What’s New on WomensLaw.org
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May 2023
We updated the information for fourteen resources on our Iowa Legal Assistance page: nine regional offices of Iowa Legal Aid; Muscatine Legal Services; Legal Aid Society of Story County; Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project; and Drake University Legal Clinic. We also added two new resources, Iowa Legal Aid Northeast Iowa Regional Office (Dubuque) and Iowa Legal Aid Legal Hotline for Older Iowans. We updated information for the Iowa State Bar Association Find-A-Lawyer Program on our Iowa Lawyer Referral Services page. All changes made in English and Spanish.
We updated the information for two resources, YWCA Utah and Midvale City Police Dept. - Victim Advocate Program, on our Utah Local Programs page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We added one new resource, Sierra Community House, to our Nevada Local Programs page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We added listings for the three California locations of one new resource, Sierra Community House, on our California Local Programs page. We also removed Tahoe Women’s Services because it merged with other organizations to form Sierra Community House. All changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!
We added one new resource, the Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information Office, to our Utah Local Programs page in English. Spanish coming soon!
Based on 2022 amendments to the laws, we did the following:
- Revised Who can file for an extreme risk protection order? in our New York Extreme Risk Protection Orders section to add a list of medical and mental health professionals who can file for an extreme risk protection order if they have treated the respondent within the prior six months. Changes made in English; Spanish soon to come.
- Revised If the judge orders the abuser’s guns to be taken away in my order of protection, how will they be taken away? in our New York State Gun Laws page in English and Spanish to explain that it’s mandatory, not optional, for the judge to order seizure of firearms if the respondent willfully fails to surrender them.
We also added two related statutes to our Selected New York Statutes page.
We updated the three resources listed in our Guam Finding a Lawyer page.
In our Florida Restraining Orders section, we created the question Can my injunction be extended, changed, or dismissed? in our Injunctions for Protection Against Repeat Violence, Dating Violence, or Sexual Violence section. We also revised a similar question in our Injunctions for Protection Against Stalking/Cyberstalking page and our Injunctions for Protection Against Domestic Violence page to add information about extension of orders; previously both questions only addressed changing and dismissing an order. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We revised What is the penalty for violating Kansas state gun laws? in our Kansas State Gun Laws section to add seven more possible violations of state firearms laws along with the possible criminal sentence for each. We also added three related statutes to our Selected Kansas Statutes page.
We added the following two questions to our Puerto Rico Sexual Violence Restraining Orders in English and Spanish: What should I do when I leave the courthouse? and I was not granted a protection order. What are my options?
We added a statute to the Selected California Statutes page that defines “cohabitant” for the purposes of qualifying for a domestic violence restraining order.
We added the crime of “unlawful sexual intercourse with person under 18” (statutory rape) to our California Crimes page in English and Spanish.
We translated into English the information in Spanish about Puerto Rico’s Sexual Violence Protection Orders.
In our Maine State Gun Laws section, we updated I am a victim of domestic violence and the abuser has a gun. Is that legal? and What is the penalty for violating state firearm laws? to clarify that anyone who has a protection from abuse order against him/her that prohibits him/her from having a firearm or other dangerous weapon- regardless of the relationship with the victim- would also be prohibited from having a firearm or dangerous weapon while that protection order is in effect. We also updated If the abuser’s gun is taken away, what will happen to it? to include information about what happens if the abuser turns over his/her gun to someone other than a law enforcement officer. Updated in English; Spanish coming soon!
We translated into Spanish the South Carolina Orders of Protection page.
We translated into Spanish the question What types of order for protections are there? How long do they last? in our Indiana Orders for Protection page.
We translated into Spanish the question “When can a custody order be changed (modified)?” in our Indiana Custody page.
We translated into Spanish the South Carolina Divorce page.
We translated into Spanish the Kansas Court Forms page.
We translated into Spanish the edits made in the Oklahoma Restraining Orders pages based on 2022 statutory changes.
We translated into Spanish our new Pennsylvania Child Support page.
We translated into Spanish small edits made to our Arizona Divorce page.
