What’s New on WomensLaw.org
Have a suggestion or correction? Contact us!
December 2023
We updated the contact information for six resources on our New York Local Programs page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our North Dakota Local Programs page.
On our Missouri Crimes page, we updated the link to the webpage of the Office of the Attorney General, which provides information on victims’ rights and services.
We updated the contact information for two resources on our Michigan Local Programs page.
We updated the contact information for the resource on our Maine Lawyer Referral Services page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Indiana Statewide Programs page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Georgia Local Programs page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Local Programs page and two resources on our Legal Assistance page for Florida.
We updated the information for five resources on our Local Programs page and one resource on our Statewide Programs page for Colorado in English and Spanish.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our California Local Programs page.
On our Nebraska Restraining Orders page, we revised What protections can I get in a protection order? to include protections for household pets that were added in 2023.
Based on 2023 legislative amendments, we did the following in our Minnesota State Gun Laws section:
- Revised What is the definition of a felony? to reflect the change in definition of a felony from imprisonment for “more than one year” to imprisonment of “one year or more;” and
- Revised the following questions to add the fact that the law now prohibits someone who has an extreme risk protection order issued against him/her, either an emergency order or one issued after a hearing, from possessing firearms:
We also added links to divorce forms and small claims court forms on our Minnesota Download Court Forms page, and we added a link to small claims court forms to our Minnesota Suing an Abuser for Money page.
All changes made in English and Spanish.
We added six new crimes related to domestic violence, child abuse, invasion of privacy, and computer crimes to our Pennsylvania Crimes page in English and Spanish. We also added seven new related statutes to our Selected Pennsylvania Statutes page.
In our Michigan Restraining Orders section, we re-wrote the question Does it cost anything to register my protection order? to cite the federal law that prohibits charging a fee, and we updated the links to court forms in three other questions. In our Michigan Suing an Abuser for Money section, we added a link to small claims court forms on the Michigan courts website. Lastly, on our Michigan Download Court Forms page, we updated links to court forms for personal protection orders and added a link to court forms for small claims court. All changes made in English and Spanish.
We added a new resource, Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes, to our New York Local Programs page in English and Spanish.
In our Arkansas Housing Laws section we revised the question If I am a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, how does the law protect me? to clarify who is protected by this law. We added 3 new questions:
- What proof or documentation do I have to give the landlord to prove that I am a victim?
- Can I change my locks or ask my landlord to change my locks?
- Can a landlord evict the abuser or get the abuser to pay for damages to the rental home?
All changes made in English. Spanish coming soon!
On our New Mexico Custody page, we revised Who can file for custody? based on 2023 legislative changes that added a caregiver chosen by the Children, Youth and Families Department to the list of people who can file for kinship guardianship. We also rewrote this question to clarify who falls into the other categories on this list. Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!
We also added one related statute to our Selected New Mexico Statutes page.
We added 12 new crimes related to domestic violence, assault, invasion of privacy, and computer crimes to our Virginia Crimes page in English and Spanish. We also added 12 related statutes to the Selected Virginia Statutes page.
We added two victim’s rights laws to our Selected Maine Statutes page.
We revised seven questions on our Wisconsin Restraining Orders page to add information about having an injunction made permanent if the respondent has been convicted of sexual assault in the first, second, or third degrees, or repeated acts of sexual assault against a child:
- What types of domestic abuse orders are there? How long do they last?
- Can a final domestic abuse injunction be changed or extended?
- What types of child abuse restraining orders are there? How long do they last?
- Can a child abuse restraining order be extended?
- What types of harassment restraining orders are there? How long do they last?
- Can a final harassment restraining order be extended?
- Can a final individual at risk restraining order be extended?
We created three new questions on our Wisconsin Restraining Orders page to make it clear that a respondent can ask to have a permanent injunction modified or terminated if the crime they were convicted of is vacated:
- Can the respondent modify or terminate a permanent child abuse restraining order?
- Can the respondent modify or terminate a permanent harassment restraining order?
- Can the respondent modify or terminate a permanent individual at risk restraining order?
We revised the following five questions on our Wisconsin Restraining Orders page to add information about combining a request for different types of injunctions into a single petition if the abuser is the same:
- Am I eligible to file for a domestic abuse injunction?
- Step 1: Get the necessary paperwork.
- Step 3: File the forms at the courthouse.
- What are the steps for getting a child abuse restraining order?
- What are the steps for getting a harassment restraining order
We revised two existing questions in our Wisconsin Domestic Abuse Injunctions section to add information about the ability to request a de novo hearing if a judge denies a request for an injunction:
- Step 4: A judge will review your petition.
- I was not granted a domestic abuse injunction. What are my options?
We also created three new related questions on our Wisconsin Restraining Orders page based on this same information about requesting a de novo hearing:
- I was not granted a child abuse restraining order. What are my options?
- I was not granted a harassment restraining order. What are my options?
- I was not granted an individual at risk restraining order. What are my options?
All of these changes were made in English; Spanish coming soon!
We also revised the following two questions on our Wisconsin Restraining Orders page in both English and Spanish to improve clarity for our readers:
- Step 2: Carefully fill out the petition.
