Legal Help for Domestic Violence Victims

WomensLaw is the first and only free, legal resource for survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking that offers safety and legal information and resources in "plain language" in both English and Spanish. We are dedicated to empowering survivors and their advocates to make informed decisions about their options, safety, and legal remedies. 

 From February 19, 2022 to May 23, 2022, 1,693,735 people accessed the life-saving information that is housed on WomensLaw.org. This is an increase of 62% from the same period a year earlier.

During this same period (February 19, 2022 to May 23, 2022), we worked directly with 862 victims, survivors, and their friends, advocates, or family members through our Email Hotline. This unique hotline offers victims a direct line to ask a question of our attorneys and volunteers, who specialize in domestic violence and the law. We respond to every request as quickly as possible, but take time to respond thoughtfully and include individualized resources and information. We frequently correspond back and forth with the women and men who write in, and many are grateful for our assistance and support, as below:

 “Thank you very much for the advice and resources you have provided me with. I greatly appreciate the time that you took to share this information with me. I have forwarded this email to my sister and it has put her mind at ease for the time being.  Just know that I’m sure the information you provided will go a long way in helping my sister get through these difficult times. My sincerest gratitude to you and your organization.” (WomensLaw Email Hotline response, March 2022) 

And:

“Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate your insights and advice. Thank you so much for responding so quickly. No need to write back. I just wanted to say thank you so much for the advice you provided.”(WomensLaw Email Hotline response, March 2022)

We answer questions and provide our expertise on a wide range of topics - including custody, divorce, relocation, and more. Often, victims or their loved ones are writing in to us to get some basic legal information about their situation when they cannot find legal representation.  Although we do not provide legal advice, we can explain relevant laws that may help the victim to make an informed decision.

It is especially rewarding when someone tells us that we explained the information in a way that was easy to understand and lets us know that the information helped them feel supported. Here is one such reply that we received on the Email Hotline:

“Thank you very much in spending time in sending me answers I understood. I appreciate your help. Thank you.”(WomensLaw Email Hotline response, May 2022)

We are constantly updating our website (http://www.WomensLaw.org) – making changes and additions to it daily. Our priority is to make sure that the legal information that we have is current with changes in the laws and to continue to add new information that would be useful for victims and survivors of abuse. Between February 19, 2022 to May 23, 2022, we made dozens of updates, such as:

• Based on 2022 additions to the law, we did the following:

• Updated What types of alimony are available? in our Tennessee Divorce section to include: 1) the purpose of lump sum alimony; and 2) the fact that if the judge orders attorney’s fees for the divorce proceeding, the judge can include those fees in the lump sum alimony.
• Updated How will a judge make a decision about custody? in our Tennessee Custody section to reflect that a judge will consider whether a parent has failed to pay court-ordered child support for a period of three years or more as one factor when deciding custody.
• We created a new Washington Housing Laws section with nine questions to explain the protections offered to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, and stalking. Spanish soon to come!
• Based on 2022 changes to the law, we updated I am a victim of domestic violence and the abuser has a gun. Is that legal? and If the abuser has been convicted of a crime, can s/he keep or buy a gun? in our Nevada State Gun Laws section to reflect the fact that the law no longer prohibits gun possession based on a conviction for a domestic violence misdemeanor. Instead, the law prohibits gun possession due to a conviction for crime of “battery which constitutes domestic violence.” Changes made in English and Spanish.
• With help from the Giffords Law Center, we revised three questions in English and Spanish in our Maine State Gun Laws section to clarify that:
• The prohibition against a respondent having a firearm when a final PFA is in place only refers to situations where the victim is 1) a current or former spouse; 2) someone s/he has a child in common with; or 3) someone who s/he currently lives with or used to live with. It does not cover other dating partners.
• Possession of a firearm is illegal based on convictions for certain crimes; previously, we indicated that conviction for those crimes meant that the offender could not get a firearm permit.
• Based on 2022 additions to the law, in our Wisconsin Custody section, we added information to How do I change an existing order? about parents agreeing to allow a future modification based on a life event that is likely to take place within the next two years. Changes made in English and Spanish. 
• We added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Missouri Statutes page.
• We revised 17 questions in our Kansas Custody section, clarifying the text and adding small pieces of information. For example:
• In How can I get temporary custody? we added information about the requirement to file a proposed temporary parenting plan along with a temporary custody petition, and explained what can be included in the temporary parenting plan.
• In What is residency? we clarified the definition of divided residency and acknowledged that it would only be ordered in exceptional circumstances.
• We translated into Spanish the updated information for the Children of the Night program on our California Statewide Programs page as well as the Teens and Trafficking/Sexual Exploitation pages in our Places That Help section.
• In our South Dakota Local Programs page, we added information about a new program called the Family Crisis Center.
• We added the county designation for all 26 entries in our Illinois Legal Assistance page in order to organize the listings by county for easier searching.
• Based on a 12/2021 addition to the law, we updated two questions in our New Jersey State Gun Laws section to add the fact that a person cannot purchase a firearm if s/he is subject to a court order prohibiting the custody, control, ownership, purchase, possession, or receipt of a firearm or ammunition that was issued after being charged with or convicted of a crime directed at or committed against a judicial officer.  Changes made in English and Spanish.
• We revised What should I do about my case if I test positive for COVID-19? in our Frequently Asked Questions Involving Courts and COVID-19 section in English. Spanish coming soon.
• On our At the Hearing page we expanded the question What do I keep in mind when going to court? Change made in English, Spanish coming soon!
• In our Arizona Divorce section, we created a new question called Where can I find additional information about divorce on WomensLaw.org? in English and Spanish. We also added a link to a flow chart of the divorce process to Where can I find additional information about divorce?
• In our VAWA Housing Protections page, we added information to How does VAWA protect the housing rights of victims? Do private landlords have to follow the law? to clarify that the law does not apply to private landlords unless they are accepting Section 8 vouchers. Changes made in English and Spanish.
• We created a new question in our Idaho Custody and Divorce sections called “Is there anything I can do if my abusive partner continually files court cases against me?” We also added a related statute regarding vexatious litigation to our Selected Idaho Statutes page.
• We revised What are the residency requirements to get a divorce in Guam? in our Guam Divorce section to clarify that in the case of a petition based on residency for seven days, the seven days must be immediately before filing the petition.
• We translated into Spanish our Texas housing law questions What steps do I have to take to end (terminate) my lease early? and Who is protected by this housing law? What protections does this law offer?
• We created a new Safety in School page in our Safety Tips section in English (Spanish soon to come).

… And these are just a handful of the changes and improvements that we made over the past three months! See everything we did on WomensLaw.org on our What’s New page: https://www.womenslaw.org/about/news

Thank you for supporting WomensLaw and the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV).

Stay in the loop! Sign up for occasional action alerts and updates from NNEDV at: NNEDV.org/signup

Links:

• WomensLaw website
• WomensLaw Email Hotline
• WomensLaw Linea Informativa

WomensLaw is the first and only free, legal resource for survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking that offers safety and legal information and resources in "plain language" in both English and Spanish. We are dedicated to empowering survivors and their advocates to make informed decisions about their options, safety, and legal remedies. 

From November 1, 2021, to February 18, 2022, 1,623,811 people accessed the life-saving information that is housed on WomensLaw.org. This is an increase of 66% from the same period a year earlier.

In the past three months (November 2021 through February 18, 2022), we worked directly with 1,005 victims, survivors, and their friends, advocates, or family members through our Email Hotline. This unique hotline offers victims a direct line to ask a question of our attorneys and volunteers, who specialize in domestic violence and the law. We respond to every request as quickly as possible, but take time to respond thoughtfully and include individualized resources and information. We frequently correspond back and forth with the people who write in, and many are grateful for our assistance and support, as below:

“Many, infinite thanks for help and assistance. I appreciate the advice that you all have given to me as to what to do during this kind of situation. Without the help of women's law I don't know where I would be.” (WomensLaw Email Hotline response, December 2021)

And:

“Thank you so much for your response and the information provided. Sincerely. Thank you all deeply for what you do and the people that you help. Even a reply means so much.” (WomensLaw Email Hotline response, February 2022)

We answer questions and provide our expertise on a wide range of topics - including custody, divorce, relocation, and more. Often, victims or their loved ones are writing in to us to get some basic legal information about their situation when they cannot find legal representation. Although we do not provide legal advice, we can explain relevant laws that may help the victim to make an informed decision.