We translated into Spanish our recent edits to the Nevada Child Support page.
We translated into Spanish various edits in our New Jersey Extreme Risk Protective Order, Custody and Divorce pages.
We translated into Spanish the edits made to our Virginia Child Support page.
On our Ohio Custody page we revised the question Can I change an order after it is issued? so that it was easier to understand what the standards are to change an existing order. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We translated some edits to our Tennessee Custody and Restraining Orders pages into Spanish and now the Spanish translation of Tennessee is complete! That makes Tennessee the 29th state to be completely translated into Spanish on our website!
We translated into Spanish recent updates to our Maryland Domestic Violence Protective Orders page.
We translated into Spanish our Minnesota Custody, Divorce, Crimes and Suing an Abuser for Money pages.
We have translated into Spanish our Minnesota Workplace Protections section.
We have translated into Spanish the following questions in our Nebraska Custody section:
We have translated into Spanish our Minnesota Restraining Orders page.
We updated the question Can a parent who has been violent get parental rights and responsibilities and/or visitation? on the Maine Custody page to clarify when a parent can ask for a forensic risk assessment.
We combined three questions in the Colorado State Gun Laws section to update and clarify the answer to the question I have a protection order against the abuser. Can the abuser have a gun? Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!
We translated into Spanish the new Connecticut Risk Protection Orders page which replaced our Connecticut Firearms Seizure Laws page, based on recent laws effective June 1, 2022.
We add a listing for one new organization, the Identity Theft Resource Center, to our Financial Information/Economic Empowerment section in English. Spanish coming soon!
We translated into Spanish our Tennessee Custody page.
In our South Carolina Restraining Orders Against Stalking or Harassment section, we revised What types of restraining orders against stalking or harassment are there? How long do they last? to add the fact that if the defendant gets criminally charged with the crime of harassment in the first or second degree or stalking while the order is still in effect and there is a trial date scheduled, the order will remain in effect until the trial ends.
We translated into Spanish our Washington Housing Laws section which explains the protections offered to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, and stalking.
April 2023
We created a new question in our Indiana Custody section called When can a custody order be changed (modified)? Spanish coming soon.
We added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Georgia Statutes page.
Based 2022 legislative changes, we did the following:
- Removed a conviction for a “carrying a weapon without a weapons carry license” from the list of prohibitions against issuing a weapons license, we revised two questions in our Georgia State Gun Laws page.
- Revised I am the child’s family member (grandparent or sibling). Can I get visitation? in our Georgia Custody section to account for a situation in which a child’s parent dies, becomes incapacitated, or incarcerated.
- Revised our Georgia Dating Violence Protective Orders page to reflect the fact a person can file against someone s/he dated during the past 12 months, whereas previously it was only six months.
All changes made in English and Spanish.
We updated the Illinois Download Court Forms page in English and Spanish to fix outdated links and to add the link to small claims court forms.
We added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Illinois Statutes page.
In our Indiana Orders for Protection section, we revised What types of order for protections are there? How long do they last? to include the circumstances under which a judge will order a hearing and to add information about the fact that if the respondent is a “sex or violent offender,” the order can last indefinitely. We also updated links to petitions on the Indiana Courts website in two questions. Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon. Lastly, we added the related statute that defines “sex or violent offender” to our Selected Indiana Statutes page.
We translated into Spanish the revisions made to the following questions on our Alaska State Gun Laws page:
We translated into Spanish the following revisions on our Connecticut State Gun Laws page:
- I am a victim of domestic violence and the abuser has a gun. Is that legal?
- I have a temporary restraining order against the abuser. Can his/her gun be taken away?
- I have a final restraining order against the abuser. Can s/he keep a gun or buy a new gun?
- 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?
We translated into Spanish the following revisions made to tour Arkansas State Gun Laws page:
- 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 have an order of protection against the abuser. Can s/he have a gun?
- I have a temporary (ex parte) order against the abuser. Can s/he have a gun?
- What is the penalty if the abuser has a firearm in violation of the law?
- I do not have a protection order against the abuser and s/he has not been convicted of a crime. Can s/he have a gun?