- Who is eligible to file for a harassment restraining order? Can a minor file?
On our Wisconsin Crimes page, we added the crime of reckless first degree homicide in English and Spanish.
Finally, we also added three related statutes to our Selected Wisconsin Statutes page.
We created a U.S. Virgin Islands Workplace Protections page. It includes seven questions regarding employment protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. We also added a corresponding statute to our Selected U.S. Virgin Islands Statutes page.
We updated the contact information for four resources on our Virginia Local Programs page.
We reviewed the Massachusetts Child Support page to improve its readability level. We also added the questions:
Spanish coming soon!
We reviewed the Massachusetts Divorce page to improve its readability level. We also added the question What protections can I ask for while the divorce is pending? to provide additional tools for survivors divorcing the abuser and uploaded five new related statutes to our Selected Massachusetts Statutes page. Spanish coming soon!
We added Vermont to the list of states with an abusive litigation law on our Litigation Abuse page in both English and Spanish.
Based on 2023 legislative changes that created a remedy for abusive litigation, we added the following three questions to our Vermont Divorce, Relief from Abuse Orders, and Sexual Assault or Stalking Protective Orders sections:
- What can I do if the abuser keeps filing court proceedings against me?
- At what point in the court process can I request an order to restrict abusive litigation?
- What happens if the judge issues an order restricting abusive litigation?
In our Vermont Extreme Risk Protection Orders section, we revised the following questions based on 2023 legislative changes that now allow a family or household member to file for an ERPO in addition to the State’s Attorney or Office of the Attorney General:
- Who can file for an extreme risk protection order?
- How do I get an extreme risk protection order?
- How will the judge make a decision?
- Can an extreme risk protection order be renewed?
On our Vermont Suing an Abuser for Money page, we updated the limit for claims in small claims court to $10,000 based on 2023 legislative changes.
We added the crime of aggravated human trafficking to our Vermont Crimes page.
Finally, we added nine related statutes to our Selected Vermont Statutes page.
On our Vermont State Gun Laws page, we revised the following questions based on 2023 legislative changes that created additional restrictions on someone having a gun if they have a stalking order against them, fled to avoid a criminal prosecution, or have charges pending for human trafficking, drug trafficking, or carrying a weapon while committing a felony :
- 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 have or buy a gun?
- I do not have a relief from abuse order against the abuser, and s/he has not been convicted of a crime. Is there anything I can do?
Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!
On our West Virginia Custody page, we created the following seven new questions:
- What is custodial responsibility?
- What is decision-making responsibility?
- What is a parenting plan?
- What are some pros and cons of getting a custody order?
- Should I start a court case to ask for supervised visitation?
- What are the steps to file for custody?
- If the judge makes a custody and visitation order I don’t agree with, what can I do?
We also added two related statutes to our Selected West Virginia Statutes page.
On our Oklahoma Restraining Orders page, we revised two questions to more accurately reflect that an adult crime victim seeking a protective order against someone who is not a family or household member is required to file a police report first:
These changes were made in English; Spanish coming soon!
Based on 2023 legislative changes, we did the following in English (Spanish coming soon):
- In our Maryland State Gun Laws, revised 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? to add that a person cannot have a gun if:
- s/he has been convicted on or after October 1, 2023 of the crime of child’s access to firearms in either of the following circumstances:
- it is the second, third, fourth time, etc., that the person has been convicted of this crime; or
- it is the first time that the person has been convicted of this crime and it resulted in the use of a loaded firearm by a minor causing death or serious bodily injury to the minor or another person;
- s/he is on supervised probation after being convicted of any of the following:
- a felony;
- driving while under the influence or impairment of alcohol or drugs; or
- violation of a protective order.
- s/he has been convicted on or after October 1, 2023 of the crime of child’s access to firearms in either of the following circumstances:
- In our Selected Maryland Statutes page, we added two crimes related to the above edits called ”Driving while under the influence or impairment of alcohol or drugs prohibited” and “Child’s access to firearms.”
- In our Maryland Custody page, revised What is mediation? Is it ordered for victims of abuse? to add coercive control as a reason that a judge might not order mediation.
On our Alaska Custody page, we:
- Revised What is custody? and What is joint custody? to clarify the definitions of legal and physical custody and to add citing references to the applicable case law, statutes, and court rules. We also added a related court rule to our Alaska Selected Statutes page.
- Revised the title of In which state can I file for custody? to make it clearer that this question is about which state has the legal power (jurisdiction) to hear and decide a custody case. (This question was previously named Can I file for child custody in Alaska?)
- Revised What are the steps to file for custody? to be more comprehensive.
- Created the following five new questions:
- Will the judge always give joint custody?
- How will the judge decide whether or not to give joint custody?
- Will the judge give a temporary custody order?
- I am a victim of domestic violence. Can I keep my address and phone number confidential?
- If the judge makes a custody and visitation order I don’t agree with, what can I do?
We also created a new Alaska Child Support section with links to where to find information on child support in this state.
