What’s New on WomensLaw.org

We translated into Spanish the recently revised question If I think that the other parent may kidnap my child, is there anything I can do? in our Nevada Parental Kidnapping section. 

We created a new Vermont Housing Laws section that includes the following 10 new questions explaining housing-related protections for victims of abuse, sexual assault, and stalking. We also added five related statutes to our Selected Vermont Statutes page.

• Is there a law that protects me if I need to break my lease?
• What is a “protected tenant”?
• What documentation do I need to show my landlord to end my lease?
• Can my landlord tell others about my situation?
• Can I ask my landlord to change the locks?
• If my landlord does not change the locks, can I do it?
• Can I install security cameras or other security measures?
• Can a landlord refuse to rent me an apartment because I am a victim of abuse?
• Can a landlord change the conditions or terms of my rental unit because I am a victim?
• I am worried that my status as a victim will be used against me. Is that legal?

On our Vermont Restraining Orders page, we revised What is the legal definition of domestic abuse in Vermont? and What is a sexual assault or stalking protective order? based on 2024 legislative changes adding coercive controlling behavior to the definition of abuse.

On our Vermont Custody page, we revised Can a parent who committed abuse get parental rights and responsibilities (custody) or parent-child contact (visitation)? based on those same 2024 legislative changes.

We also added one related statute to our Selected Vermont Statutes page.

On our Washington Crimes page, we added the crime of harassment in English and Spanish. We also added two related statutes to our Selected Washington Statutes page.

In our Florida Custody section, we translated into Spanish the question Can a parent who committed violence get custody (parental responsibility) or visitation (time-sharing)?

In Indiana, we translated into Spanish the changes to the question What protections can I get in an order for protection?  

We translated into Spanish the following Alabama pages:

• Divorce
• Crimes
• State Gun Laws
• Suing an Abuser for Money

We also translated into Spanish the Selected Alabama Statutes page introduction to let users know that we do not have access to a Spanish version. Now the Spanish translation of the Alabama Legal Information section is complete! That makes Alabama the 35^th state to be completely translated into Spanish on our website!

On our Indiana Suing an Abuser for Money page, we updated the link about the different procedures for small claims cases in Marion County in English and Spanish. 

We created the following three Quick Guides in English and Korean: 1) to help survivors understand the criminal process; 2) to explain immigration options for victims of domestic violence, trafficking, and other crimes; and 3) to explain virtual hearings. The first two were created through our collaboration with the Korean American Family Services (KFAM) organization. In addition, KFAM reviewed the Korean translation of the third Quick Guide for cultural and linguistic accuracy. Spanish translation for all three Quick Guides coming soon!

We translated into English recently revised information on the Puerto Rico Orders of Protection in Favor of a Minor, six recently added crimes on our Puerto Rico Crimes page, and recent updates to our information on the Puerto Rico Protection Orders for Domestic Violence page.

In our Illinois Workplace Protections page, we translated into Spanish recent revisions to the newly created question How many days can I take off from work? and recent revisions to the questions What actions, specifically, can I use my time off from work to do? and How much advance notice do I need to give my employer to take time off from work? And what proof do I need to provide? 

We translated into Spanish a recent revision to the question Can I get an order of protection? in our New York Orders of Protection page to more clearly explain the relationships that could qualify someone for an order.

On our Elder Abuse page, we translated into Spanish the recently added question What can I do to protect myself against older adult abuse?, recent revisions to the question Who is considered an “older adult”?, and revisions made to seven other questions for clarity and accuracy.

In our District of Columbia Divorce section, we translated into Spanish the newly created question What factors will a judge consider when dividing marital property and debts? 

On our Michigan State Gun Laws page, we translated into Spanish recent revisions to 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?

On our Washington State Gun Laws page, we translated into Spanish the following recently revised questions:

• 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?

On our Tennessee Restraining Orders page, we updated What types of protection orders are there? How long do they last? based on 2024 legislative changes that expanded the offenses that can be the basis for a lifetime protection order.

On our Tennessee Custody page, we updated the following two questions:

• What rights do I have to my child when s/he is spending time with the other parent? based on 2024 legislative changes adding video conference as an option for one parent to keep in touch with their child when the child is with the other parent; and
• Can a parent who committed violence get custody or visitation? based on 2024 legislative changes emphasizing that a parent’s history of abusing a child’s sibling should be taken into account when making a custody decision.

All changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!

We added a new question to our Preparing for Court - By Yourself section called Do I need a subpoena to get documents from someone other than the defendant? in English and Spanish.

We updated the resource Freedom Center, formerly Safe Place, Inc., on our Texas Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

We added the resource SurvivorForum to our Chat Rooms and Message Boards page in English and Spanish.

On our Rhode Island Divorce page, we updated the links to court forms in English and Spanish in Where can I find additional information about divorce laws in Rhode Island?.

On our Rhode Island Suing an Abuser for Money page, we updated the links to the complaint and answer forms for Small Claims Court.