We added the crimes of “breach of computer security” and “unlawful installation of tracking device” to our Texas Crimes page in English and Spanish. We also added the two related statutes to our Selected Texas Statutes page.
We added one new resource, the Birch House, to our Massachusetts Local Programs page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We updated the information for ZeroV (formerly known as the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence) on our Kentucky Statewide Programs page.
We added the question When can a custody order be changed (modified)? to our Indiana Custody section. We also added the related statute to our Selected Indiana Statutes page.
We developed our first set of Korean quick guides on divorce and custody basics. They are available in our Quick Guides page and are also available in English and Spanish.
We added one new resource, Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters, to our Michigan Local Programs page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We updated the information for Timpanogos Legal Center on our Utah Legal Assistance page.
We translated into Spanish a new question in our Ohio Custody page called Can I change an order after it is issued?
We translated into Spanish a new question called What types of alimony are there and how long can alimony last? in our New Jersey Divorce page.
We translated the Kansas Parental Kidnapping page into Spanish.
We translated the Kansas Divorce page into Spanish.
We translated the Kansas Crimes page into Spanish.
We translated into Spanish the recently added Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Virtual Legal Clinic on our Illinois Legal Assistance and Statewide Programs pages.
March 2023
We updated the information for Hope House of Scott County on our Virginia Local Programs page in English and Spanish.
We updated the information for Canyon Creek Service (formerly Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center) on our Utah Local Programs page.
In response to an Email Hotline inquiry, we added a statute related to sexual assault definitions to our Selected Ohio Statutes page.
We updated our National Organizations - Abuse Victims Charged with Crimes section and our Helping Others - Lawyers page in English and Spanish to reflect the fact that the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women changed its name to the National Defense Center for Criminalized Survivors and became part of the Battered Women’s Justice Project.
We added one new resource, the FullMoon Healing Project, on our Tennessee Local Programs page.
We added the resource Lila.Help to our National Organizations - Immigration page in English and Spanish.
We added one new resource, the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice, on our California Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.
We updated the contact information for a resource, Tri-County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, that has three offices in Forest, Oneida, and Vilas Counties on our Wisconsin Local Programs page.
We moved one resource, the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, to our Massachusetts Statewide Programs page.
We updated the information for a resource, Priest River Ministries, which has three offices in Bonner and Kootenai Counties on our Idaho Local Programs page.
We updated the name and contact information for one resource, the Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County, on our Washington Local Programs page.
We added one new resource, Shelter from the Storm, on our Oregon Local Programs page.
February 2023
We added one new resource, Hope’s Wings, and updated the contact information for four other resources on our Kentucky Local Programs page: Sanctuary, Inc.; Bethany House Abuse Shelter; LKLP Domestic Violence Program; and Big Sandy Family Abuse Center.
We added the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Virtual Legal Clinic as a new resource on our Illinois Legal Assistance page. We also updated our Illinois Statewide Programs page to include it there as well.
We added six housing statutes to our Selected Maryland Statutes page.
In our New Jersey Custody section, we created the question called If I move to a new state, can I transfer my child custody case there? in English and Spanish.
January 2023
We updated contact information and descriptions of services for 17 resources on our Mississippi Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.
We updated contact information and descriptions of services for 8 resources on our Maine Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.
We updated a resource, Firefly Children and Family Alliance (formerly Families First), located in Hancock and Marion Counties, on our Indiana Local Programs page in English and Spanish.
We added a statute related to sex offenses to our Selected Connecticut Statutes page.
December 2022
We added the following questions to our Wyoming Divorce section:
We also added two related statutes to our Selected Wyoming Statutes page.
In our U.S. Virgin Islands Child Support page, we re-wrote the answers to How is the amount of child support determined? and When and where should I file for child support? We also created a new question called How will I get the child support payments owed to me? We also added three related statutes to our Selected U.S. Virgin Islands Statutes page.
We created two new questions in our West Virginia Divorce page called In which county should I file the divorce petition? and What temporary orders can I get while the divorce is ongoing? We also added 8 related statutes to our Selected West Virginia Statutes page.