We translated into Spanish the Alabama Child Support, Custody, and Restraining Orders pages.
Based on 2023 legislative changes, we revised Am I eligible to file for a protective order? and What are the reasons (grounds) for getting a protective order? on our Oklahoma Restraining Orders page in English and Spanish to reflect the fact that child abuse has been added as a basis for someone to qualify for a domestic violence protective order.
On our Oklahoma Crimes page, we added 18 new crimes related to abuse and stalking. We also added 15 related statutes to our Selected Oklahoma Statutes page.
Based on 2023 statutory changes, we revised the information on the Puerto Rico Orders of Protection in Favor of a Minor. Among other things, the law now empowers other people who interact with the child to file for a restraining order for them and clarifies that a judge cannot give temporary custody to the Department of Family solely based on this petition. However, the judge will notify the Department of Family so that they can begin their investigation and intervention protocol. English coming soon!
We also added eight related statutes to the Puerto Rico Selected Statutes page.
We added six crimes commonly committed by abusers to our Puerto Rico Crimes page.
Based on statutory 2023 changes, we updated our information on the Puerto Rico Protection Orders for Domestic Violence page. The law now recognizes financial violence as part of the abusive behavior and includes additional protections that can be requested within the protection order. These include the abuser sharing financial information of interest to the victim or their children, not using shared financial resources inadequately, continuing to make rent or mortgage payments, and not interfering with the victim’s job. English coming soon!
We also added eight related statutes to our Puerto Rico Selected Statutes page.
We created a new New Hampshire Child Support section, including five new questions that provide information about New Hampshire’s child support laws. We also added seven related statutes to our Selected New Hampshire Statues page.
On our Oregon Crimes page, we added 17 crimes in English related to child abuse, sexual abuse, and stalking. Spanish coming soon!
We revised our Oregon Suing an Abuser for Money page in English and Spanish to clarify that any claim less than $750 is required to be filed in small claims court.
We also added 19 related statutes to our Selected Oregon Statutes page.
We added the crime called “Criminal liability and penalties for crimes of computer theft, trespass, invasion of privacy, forgery, and password disclosure” to our Georgia Crimes page, in English and Spanish, and to our Selected Georgia Statutes page.
We added 17 crimes to our Rhode Island Crimes page, including failure to pay child support, online impersonation, and video voyeurism. We also added 17 related statutes to our Selected Rhode Island Statutes page.
November 2023
On our Washington State Gun Laws page, we revised the following questions in English and Spanish based on 2022 and 2023 legislative changes that expanded the conditions that can bar someone from having a gun:
- What is the difference between federal and state gun laws? Why do I need to understand both?
- Who do I notify if I think the abuser should not have a gun?
- What will happen if the abuser tries to purchase a gun?
We revised these additional questions in English only:
- I am a victim of domestic violence and the abuser has a gun. Is that legal?
- I have a temporary (ex parte) or preliminary protection order against the abuser. Do I have to wait until I receive a final full protection order before the abuser’s guns is are taken away?
- I have a protection order against the abuser. Can s/he keep a gun or buy a new gun?
- Is there anything I can do to make it more likely that the abuser’s gun is taken away when I get a protection order?
- What is the penalty if the abuser has a gun in violation of my protection order?
- If the abuser has been convicted of a crime, can s/he keep or buy a gun?
- If the abuser’s gun is taken away, what will happen to it?
- What is the penalty for violating state or federal firearm laws?
- I do not have a protection order against the abuser, and s/he has not been convicted of any crimes, is there anything I can do?
Spanish coming soon!
We also added five related statutes to our Selected Washington Statutes page.
In our Washington Domestic Violence Protection Orders section, we added two new questions:
- Can I file for a domestic violence protection order if I am a minor?
- Can a domestic violence advocate or other support person come to court with me?
We also revised 23 of the 24 existing questions in this section based on legislative changes made in 2022 and 2023 that standardized the procedures for all of Washington’s different types of protection orders.
In our Washington Stalking Protection Orders section, we added 11 new questions based on these same 2022 and 2023 legislative changes:
- What types of stalking protection orders are there? How long do they last?
- In which county can I file for a stalking protection order?
- Can I file for a stalking protection order if I am a minor?
- What are the steps to get a stalking protection order?
- How much does it cost? Do I need a lawyer?
- What should I do when I leave the courthouse?
- Can I file a motion to change or terminate my stalking protection order?
- Can the abuser file a motion to change or terminate my protection order?
- What factors will a judge consider when deciding whether or not to terminate my full protection order?
- How do I extend my protection order?
- What happens if I move?
We also revised the following five existing questions in this section for the same reason:
- What is the legal definition of stalking in Washington?
- What protections can I get in a stalking protection order?
- If the abuser lives in a different state, can I still get an order against him/her?
- Am I eligible to file for a stalking protection order?
- What if the abuser violates the order?
All changes to the Domestic Violence and Stalking Protection Orders sections were made in English; Spanish coming soon!
We added three new crimes of cyber harassment, interfering with the reporting of domestic violence, and hate crime offenses to our Washington Crimes page in English and Spanish.