On our Rhode Island Litigation Abuse page, we updated the links to court forms in Are there forms available to help me request an order restricting abusive litigation?.

On our New Hampshire Restraining Orders page, we updated the links to outside resources in the following questions:

• Who can file for a stalking protective order?
• Do I need anything special to get my protective order enforced?
• How do I register my protective order in New Hampshire?
• Will the abuser be notified if I register my protective order?

On our New Hampshire Custody page, we updated the links to pamphlets from 603 Legal Aid in Where can I find additional information about custody in New Hampshire?.

On our New Hampshire Child Support page, we updated the links to outside resources in Where can I get more information on child support in New Hampshire?.

On our New Hampshire Divorce page, we updated the links to outside resources in Where can I find additional information about divorce laws in New Hampshire?.

Finally, on our New Hampshire Crimes page, we updated the link to the State Office of Victim/Witness Assistance.

On our Virginia Restraining Orders page, we updated the following questions to reflect the fact that a violation petition can now be filed where the victim lived at the time of the violation:

• What happens if the abuser violates the order?
• What happens if the abuser violates the order?

We also updated How much does it cost to get a protective order? Do I need a lawyer? to improve clarity.

On our Virginia Custody page, we updated If a custody order is already in place, how can I get it changed? to include the Air Force and Space Force as a military branches where a deployment could affect a parent’s custody.

All of these changes were made in English; Spanish coming soon!

We also updated the citations in the following questions in both English and Spanish:

• Can I get temporary custody if I have a protective order against the other parent?
• Do I have to register my protection order in Virginia to get it enforced?

Finally, we added one statute related to custody for parents in the military to our Selected Virginia Statutes page.

On our About Abuse - Abuse Using Technology page, we completely re-wrote the Evidence Issues in Cases Involving Technology and Ways Courts Use Technology sections. We created one new question and revised 14 questions in order to provide survivors with the most updated information involving the use of technology in gathering evidence and in court. All changes made in English; Spanish coming soon.

On our Oregon Restraining Orders page, we updated the following three questions based on 2024 legislative changes that mean that petitions due to domestic violence, stalking, sexual abuse, and elder abuse can now also be filed in the county where the abuse happened:

• In which county can I file for a restraining order?
• Where can I file for a sexual abuse protective order?
• Step 1: Go to the courthouse.

On our Oklahoma Restraining Orders page, we revised the definition of “rape” in the following two questions based on 2024 legislative changes to reflect the fact that the law no longer distinguishes between rape committed by a spouse or a non-spouse:

• What is the legal definition of rape in Oklahoma?
• What is the legal definition of rape and a “sex offense”?

These changes were made in English; Spanish coming soon!

To prepare our Nebraska Harassment Protections Orders section to be translated into Spanish, we revised 11 questions for clarity and accuracy. We also created a new question called Can a harassment order be renewed?

In our Washington Stalking Protection Orders section, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to the following questions:

• What types of stalking protection orders are there? How long do they last?
• In which county can I file for a stalking protection order?
• 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?
• How much does it cost? Do I need a lawyer?
• What should I do when I leave the courthouse?
• What if the abuser violates the order?
• 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 revised the question I took my kids away from the other parent due to danger but I worry that I may be charged with custodial interference. What can I do? in our Vermont Parental Kidnapping section.

We revised If I take my children to live out of state or hide them from the other parent, can I be charged with parental kidnapping? and If I think that the other parent may kidnap my child, can the court help me? in our California Parental Kidnapping section. Spanish coming soon.

We translated into Spanish the recently created Utah Workplace Violence Protective Orders page with a brief summary of the order and a note that WomensLaw will create more information soon.

We translated into Spanish the Idaho Court Forms page.

We revised our entire Virtual Hearings page in English, with seven new questions and four revised questions, providing updated information about the remote hearings process. Spanish coming soon.

On our Tennessee Restraining Orders page, we fixed the citations in English and Spanish for the following questions to reflect 2024 legislative changes that renumbered certain statutory sections:

• Am I eligible to file for a protection order?
• What is the legal definition of stalking?
• What is the legal definition of sexual assault?
• What is the legal definition of domestic abuse?

We added nine statutes related to custody and child support to our Selected New York Statutes page.

We revised two questions in our New York Parental Kidnapping section. Spanish coming soon!

• Can I get temporary custody as a part of an order of protection against the other parent?
• Can I get temporary emergency custody as part of a custody petition?

We added three statutes related to parental kidnapping and custody to our Selected Federal Statutes page.

We revised the question What can I do if the other parent takes or threatens to take my child out of Pennsylvania without my permission? in our Pennsylvania Parental Kidnapping section. Spanish coming soon!

On our general Housing Laws page we updated the link to the most recent State and Local Law Compendium of the National Housing Law Project.

On our Utah Restraining Orders page, we revised the questions Can the order be dismissed? in English and Spanish and What is the legal definition of stalking? in English based on 2024 legislative changes.