We added the following questions to our Nebraska Custody section:
- What is custody?
- What is a parenting plan?
- What must be included in a parenting plan?
- What is mediation?
- What factors will a judge consider when deciding custody?
- Can a parent who has committed violence or is a registered sex offender get custody?
- Should I start a court case to ask for supervised visits?
Questions added in English; Spanish coming soon! We also added six related statutes to our Selected Nebraska Statutes page.
We created a new section for Pennsylvania Child Support with the following questions:
We also added six related statutes to our Selected Pennsylvania Statutes page. Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!
We translated into Spanish our Kansas Custody page.
In our Virginia Child Support section, we did the following:
- Created two new questions entitled If the other parent is paying child support for children who are not mine, how will this affect the amount of child support I get? and Are childcare or daycare expenses included in a child support order?
- Added information to How much child support will I get? regarding how a child support order deals with the payment for unreimbursed medical expenses.
Spanish coming soon.
In our Nevada Child Support page, we did the following:
- Revised I was supporting my children by myself before I filed for child support. Can I get child support for that period of time? to include information about the father’s obligation to pay the expenses of the mother’s pregnancy.
- Revised How will the amount of child support be decided? to explain the new formula for calculating child support that took effect in 2020. (We regret the delay in updating this information.)
- Created two new questions called Is the cost of child care included in a child support order? and When can a child support order be modified?
We added six child support-related statutes to our Selected Nevada Statutes page.
(For the text revisions, Spanish coming soon!)
We created three new questions in our New Hampshire Custody section entitled:
We also added two related statutes to our Selected New Hampshire Statutes page.
Based on a 2022 addition to the law, we revised Can a parent who has been violent get parental rights and responsibilities and/or visitation? in our Maine Custody page to explain the option to request that the judge order a “forensic risk assessment” if a parent is concerned about his/her child’s safety.
We added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Connecticut Statutes page.
Based on 2022 amendments to the law, we did the following in English and Spanish:
- In our Arizona Injunctions Against Harassment section, we revised What is an injunction against harassment? to delete the part of the definition that defined harassment as “any contact if the person is the victim of a crime that was committed by the defendant.”
- In our Arizona Domestic Violence Orders of Protection section, we updated three questions to reflect that permanent orders of protection now last two years instead of one. We also updated What types of protection orders are there? How long do they last? to reflect the fact that emergency orders now last seven calendar days instead of 72 hours.
- In our Arizona Divorce section, we added information to What are the grounds for divorce in Arizona? about how a judge will determine if a marriage is irretrievably broken when both parties agree that it is and when one party disagrees. We also added to Can I get alimony? the fact that spousal support is only supposed to be ordered only for a period of time and in an amount necessary to enable the receiving spouse to become self-sufficient. (Spanish coming soon!)
We created a new Rhode Island Custody page. This page has 16 new questions that can help a survivor identify how abuse is considered within custody proceedings in his/her state, the steps to file for custody and how a judge will make a decision. We also uploaded nine custody sections of the law to the Rhode Island Selected Statutes page.
We updated a resource on our Rhode Island Statewide Programs page in both English and Spanish.
We added a resource, McKenzie’s Hope, on our Indiana Local Programs page in English and Spanish.
We created a new robust and comprehensive South Dakota Custody page. Over the 22 questions created, we cover how custody is defined in the law; what are the parental guidelines including when they apply; custody considerations when one of the parents is an abuser; and how the judge will make a decision. On our South Dakota Selected Statutes we also uploaded 47 sections of the law that include the information used to create this custody page.
In our Wyoming Orders of Protection Against Stalking or Sexual Assault page, we updated the definition of stalking in What is the legal definition of stalking in Wyoming? to include “using any electronic, digital, or global positioning system (GPS) device or other electronic means to place you or your internet or wireless activity without under surveillance your permission.” This is based on a 2022 amendment to the law.