Finally, we added 55 related statutes to the Selected Washington Statutes page.
Based on a new statutory section passed in 2023, we added the following questions:
- Can my child’s medical care be covered in a child support case? to our Virginia Child Support page;
- Can I use my child’s medical records as evidence in a custody case? to our Virginia Custody page; and
- Can I submit proof of my medical treatment and costs as part of a request for alimony? to our Virginia Divorce page.
On our Virginia Restraining Orders page, we revised Step 4: The hearing to add the fact that the petitioner can prove family abuse by demonstrating the severity of injuries alleged through the use of medical records.
We also added two related statutes to our Selected Virginia Statutes page.
All changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!
We updated the information of the seven offices of Acadiana Legal Services Corporation in our Louisiana Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.
On our U.S. Virgin Islands Restraining Orders page, we revised two questions in our The steps for filing a domestic violence restraining order section to more accurately describe the process and the name of the court where the filing is done.
On our U.S. Virgin Islands State Gun Laws page, we did the following:
- Revised If the abuser has been convicted of a crime, can s/he keep or buy a gun? to clarify what crimes might prevent an abuser from having a gun; and
- Revised I do not have a restraining order against the abuser and s/he has not been convicted of a crime. Can s/he have a gun? to clarify the conditions that may prevent an abuser from having a gun even if they have not been convicted of a crime or the victim does not have a restraining order.
We also added one related statute defining which drugs qualify as controlled substances for the purposes of preventing someone from having a gun to our Selected U.S. Virgin Islands Statutes page.
We updated a resource, Oasis, in our Louisiana Local Programs page in English and Spanish.
On our South Dakota State Gun Laws page, we revised What is the definition of a felony? based on 2023 legislative changes that substituted the term “correctional facility” for “penitentiary.”
On our South Dakota Crimes page, we added the crimes of aggravated battery of an infant, removal of child from state, eavesdropping, and window peeking on private property of another. We also added four related statutes to our Selected South Dakota Statutes page.
Based on 2023 legislative changes, we did the following:
- In our Maryland Divorce section:
- Deleted two questions related to limited divorce based on the October 2023 abolition of limited divorce in Maryland;
- Revised What are the grounds for divorce in Maryland? to do the following:
- remove references to limited divorce;
- delete all fault-based grounds for divorce, the 12-month separation ground, and the insanity ground;
- add the two new no-fault grounds for divorce, namely:
- irreconcilable differences; and
- if you and your spouse have lived separate and apart for at least six months, without interruption, leading up to filing the application for divorce; and
- explain that a couple who lives under the same roof can still be considered living “separate and apart” if they pursue separate lives;
- In our Maryland Custody section:
- Revised Do I have to notify the court if I want to move (relocate) with my child? to add that the judge must quickly schedule a hearing if the proposed relocation would significantly interfere with the other parent’s ability to maintain the current parenting time schedule.
- Created two new questions called If I fear the other parent may abduct my child, what can I do? and If the judge agrees that there is a risk my child will be abducted, what will the judge do?
- Added five statutes related to abduction prevention orders to our Selected Maryland Statutes page.
On our Tennessee Custody page, we revised If the other parent is convicted of a serious crime, can I file to terminate his/her parental rights? to clarify that, based on 2023 legislative changes, a substantially similar crime against a child in another state can now provide a basis for filing to terminate parental rights.
On our Tennessee Restraining Order page, we did the following based on 2023 legislative changes:
- Added financial abuse to What is the legal definition of domestic abuse?, as well as revised what other actions qualify as domestic abuse for the purposes of getting a protection order; and
- Revised What is the legal definition of stalking? to add a single instance of a harasser using an electronic tracking device to the definition of a “course of conduct” that constitutes harassment.
These changes were made in English; Spanish coming soon!
We also added six new crimes related to abuse and stalking to our Tennessee Crimes page in English and Spanish, and we added six related statutes to our Selected Tennessee Statutes page.
Based on 2023 legislative changes, we did the following in English (Spanish coming soon!):
- In our Maine Custody section:
- Revised If my child was conceived from a sexual assault, can the offender’s rights be terminated? to add the considerations the judge must take if allowing parent-child contact with a sexual assault offender.
- Created a new question called If my child was conceived due to nonconsensual removal of a condom, can the offender get parental rights?
- In our Maine Protection From Abuse Orders page, we revised What is the legal definition of abuse in Maine? to add the fact that nonconsensual removal of or tampering with a condom is now a ground for getting an order.
- In our Maine Suing an Abuser for Money page, added information about being able to sue someone in civil court for nonconsensual removal of a condom, misrepresentation of condom use, tampering with the condom so that it is ineffective, or purposefully using a damaged condom. We also added the related statute to our Selected Maine Statutes section.
On our District of Columbia Child Support page, we added four new questions in English (Spanish coming soon!):
- Is child support retroactive in D.C.?
- How can I get child support if I don’t know where the other parent is?
- How will court-ordered child support be paid?
- What can I do if the other parent is not paying the ordered child support?
We also added three related statutes to our Selected District of Columbia Statutes page.