It is especially rewarding when someone tells us that we explained the information in a way that was easy to understand and lets us know that the information helped them feel supported. Here is one such reply that we received on the Email Hotline:

“I appreciate the amount of education and information, overall a great amount of support you've given me.” (WomensLaw Email Hotline response, November 2021)

We are constantly updating our website (http://www.WomensLaw.org) – making changes and additions daily. Our top priorities are: (1) to make sure that the legal information that we have is current with changes in the laws, and (2) to continue to add new information that would be useful for victims and survivors of abuse. Between November 1, 2021, and February 18, 2022, we made hundreds of updates, such as:

• Based on newly enacted laws, we added information about child support lasting until age 26 for a child who is developmentally disabled and lives with the parent seeking support to What is child support? Who can file? in our New York Child Support section in English and Spanish. We also added two related statutes to our Selected New York Statutes page.
• In our Stalking/Cyberstalking page, we added a new question in English and Spanish called How can I document incidents of stalking and cyberstalking? 
• Based on 2021 changes to the law, we updated Am I eligible to file for a protective order? in our Oklahoma Restraining Orders section to clarify that a family or household member now includes anyone related by blood or marriage even if they are not living in the same household.
• In our Ohio Domestic Violence / Dating Violence Protection order page, we added a list of the sexually oriented offenses to What is the legal definition of domestic violence in Ohio? and hyperlinked each crime to its statutory definition. Changes made in English and Spanish.
• Based on 2021 changes to the law regarding who can get a concealed handgun permit, we updated the following questions in our Virginia State Gun Laws pages in English and Spanish:
• In our Florida Injunctions for Protection Against Domestic Violence section, we re-wrote What is the legal definition of domestic violence in Florida? to hyperlink each crime to its statutory definition and to clarify that the crime of stalking also includes harassment and cyberstalking. Changes made in English and Spanish.
• Based on 2021 changes to the law, we added information to What acts of abuse would qualify me for a peace order? in our Maryland Peace Orders section to explain that an employer can file for a peace order if an act of abuse happened to their employee at the employee’s workplace. Changes made in English and Spanish.
• We rearranged our Puerto Rico Custody section to better organize the information included in that section. We also added the questions: 

• I am a victim of domestic violence and the abuser has a gun. Is that legal?
• If the abuser has been convicted of a crime, can s/he keep or buy a gun?
• I do not have a protective order against the abuser and s/he has not been convicted of a crime. Can s/he own a gun?

• What happens when joint custody is issued but one parent refuses to work together with the other parent?

o   What are some pros and cons of starting a custody case?

• Based on a 2021 addition to the law, we added information about the exceptions for when carrying a handgun or firearm is not illegal to What is the penalty for violating state firearm laws? in our Tennessee State Gun Laws section. We also added information about the penalties for carrying a firearm when someone has been convicted of stalking or driving under the influence or has been committed to a mental institution. Changes made in English and Spanish.
• Created a new question in our Georgia Family Violence Protective Orders section called After I get an order, what steps will law enforcement take to help ensure my safety? based on the law that lets a petitioner request police “security checks.” We also added the related statute to our Selected Georgia Statutes page.

• Added information to three questions in our Indiana Orders for Protection page about the fact that if an order for protection may affect a school’s ability to provide in-person instruction to the petitioner, the school must be notified and has three business days to respond and then a school representative can testify at the order for protection hearing before the judge can issue an order. Changes made in English; Spanish soon to come.
• Changed four questions in our Utah Restraining Orders section to reflect the change of the length of temporary orders from 20 to 21 days.
• We revised the question If a PR&R order is already in place, how can I get it changed? to add more information about appeals and motions for consideration in our Vermont Custody section.

These are just a handful of the changes and improvements that we made over the past three months! See everything we did on WomensLaw.org on our What’s New page: https://www.womenslaw.org/about/news

Thank you for supporting WomensLaw and the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV).

Stay in the loop! Sign up for occasional action alerts and updates from NNEDV at: NNEDV.org/signup

Links:

• What's New on WomensLaw.org
• WomensLaw Email Hotline
• WomensLaw Linea Informativa