Based on 2022 amendments to the laws, we did the following in our Vermont Relief from Abuse Orders page:
- Revised What protections can I get in a relief from abuse order? to add that a judge can order the abuser to immediately give up his/her firearms and to not get any new firearms as part of a temporary ex parte order.
In addition, we did the following:
- Added five statutes to our Selected Vermont Statutes page, one related to small claims court and four related to crimes.
- Added seven crimes to our Vermont Crimes page, namely ”simple assault,” “aggravated assault,” “recklessly endangering another person,” “interference with access to emergency services,” “domestic assault,” “first degree aggravated domestic assault,” and “second degree aggravated domestic assault.”
We updated the link to the Division of Paternity and Child Support’s new website on our U.S. Virgin Islands Child Support page. We also added a link to the government’s Victim Services Unit on our U.S. Virgin Islands Crimes page. We also added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Virgin Islands Statutes page.
In our Virginia Crimes page, we changed the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund to the Virginia Victims Fund and updated the link to the new state’s website. Changes made in English and Spanish.
Based on 2022 legislative changes, we updated two questions on our Puerto Rico Protection Orders for Domestic Violence page. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We created a new section about the Puerto Rico Sexual Assault Restraining Orders in Spanish. English coming soon. We also added the related statutes to our Selected Puerto Rico Statutes page.
In our Montana Divorce page, we created two new questions called What actions does an automatic economic restraining order prohibit during the divorce? and What expenses are permitted after an automatic economic restraining order takes effect? We also added the related statute to our Selected Montana Statutes page.
In our Mississippi Custody section, we created a question called How does a parent’s military deployment affect his/her custody and visitation rights? We also added the related statute to our Selected Mississippi Statutes page.
Based on a 2022 legislative change, we updated four questions in our Massachusetts State Gun Laws page and one question in our Massachusetts Harassment Prevention Orders section to add that a temporary or final harassment prevention order is now a reason to be denied a gun license. We also added information to What protections can I get in a harassment prevention order? in our Massachusetts Harassment Prevention Orders section about filing a separate petition relative to domesticated animals in which the petitioner can ask the judge to grant them possession of their pets and prohibit the defendant from abusing, giving away, or otherwise harming their pets. All changes made in English and Spanish. We also added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Massachusetts Statutes page. Lastly, we updated the links to HRO forms on our Massachusetts Download Court Forms page.
We added the crimes of “reckless conduct,” “terrorizing,” and “interfering with the reporting of family violence” to our Guam Crimes page and Selected Guam Statutes page. In addition, based on 2022 amendments, we updated the language of the following laws on our Selected Guam Statutes page: “first degree criminal sexual conduct,” “second degree criminal sexual conduct,” ”third degree criminal sexual conduct,” and “fourth degree criminal sexual conduct.”
Based on 2022 additions to the law, we did the following in English (Spanish soon to come):
- In our Tennessee Restraining Orders section:
- Updated five questions to include the fact that the law now also recognizes victims who experience sexual exploitation of a minor or a human trafficking offense as additional victims.
We also added four related statutes of crimes that could lead to termination of parental rights to our Selected Tennessee Statutes page.
On our South Dakota Crimes page, based on 2022 legislative changes, we updated the name of the crime that was previously called “Use or dissemination of visual recording or photographic device without consent and with intent to self-gratify, harass, or embarrass” to its new name: “Record–Privacy–Manipulated image–Violation.” We also updated the link to the South Dakota Department of Corrections website for victim services information. Lastly, in our Selected South Dakota Statutes page, we added a statute related to small claims court jurisdiction.
November 2022
In our Kentucky Custody section, we revised If there is a custody order in place, can I relocate? to add a link to the notice of relocation from the Kentucky Courts website. On our Kentucky Suing an Abuser for Money page, we added links to the forms for starting a small claims case –the summons and complaint– as well as the counter-claim for to counter-sue someone. We also added all of the aforementioned links to our Kentucky Download Court Forms page, along with instructions for how to find the protective order forms on the Kentucky Courts website.
Based on 2022 additions to Oklahoma law, we did the following:
- Updated the two questions entitled “What is the legal definition of stalking in Oklahoma?” to include the definition for “course of conduct” in our Oklahoma Stalking Protective Orders section and Domestic Violence Protective Orders section.