We translated into Spanish the question When can a judge order that a parent be drug tested? on our Indiana Custody page.
On our Texas Restraining Orders page, we added two new questions in English (Spanish coming soon!):
- What if I don’t qualify for a family violence protective order?
- I was not granted a family violence protective order. What are my options?
On our Texas Child Support page, we added four new questions in English (Spanish coming soon!):
- How will the judge calculate child support?
- Can my child support order be changed?
- What can I do if the other parent is not paying the ordered child support?
- Can child support be ordered retroactively in Texas?
We also added six related statutes to our Selected Texas Statutes page.
We created a new Guam Child Support section, including the following five new questions in English that provide information about Guam’s child support laws:
- What is child support?
- How long does child support last?
- How will a judge decide the amount of a child support award?
- Can a child support order be changed?
- Where can I find out more about child support in Guam?
We also added 10 related statutes to our Selected Guam Statues page.
In our North Dakota Protection Orders page, we added two new questions:
We updated the resource on our New Mexico Lawyer Referral Services page. We also added a new resource, Modest Means Helpline, to our New Mexico Legal Assistance page. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We updated a resource SAFE on Main, formerly the Abuse and Rape Crisis Shelter, on our Ohio Local Programs page, in Spanish in English.
On our Ohio Download Court Forms page, we updated the link to stalking protection order form and to the main forms page of the Ohio Courts website. Changes made in English and Spanish.
In our About Abuse – Information for Teens and Young Adults section, we updated links to the organization Loveisrespect. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We translated into Spanish our Missouri Download Court Forms page.
We translated into Spanish our Minnesota Download Court Forms page.
In our About Abuse - Financial Abuse section, we updated links to the Identity Theft Resource Center and the National Association of Crime Victims Compensation Board. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We updated the link to parenting plan forms on our Tennessee Download Court Forms page.
We translated into Spanish the Maine Custody and Restraining Orders pages. Now the Spanish translation of the Maine Legal Information section is complete! That makes Maine the 34th state to be completely translated into Spanish on our website!
Based on 2023 legislative changes, we did the following:
- In our Louisiana Custody section, we revised If my child was conceived as a result of rape, can the offender get any rights to my child? to change the language from proving the offender committed ”felony rape” to a “sex offense.” We also added a related statute to our Selected Louisiana Statutes page.
- In our Louisiana Divorce section, we revised Can I get spousal support? to clarify that the mental health professional who would evaluate whether there was domestic violence must be licensed and that they must have experience in the field, whereas previously the law said that the person had to be “an expert” in the field.
We also revised If the abuser’s gun is taken away, what will happen to it? in our Louisiana State Gun Laws page to add the fact that a judge can order the transfer of firearms and suspension of a concealed handgun permit based on a conviction for ”domestic abuse aggravated assault,” “aggravated assault upon a dating partner,” and any felony “crime of violence” when the victim is a family member, household member, or dating partner. This was based on a 2019 legislative change; we regret the delay in adding this information.
We also added a firearm-related statute and a sexual assault-related statute to our Selected Louisiana Statutes page.
We translated into Spanish the Maine Child Support, Divorce, and Housing Laws pages.
On our U.S. Virgin Islands Crimes page, we added eight new crimes related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. We also added nine related statutes to our Selected U.S. Virgin Islands Statutes page.
We translated into Spanish the Maine Crimes and Suing an Abuser for Money pages.
We translated into Spanish the following in our Florida Legal Information pages:
- Recent English revisions to How will the judge decide if I am “in immediate danger of becoming a victim of domestic violence?” in our Florida Injunctions for Protection Against Domestic Violence page.
- Recent English revisions to six questions in our Florida State Gun Laws page.
In our Florida Custody page, we translated into Spanish recent English revisions to the following questions:
- Who can get custody (sole/shared parental responsibility) of a child?
- Can I get financial support for my child in a custody order (parenting plan)?
- I fled to Florida with my children to escape domestic violence. Can I get temporary emergency custody of my child in Florida even if another state is the child’s “home state”?
- Can grandparents get visitation rights in court?
- If a custody order (parenting plan) is already in place, how can I get it changed?
In our Florida Divorce page, we translated into Spanish recent English revisions to What types of alimony are there? and Can I get alimony? What factors will a judge consider? We also translated the question Under what circumstances can an alimony award be modified or terminated?
Based on 2023 legislative changes, we did the following in our Kentucky Protective Orders / Domestic Violence Orders section:
- Revised Who can get a protective order? to add “an adult sibling” to the definition of family member; and
- Revised What is the legal definition of domestic violence in Kentucky? to change the terminology from “sexual abuse” to “sexual assault,” and to add the clarification that the term includes any degree of rape, sodomy, or sexual abuse, and incest.
In our Kansas Divorce page, we created a new question called What types of issues can the judge address while the divorce is pending? in English (Spanish coming soon).
We translated into Spanish recent English revisions to When does someone usually file for allocation of parental responsibilities? and translated the question Can grandparents file for visitation (“family time”)? in our Colorado Custody page.
