Code defines domestic violence broadly in FC 6203: 'For purposes of this act, 'abuse' means any of the following: (a) Intentionally or recklessly to cause or attempt to cause bodily injury. (b) Sexual assault. (c) To place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent serious bodily injury to that person or to another. (d) To engage in any behavior that has been or could be enjoined pursuant to FC 6320.'

fc 6203 is expanded by fc 6320
Subsection (d) creates a very broad power and references FC 6320 which lists a panoply of acts where a court may intervene, including enjoining a party from molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually assaulting, battering, harassing, telephoning, including, but not limited to, annoying telephone calls as described in Penal Code (PC) 653m, destroying personal property, contacting, either directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise, coming within a specified distance of, or disturbing the peace of the other party, and, in the discretion of the court, on a showing of good cause, of other named family or household members." Clearly threats of violence amount to domestic violence. Actual violence does too, of course.
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