Know the Laws:
UPDATED March 26, 2010
The website www.leavingabuse.com has a lot of good information on how to create a safety plan, including how to create a plan for leaving and how to plan for leaving in the event of an emergency.
You may also want to reach out to an advocate at your local domestic violence organization or at your State Coalition Against Domestic Violence for help with creating a safety plan. To find help in your state, go to our State and Local Programs page.
If you are planning to leave the abuser and take your children with you, or if you are considering leaving your children with the abuser, we strongly suggest that you get legal advice first if at all possible. You can find free and paid lawyers near you on our Finding a Lawyer page.