- Updated What is a stalking protective order? What steps must I take before filing for the order? in our Oklahoma Stalking Protective Orders section to explain that the law requires police to serve a “Stalking Warning Letter” upon the accused after a report of stalking is made.
- Added the fact that an adult victim of any crime can also qualify for a protective order in What are the reasons (grounds) for getting a protective order? in our Oklahoma Domestic Violence Protective Orders section.
- Updated What types of protective orders are available? How long do they last? in our Oklahoma Domestic Violence Protective Orders section.to add the fact that to get a “continuous order,” the victim can now provide any proof to the judge that shows why such an order is necessary. We also added more information about what a law enforcement officer should do if a judge approves an emergency order when the courts are closed.
- Updated What protections can I get in a protective order? in our Oklahoma Domestic Violence Protective Orders section and What protections can I get in a stalking protective order? in our Oklahoma Stalking Protective Orders section to add the new pre-printed warnings that appear in these protective orders.
In addition, we included the following information in the two questions entitled “What is the legal definition of stalking in Oklahoma?” in our Oklahoma Stalking Protective Orders section and Domestic Violence Protective Orders section:
- a more clear definition of “stalking;” and
- the fact that the legal definition of harassment includes:
- making obscene, threatening or harassing calls or other electronic communications; and
- committing malicious intimidation or harassment because of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin or disability.
We then added the crime of “malicious intimidation or harassment because of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin or disability” to our Oklahoma Crimes page and Selected Oklahoma Statutes page.
Lastly, in our Oklahoma Victim Protective Orders section, in What acts of violence can qualify me for a victim protective order?, we hyperlinked the crimes that qualify someone for an order to the statutory definitions to make comprehension easier.
All changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!
We translated into Spanish our Kansas Protection from Abuse Orders and the Protection from Stalking, Sexual Assault, or Human Trafficking Orders sections.
We translated into Spanish 8 recently updated questions in our Illinois Workplace Protections page.
We translated into Spanish our revised question: 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.
We translated into Spanish our Michigan Custody page.
We updated our Puerto Rico Download Court Forms page in English and Spanish to update the links to restraining orders forms.
In our Montana Suing an Abuser for Money page, we updated the link to court forms on the Judicial Branch website. We also added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Montana Statutes page.
We updated the link to small claims court forms on our Alaska Suing an Abuser for Money page. We also added that link along with links to restraining orders, custody, child support, divorce, and more to our Alaska Download Court Forms page. Lastly, we added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Alaska Statutes page.
We updated contact information for two organizations on our West Virginia Local Programs page.
We added the crime of “strangulation; suffocation and asphyxiation” to our West Virginia Crimes page and Selected West Virginia Statutes page.
In our Illinois Divorce page, we translated into Spanish the newly created question called If I don’t have money to hire a lawyer, can the judge order my spouse to pay my attorney’s fees? and the added information to Can I get alimony? What factors will a judge consider? about how a judge will decide whether to issue temporary maintenance.
We translated into Spanish our Tennessee Divorce page.
In our New Jersey Divorce page, we revised If I get a lawyer, can the judge order my spouse to pay my attorney fees? to add the factors that a judge will consider when determining the amount of an award of attorneys fees. Spanish coming soon. We also updated our New Jersey Download Court Forms page in English and Spanish to add links to divorce forms and restraining orders forms.
We added a new question to our New Jersey Extreme Risk Protective Order section called What happens to the respondent’s firearms once an extreme risk protective order is issued? In it, we included the 2022 addition to the law that says at least 10 days before returning the firearms once the order is terminated, the local law enforcement agency must notify the family or household member who filed the petition that the firearms or ammunition will be returned to the owner. Spanish translation coming soon!
