Domestic Violence Law
Empowering survivors of intimate partner violence to achieve safety and stability.
Intimate partner violence is more than a “personal matter.” It’s an urgent societal issue that must be addressed. Often survivors feel trapped in an abusive relationship, unsure of the options available to help them and their children be safer. Our attorneys work with survivors, offering them client-centered, trauma-informed representation so that they can build stable, independent lives free from violence.
NYLAG’s attorneys and paralegals in the Domestic Violence Law Unit work with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, including sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking, within all communities, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
3,100
survivors of intimate partner violence worked with NYLAG on orders of protection, divorce, and custody issues last year
Services
Our attorneys will fight for survivors and their children. We offer the following legal services:
- Creating safety plans
- Obtaining and enforcing orders of protection
- Representing clients in contested and uncontested divorce proceedings
- Advocating for a fair and just division of assets and financial support
- Obtaining and enforcing orders for child and spousal support
- Securing or maintaining custody of the children
- Securing safe visitation
- Assisting in child protection cases to keep children safe
- Defending against abusive tactics, such as false arrests and false filings
- Working with immigrant survivors to secure legal status
- Representing survivors in appeals in Family and Supreme Court
- Advocating for survivors in the criminal and civil justice system
Need free legal services or financial counseling?
Help us provide free legal help to survivors.
The Latest on Domestic Violence Law
Racism, Implicit Biases Negatively Impact Credibility of Domestic Violence Survivors
NYLAG’s Tuozhi Lorna Zhen authors op-ed for Bloomberg Law discussing how racism and implicit biases negatively impact the perceived credibility of domestic violence survivors.
#RethinkCredibility. Domestic Violence Survivors Deserve Better
NYLAG has launched the #RethinkCredibility campaign to highlight why the legal system’s failure to understand the intersections of racism, poverty, and trauma often results in a denial of justice for domestic violence survivors. And what we can do change it.
Surviving domestic violence: WWE’s Mia Yim is incredible and credible
WWE’s Mia Yim speaks about her past, her message for survivors, and NYLAG’s #RethinkCredibility campaign.