We translated into Spanish recent English revisions to the question How can I recognize the signs of elder abuse? on our Elder Abuse page.
We translated into Spanish recent English revisions on our Safety Planning page for Domestic Violence Victims including Safety While Living with an Abuser and Safety when Preparing to End an Abusive Relationship.
On our Indiana Download Court Forms page, we updated the current links, and added a new link for the forms needed to modify a custody order in English and Spanish.
We translated into Spanish the seven questions in the Male Victims section on the Abuse in Specific Communities page.
We translated into Spanish our Kansas State Gun Laws page. Now the Spanish translation of the Kansas Legal Information section is complete! That makes Kansas the 33rd state to be completely translated into Spanish on our website!
In our Iowa Custody section we created 28 new questions in English; Spanish coming soon! We also added 21 related statutes to our Selected Iowa Statutes page.
We created a new Arizona Child Support section, including five new questions that provide information about the state child support laws. We also added nine related statutes to our Selected Arizona Statutes page. Added in English; Spanish coming soon!
We updated 22 resources and added nine new resources on our Washington Legal Assistance page and updated six resources on our Washington Lawyer Referral Services page. All changes made in English and Spanish.
Based on 2023 legislative changes, we did the following:
- In our Indiana Orders for Protection page, we revised What protections can I get in an order for protection? to add the fact that the judge can prohibit the respondent from using a tracking device to determine the location of the victim, his/her family member, or either of their property. (Spanish soon to come!)
On our West Virginia Restraining Order page, we revised the question What is the legal definition of stalking? to update the definition of stalking for the purposes of getting a personal safety order based on 2023 legislative changes.
On our West Virginia Crimes page, we added the crime of stalking.
Lastly, we added 19 statutes to our Selected West Virginia Statutes page.
On our Indiana Local Programs page, we translated the resource Hoosier Hills PACT to Spanish. We also updated the resources A Better Way Richmond, formerly Genesis of Richmond, and A Better Way Muncie, in English and Spanish.
Based on 2022 and 2023 legislative changes, we did the following:
- In our Illinois State Gun Laws page, revised two questions in English and Spanish to reflect the changed terminology from “alien” to “noncitizen.” We also clarified that the requirement for someone under 21 years old who needs a parent’s permission to have a firearm does not apply to someone in the Armed Forces or Illinois National Guard; and
- In our Illinois Civil No Contact Orders (for Victims of Sexual Assault) section, we did the following in English (Spanish coming soon!):
- Revised Who can get a civil no contact order? to add that a person can file a petition on behalf of any family or household member who is a victim but only after receiving consent from the victim to do so; and that a service member in the Illinois National Guard or any reserve military component serving within Illinois who is a victim and who also has a military protective order can file or the State Judge Advocate can file on his/her behalf with consent of the victim;
- Revised two questions to explain that the petition can be filed online; and
- Revised What protections can I get in a civil no contact order? to clarify that “no contact” includes electronic communication, such as email, instant message, text message, voicemail, etc. We also added a related statute to our Selected Illinois Statutes page.
We updated the resource She Leads Justice, formerly the Connecticut Women´s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF), on our Connecticut Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.
We translated into Spanish our South Carolina Download Court Forms page.
We updated 24 resources and added six new resources on our New Jersey Local Programs page and updated seven resources on our New Jersey Statewide Programs page. All changes made in English and Spanish.
Based on 2022 changes to the court petition for a protective order, we revised Can I “violate” my own order? in our Iowa Protective Orders (Based on Domestic Abuse) page to update the specific language regarding a plaintiff or his/her child violating their own order. We also revised the following questions in our Iowa Sexual Abuse Protective Orders page:
- What is the legal definition of sexual abuse? to hyperlink to the definitions of incest and sexual exploitation of a minor; and
- Can I change, extend, or cancel my order? to add information about the name of the petition that needs to be filed and the amount of time can extension can last.
We also added the crimes of “incest” and “sexual exploitation of a minor” to our Iowa Crimes page and Selected Iowa Statutes page. In addition, we added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Iowa Statutes page.
We translated into Spanish the following in our New York Legal Information pages:
- Recent English revisions to What protections do these housing laws offer? in our New York Housing Laws page.
- Recent English revisions to four questions in our New York State Gun Laws page:
We also added two new questions in English and Spanish, as follows:
- Who is considered a qualified third party? in our New York Housing Laws page; and
- Will the abuser go to jail for having a gun when s/he isn’t supposed to? in our New York State Gun Laws page.
We translated into Spanish the following on our Utah Legal Information pages:
- Recent English clarifications to two questions on our Utah Divorce page:
- Recent English revisions to What is the legal definition of stalking? in our Utah Civil Stalking Injunctions section.
- The new Utah Workplace Violence Protective Orders section.
- Recent English revisions to two questions on our Utah Gun Laws page, based on 2023 legislative amendments:
- Recent English revisions to What protections can I get in a cohabitant abuse protective order? in our Utah Cohabitant Abuse Protection Orders section.
We translated into Spanish the recently updated clarification about visitation and custody when a parent has committed a sexual offense to Can a parent who committed domestic violence or sexual assault get custody or visitation? on our New York Custody page.
We translated into Spanish the following Missouri pages:
Now the Spanish translation of the Missouri Legal Information section is complete! That makes Missouri the 32nd state to be completely translated into Spanish on our website!
In our Hawaii Injunctions Against Harassment page, we revised Step 1: Go to the district court to begin the filing process. and How much does an injunction against harassment cost? Do I need a lawyer? to add the fact that there is a $15 filing fee that can be waived in exceptional circumstances.
We updated our Hawaii Download Court Forms page, updating current links and adding a link to small claims court forms.
October 2023
On our Washington Housing Laws page, we revised eight questions in English and Spanish based on 2021 and 2022 legislative changes that included updates to the landlord mitigation program and to reflect changes to the protection orders that can be used to terminate a lease.. We regret the delay!
One additional questions was revised in English only; Spanish coming soon.
Based on 2022 and 2023 legislative changes, we did the following:
- Revised four questions in our Hawaii State Gun Laws pages to add:
- the additional prohibitions for gun possession related to being diagnosed with or treated for a medical, behavioral, psychological, emotional, or mental condition or disorder, or being involuntarily hospitalized or declared an “incapacitated person;”
- the definition for a “crime of violence” by listing all of the crimes contained within that term and hyperlinking them to our Selected Hawaii Statutes page. We also added five of those crimes to our Hawaii Crimes page and Selected Hawaii Statutes page.
- In our Hawaii Restraining Orders section, we:
- Revised Where can I file for an order for protection? and Where can I file for an injunction against harassment? to add the new locations for filing, which include where the respondent lives, and where the abuse took place.
- Revised Who can file for an order of protection? and Can I get an order for protection if I’m a minor? to add the fact that a minor who is 16 or older can now file on his/her own without an adult. We also added information to Who can file for an order of protection? about being able to file on behalf of a family or household member who is incapacitated or physically unable to file.
- Revised What happens if the abuser violates the order? to add that the abuser could now be ordered to attend an anger management program instead of a domestic violence program. We also added information about the mandatory minimum jail sentences that could apply based on violation of an order.
- Revised Step 6: The order to show cause (OSC) hearing to add the fact that a petitioner can ask to appear remotely, and the circumstances under which the judge must allow it versus might allow it.
- Revised Can I get my out-of-state order enforced in Hawaii? What are the requirements? to explain that Hawaii law now gives full faith and credit to protection orders issued in Canada.
We revised the Guam Download Court Forms page, updating the links to order of protection and divorce forms, and adding a link to forms for filing in small claims court. We also updated the link to small claims court forms on the Guam Suing an Abuser for Money page.
Based on December 2022 legislative changes, we did the following in our Guam Orders of Protection page:
- Created a new question called How can a victim advocate help me in court? to explain that a victim advocate is allowed to:
- be with a victim in the courtroom;
- talk to him/her during the case to help make decisions; and
- help prepare a petition for an abuse protection order;
- Created a new question called If I am afraid to go to court for the hearing, is there another option? to explain the option for a petitioner or witness to request to appear in court via telephone, video conference, or by another two-way electronic communication device;
- Revised Step 3: Service of process to explain that a petitioner cannot be charged a fee by a public agency for service of process;
- Revised Step 1: Go to the superior court and fill out the forms. to explain that you cannot be charge a fee to file for an order of protection;
- Revised What protections can I get in an order of protection? to add the fact that when the petitioner and respondent are married or have a minor child in common and live together, the respondent can be ordered to:
- not take any action that could result in the termination of any necessary utility services or services related to the family home or the petitioner’s home, and pay for (maintain) such utilities;
- not take any action that could result in the cancelation, change of coverage, or change of beneficiary of any health, automobile, or homeowners insurance policy that would harm you or your children with the abuser, and maintain such coverage without change in coverage or beneficiary designation;
- provide temporary possession of any automobile, checkbook, documentation of health, automobile or homeowners insurance, a document needed for purposes of proving identity, a key, or other necessary specified personal items;
- make rent or mortgage payments on the family home the home where the petitioner lives with his/her children;
- pay child support if the respondent has a legal duty to support them and the ability to pay.
We also added parts of this same information to four additional questions in our Guam Orders of Protection page.
Based on 2023 legislative changes, we revised Who can get custody? in our Georgia Custody section to add the fact that if one parent has been criminally indicted for murder or voluntary manslaughter of the other parent, the judge has the option to decide not to give that parent custody. We also added the related statute to our Selected Georgia Statutes page.
In our D.C. Housing Laws section, we updated links to two resources in English and Spanish in I still have questions about this housing law and if it applies to me. Where can I go for help?
Based on 2023 legislative amendments, we did the following in English and Spanish:
- In our D.C. Civil Protection Orders page, revised Can I file for a civil protection order if I am a minor? to add that a person with physical custody can file on behalf of a minor; and
- In our D.C. State Gun Laws page, revised two questions to add that gun possession is now prohibited if the person has a restraining order against him/her that requires the person to stay away from, or have no contact with, any other person or a location.