We added the following nine crimes to our North Dakota Crimes page and Selected North Dakota Statutes page:
- Aggravated assault
- Domestic violence
- Reckless endangerment
- Menacing
- Criminal coercion
- Sexual imposition
- Gross sexual imposition
- Surreptitious intrusion
- Sexual extortion
In our South Carolina Orders of Protection section, we did the following:
- Revised What types of orders of protection are there? How long do they last? to explain that the law does not provide for ex parte temporary orders; instead, the abuser would be notified of the emergency hearing and could attend.
- Revised How do I extend, change, or cancel my order of protection? to add the “good cause” standard for extending an order, additional reasons for termination, and the fact that the abuser has a right to a hearing within 30 days of the date of termination of the order when an extension is requested.
- Added information to Can a parent who committed violence get custody or visitation? about:
- when the judge can order a parent to pay the cost of medical or psychological treatment needed by the child if s/he was physically or psychologically injured as a result of domestic violence; and
- the fact that a judge can prohibit or limit visitation based on a motion of one of the parents or based on the judge’s own decision.
We also added a statute related to small claims lawsuits in Magistrates’ Court to our Selected South Carolina Statutes page.
Based on 2022 amendments to the law, we revised two questions in our Delaware State Gun Laws section to change the prohibition of firearm possession from a “juvenile” to anyone under 21 unless it’s for the purpose of hunting, sport, etc., and other exceptions are met.
Based on a 2022 amendment to the law, we revised How will a judge make a decision about custody? in our Delaware Custody page to add the fact that if the judge thinks it is necessary, a custody order can include a request that the police assist a parent in getting possession of a child. To do so, the police officer can enter private property to get the child.
In our Delaware Crimes page, we added the crime of “sexual extortion.” We also changed the name of ”strangulation” to “strangulation or suffocation” based on a 2022 amendment to the law. Lastly, we added the sexual extortion law to our Selected Delaware Statutes page.
On our National Organizations - Appeals page, we updated the URL and description for DV LEAP to reflect its move to NRCDV and the limitation on states from which they accept applicants. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We updated our WomensLaw Privacy Policy in English and Spanish, which covers the website and Email Hotline.
October 2022
We updated the links to Michigan’s Crime Victim Compensation information and general crime victims rights in our Michigan Crimes page in English and Spanish.
Based on a 2022 amendment to the law, we updated two questions in our Missouri Orders of Protection due to Domestic Violence section and one question in our Missouri Orders of Protection due to Stalking or Sexual Assault section to clarify that if a judge orders the abuser to pay the victim’s attorney’s fees, it can cover the time period before bringing the court case, during the court case, and after the entry of judgment.
Based on 2022 legislative amendments and a newly-enacted law, we did the following:
- Revised two questions in our Maryland Domestic Violence Protective Orders page to include the fact that a victim can now file for a temporary protective order electronically from any of the following locations:
- a domestic violence prevention or assistance program;
- a sexual assault prevention or assistance program;
- a human trafficking prevention or assistance program;
- a child advocacy center;
- a vulnerable adult program;
- a hospital where s/he is currently receiving medical treatment; or
- another location approved by the court.
- Added the newly-enacted statute referenced above to our Selected Maryland Statutes page.
- Revised What are the legal definitions of domestic abuse, sexual assault, abuse of a child, and abuse of a vulnerable adult in Maryland? in our Maryland Domestic Violence Protective Orders page and What acts of abuse would qualify me for a peace order? in our Maryland Peace Orders page to include that the definition stalking includes the use of a tracking device or electronic communication as defined by law.
In addition, we revised What can I do if the abuser violates the order? to include the penalties upon conviction of a misdemeanor crime for violating a protective order.
All text changes were made in English; Spanish coming soon.
In our Minnesota Housing Laws page, we added two questions about protections from discrimination for victims.
In our Minnesota Divorce page, we added information to Can my alimony award be changed? about additional reasons that an alimony award can be changed. We also better explained cohabitation and the factors related to it that a judge will consider. The statute regarding modification of orders was also added to the Selected Minnesota Statutes page.