We added the crimes of murder, aggravated murder, sexual exploitation of a vulnerable adult, sexual extortion, and misuse of an intimate image during a criminal action to our Utah Crimes page. We also added five related statutes to our Selected Utah Statutes page. Changes made in English and Spanish!

We updated the resource Care Lodge on our Mississippi Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

We updated the contact information for a resource on our Wisconsin Local Programs page.

For Texas we updated the contact information for one resource on our Legal Assistance for Abused Immigrants page and for five resources on our Legal Assistance page.

For Mississippi we updated the contact information for one resource on our Lawyer Referral Services and for two resources on our Local Programs page.

We updated the contact information for a resource on our Maryland Local Programs page.

We updated the contact information for a resource on our Florida Lawyer Referral Services page.

In our Safety While Using the Internet section, we updated the link to the Safety Net Project’s article on spyware and stalkerware in the question Can the abuser see what websites I have visited? Is there spyware on my computer?

In our Child Support general information section, we updated the link to the Office of Child Support Services’ Contact Information for State and Tribal Child Support Agencies.

On our Oklahoma Restraining Orders page, we updated the link to the Petition for Emergency Temporary Protective Order in the question What protections can I get in a protective order? in English and Spanish.

We updated two resources and added three resources to our Maryland Local Programs page, and added two resources to our Legal Assistance page. All changes made in English and Spanish.

We created a new Places that Help section for the Northern Mariana Islands, which is the 55^th state/territory added to our website. This new section includes three Local Programs, two Statewide Programs, one Legal Assistance resource, one resource for Lawyer Referral Services, and one listing under Courthouse Locations. All additions made in English and Spanish.

We added the crime of “depiction of person’s intimate parts” to our Mississippi Crimes page and Selected Mississippi Statutes page.

On our National Organizations page, we updated the resource Jewish Women International in our Financial Info/Economic Empowerment section, and added The Deaf Hotline in our Disability Rights section. All changes made in English and Spanish.

We updated 18 resources and added four resources to our District of Columbia Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.

We updated 50 resources and added 27 resources to our Washington Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

We revised What types of family violence protective order are available? How long do they last? in our Georgia Family Violence Protective Orders section to clarify the standard for issuing an ex parte temporary order. Changes made in English and Spanish.

With the help of ASISTA, we revised 23 questions on our U Visa for Crime Victims page. Spanish coming soon!

We revised the question “Is there anything I can do if my abusive partner continually files court proceedings against me?” in our Relief from Abuse Orders, Custody, and Divorce sections to expand on the situations in which someone can ask the judge to find that the abuser is filing pleadings and motions that are “frivolous and intentionally fabricated.” Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!

We also added two related statutes to our Selected Connecticut Statutes page.

We updated a resource, the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center, on our Rhode Island Local Programs and Statewide Programs pages in English and Spanish.

We translated into Spanish 12 recently revised questions and 6 newly added questions in our Wisconsin Restraining Orders page and 2 recently revised questions in our Wisconsin Domestic Abuse Injunctions section.

We translated into Spanish a newly created Litigation Abuse page.

We translated into Spanish a newly added Litigation Abuse page in Tennessee and a recent revision to “Is there anything I can do if my abusive partner continually files court proceedings against me?” in our Tennessee Restraining Orders, Custody, and Divorce pages.

In our Washington Domestic Violence Protection Orders section, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to the following questions:

• I have an ex parte temporary order. Can it be enforced in another state?
• Do I need anything special to get my domestic violence protection order enforced in another state?
• Can I get someone to help me? Do I need a lawyer?
• Can I have my out-of-state protection order changed, extended, or canceled in Washington?
• How do I register my protection order in Washington?

On our California Housing Laws section, we translated into Spanish the newly created question What can I do if the landlord doesn’t follow this law? and recent updates made to the question Can a landlord refuse to renew my lease or evict me because I am a victim? 

On our California Civil Harassment Orders section, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to the question Will the harasser be notified that I am trying to get a civil harassment order against him/her? 

 On our California Custody section, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to the questions How will a judge make a decision about custody? and Can a parent who committed violence get visitation? 

On our California Domestic Violence Restraining Orders section, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to Step 4 - Service of process

On our California Gun Violence Restraining Orders section, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to the questions Who can file for a gun violence restraining order? and What types of gun violence restraining orders are there? How long do they last?

• On our Pennsylvania Custody section, we translated into Spanish the newly added question I have a custody order. Can I move with my child? and recent updates made to the following questions:
  • How do I tell the other parent I want to move? 
  • If the other parent objects to the move, what happens? 
  • What factors will the judge consider when deciding if I can move with my child? 
  • What could happen if I don’t give proper notice to the other parent? 
  • What are the steps to file for custody? 

We updated a resource, the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center, on our Rhode Island Local Programs and Statewide Programs pages in English and Spanish.

We updated 28 resources and added one new resource on our New Jersey Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.

We added a new resource, the Essex County Family Justice Center, to our New Jersey Local Programs page in English and Spanish.