We translated into Spanish the resource National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project on our Helping Others: Advocates page.
We translated into Spanish the recent updates on our Maryland Divorce section.
We translated into Spanish the resource Sierra Community House on our Nevada Local Programs page.
We translated into Spanish the resource Sierra Community House, with three locations, on our California Local Programs page.
We translated into Spanish the resource The Birch House on our Massachusetts Local Programs page.
We translated into Spanish the resource Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters on our Michigan Local Programs page.
We translated our recently updated Alabama Download Court Forms page.
We translated into Spanish the resource Identity Theft Resource Center on our National Organizations Financial Info/Economic Empowerment page.
We translated the Maine Download Court Forms page into Spanish.
We translated into Spanish the revised information on the question How will the judge calculate child support? in our Arkansas Child Support section.
On our Florida Divorce page, we revised the question What are the grounds for divorce in Florida? to include the fact that a judge could order mediation if the abuser asks for it. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We updated the resource on our North Carolina Lawyer Referral Services page in English and Spanish.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Wisconsin Legal Assistance page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Washington Lawyer Referral Services page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Virginia Local Programs page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Legal Assistance page and for one resource on our Legal Assistance for Abused Immigrants page for Texas.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Local Programs page and for one resource on our Legal Assistance page for South Carolina.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Rhode Island Statewide Programs page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Oklahoma Local Programs page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Local Programs page and for one resource on our Legal Assistance page for Ohio.
We updated the contact information for three resources on our Local Programs page and for one resource on our Legal Assistance page for New York.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Nevada Legal Assistance page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our New Hampshire Lawyer Referral Services page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Missouri Legal Assistance page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Mississippi Local Programs page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Maryland Local Programs page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Idaho Local Programs page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Hawaii Local Programs page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Georgia Legal Assistance page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Statewide Programs page and for one resource on our Legal Assistance page for Florida.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Connecticut Local Programs page.
We updated the contact information for one resource on our Colorado Local Programs page.
We updated the contact information for seven resources on our California Local Programs page.
We updated a resource, The Center for Empowerment and Education (formerly the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury), on our Connecticut Local Programs page in English and Spanish.
We updated our Nevada Download Court Forms page to link to the new Nevada Court’s website for court forms. (Spanish coming soon.)
Based on 2023 legislative amendments, we did the following in English (Spanish coming soon):
- In our Connecticut Risk Protection Orders section, in What is a risk protection order?, we added that the respondent has to be at least 18 and that only one police officer, not two, is now needed to file the petition; however, a second officer has to support the complaint under oath.
- In our Connecticut State Gun Laws page, we revised three questions to include the fact that gun possession is now illegal based on:
- a conviction for a number of “family violence” misdemeanors committed against a family or household member;
- a conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, as defined by federal law; and
- being a fugitive from justice.
We also added 15 related statutes to our Selected Connecticut Statutes page.
Lastly, in our Connecticut Suing an Abuser for Money page, we added the fact that there is a $15,000 limit in small claims court for cases that involve a home improvement contract; and in our Connecticut Crimes page, we added 10 new crimes. (Spanish coming soon.)
We updated 77 resources and added 21 new resources on our California Legal Assistance page, and updated the resource on our California Lawyer Referral Services page. All changes made in English and Spanish.
We added a new resource, The Immigration Center for Women and Children, on our Nevada Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.
We updated a resource, Project R.E.S.T. (formerly the Safe Homes Rape Crisis Coalition), located in Spartanburg County, on our South Carolina Local Programs page in English and Spanish.
We created a new question in our Arizona Divorce section called Is there any way to do a divorce quickly? In English and Spanish. We also added two related statutes to our Selected Arizona Statutes page.
We added a new resource, Hope’s Safe Haven, on our Missouri Local Programs page in English and Spanish.
We updated a resource, Beacon Center (formerly Domestic Abuse Council, Inc.), located in Volusia County, on our Florida Local Programs page in English and Spanish.
We added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Colorado Statutes page.
In our Washington State Gun Laws page, we revised What is the definition of a felony? in English and Spanish to clarify that a felony is classified as a crime that is punishable by more than one year in prison. Previously, we had an incorrect timeframe due to citing a statute that listed the maximum penalties as opposed to the minimum. We also added the related statute to our Selected Washington Statutes page. We regret the error.
We updated 18 resources on our Georgia Legal Assistance page, and updated the resource on our Georgia Lawyer Referral Services page. All changes made in English and Spanish.
Based on 2022 and 2023 legislative amendments, in our Colorado Custody page we did the following (Spanish coming soon):
- Revised When does someone usually file for allocation of parental responsibilities? to add that a motion can be filed as part of a juvenile court case.
- Created a new question called Can grandparents file for visitation (“family time”)? to explain the two new laws added regarding grandparent visitation. We also added those laws to our Selected Colorado Statutes page.
We translated into Spanish the Missouri Restraining Orders page.
We updated 86 resources and added five new resources on our North Carolina Local Programs page. We also updated two resources and added one new resource on our North Carolina Statewide Programs page. All changes made in English and Spanish.