Based on 2022 amendments to the law, updated our Kentucky Restraining Orders section as follows:
- Revised What is the legal definition of domestic violence in Kentucky? and What is the legal definition of dating violence and abuse, sexual assault, and stalking? to add the following additional acts of violence to the definition of domestic violence and dating violence:
- committing cruelty to animals in the 1st or 2nd degree;
- torturing a dog or cat;
- committing sexual crimes against an animal; or
- making you fear that the acts listed above will immediately be committed against a domestic animal with which you have a close bond in order to coerce, control, punish, intimidate you or to get revenge against you.
- Revised What protections can I get in an emergency protective order and a domestic violence order? and What protections can I get in an interpersonal protective order? to include the following additional protections:
- stating which communications are allowed and which are not allowed, permitting limited communication if you request it;
- allowing either party to get his/her personal belongings from the home and order law enforcement to assist, if requested (in a DV order only);
- give you possession of any shared domestic animal; and
- if you request it, allow you and the abuser to be in a common area together under limited circumstances.
We also added these crimes to our Kentucky Crimes page four related statutes to our Selected Kentucky Statutes page.
In our Iowa Restraining Orders page, we did the following:
- Added “intentionally pointing a laser showing a visible light beam at you with the intent to cause you pain or injury” as an additional definition of domestic abuse to What is the legal definition of domestic abuse in Iowa? (This change in the law became effective in 2021. We regret the delay in adding it.)
- Added the clarification based on 2022 amendments to the laws that a consent agreement in a restraining order case is made without admission of committing abuse to the following two questions:
- Step 5: What will I have to prove at the hearing? in our Protective Orders (for Domestic Abuse) section.
- What types of sexual abuse restraining orders are there? How long do they last? in our Sexual Abuse Protective Orders section.
We also added the newly-enacted crime of “older individual assault” to our Iowa Crimes page and Selected Iowa Statutes page.
Based on 2022 amendments to Minnesota laws, we did the following:
- Updated How will a judge make a decision about custody? in our Minnesota Custody page to include a child’s developmental disability as a factor that judges will consider when evaluating the child’s best interests.
- Updated Can a minor get a harassment restraining order? in our Minnesota Harassment Restraining Orders page to explain how a minor can prove that s/he is emancipated for the purposes of filing a petition on his/her own, even without a legal order of emancipation.
- Updated two questions in our Minnesota Housing Laws section and one question in our Minnesota Orders for Protection section to add sexual extortion as a qualifying crime for protection under those laws. (These changes went into effect in September 2021; we regret the delay in adding them.)
We also added the crime of sexual extortion to our Minnesota Crimes page and Selected Minnesota Statutes page.
September 2022
In our Texas Family Violence Protective Order page, we linked to the Texas Council on Family Violence’s FAQ booklet about cell phone number transfers in the question called What protections can I get in a protective order? Changes made in English and Spanish.
We added a new question to the Divorce page in every state and territory called “Where can I find additional information about divorce on WomensLaw.org?” to link users to our divorce videos and more. It was also added in Spanish to the 30 states that are currently translated into Spanish.
We added the crime of “criminal mischief” to our Texas Crimes page in English and Spanish and to our Selected Texas Statutes page.
We added the following new questions in English and Spanish:
- To the Custody section in 38 states, ”If I move to a new state, can I transfer my custody case there?” (The remaining 16 states already have a similar question.)
- To the Restraining Orders section in 54 states/territories, “If I get a protection order, will it show up in an internet search?”
We updated our Kansas Download Court Forms page and the question Where can I file for a protection from abuse order? in our Kansas Protection From Abuse Orders page to include a link to the Kansas Protection Order Portal for online filing.
We translated into Spanish our Tennessee Crimes page.
We updated a resource, Safe Haven, on our Oklahoma Local Programs page in English and Spanish.
We translated into Spanish our recently created Safety in School page in our Safety Tips section.
We updated the contact information and added a new description of services to the Suffolk County Bar Association on our New York Lawyer Referral Services page in English and Spanish.
We translated into Spanish the recent updates to the question Can a parent who committed violence get custody (parental responsibility) or visitation (time-sharing)? in our Florida Custody page.
We translated into Spanish the changes made in the following questions of our Arkansas Custody page: