What’s New on WomensLaw.org
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November 2022
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:
In our Arkansas Custody section, we re-wrote Can the child’s grandparent file for custody? to better explain that a grandparent may be able to intervene in an ongoing court case but not initiate their own case. We also re-wrote Can a sibling file for visitation? to explain who could file a petition if the sibling seeking visitation is a minor. Changes made in English and Spanish.
Based on July 2022 changes to the law, in two questions in our Idaho State Gun Laws section, we removed “crime against nature” from the list of felonies that disqualifies someone from having a firearm. In our Idaho Suing an Abuser for Money page, we explained that a person cannot request punitive damages or damages for pain or suffering. We also added the related statute to our Selected Idaho Statutes page.
Based on new laws effective June 1, 2022, we replaced our Connecticut Firearms Seizure Laws page with a new Risk Protection Orders page, containing four questions. Spanish coming soon!
August 2022
We added one legal clinic to our New Hampshire Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.
We added two legal clinics to our Nebraska Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.
We added Northcutt Legal Clinic to our Mississippi Legal Assistance page and added two resources to our Mississippi Local Programs page, all in English and Spanish.
We added one new organization to our Maine Legal Assistance page and updated one resource on our Maine Lawyer Referral Services page, all in English and Spanish.
We added a law school legal clinic to our Kansas Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.
We added a law school legal clinic to our Florida Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.
We added the D.C. Victim Hotline to our D.C. Advocates and Shelters page in English and Spanish.
We added two new organizations to our Delaware Legal Assistance page and updated one, all in English and Spanish.
We added three new organizations to our California Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.
We updated contact information for 29 courthouses on our New Mexico Courthouse Locations page and added seven new courthouses in English and Spanish.
We updated the court forms links on our Tennessee Download Court Forms page (in Spanish and English) and in our Hawaii Download Court Forms page.
Based on June 2022 legislative updates that added risk protection orders as a reason for firearm prohibition, and put timeframes for convictions on certain misdemeanors, we revised three questions in our Connecticut State Gun Laws section in English. Spanish coming soon.
In our VAWA Self-petitions section, we added the language from the federal statute for the definition of battery or extreme cruelty to What type of abuse can qualify me for a self-petition? Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon.
We made the following updates to our Federal Gun Laws pages based on recent legislative changes:
- In What is the definition of a domestic violence misdemeanor? we added the new definition for family or household member: ”a person with whom you have a current or recent former dating relationship”
- In If the abuser has been convicted of a crime, can s/he legally keep or buy a gun? we added the exception to the law that says if the person was convicted of one domestic violence misdemeanor against a current or former dating partner, s/he gets his/her right to have a firearm back after five years under certain circumstances.
Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon.
We added the crimes of harassment, harassing communications, and dissemination of personally identifying information to our Kentucky Crimes page and to our Selected Kentucky Statutes page.
In our Wisconsin Restraining Orders section, we updated the costs for getting a certified copy of a protection order in Do I need anything special to get my restraining order enforced in another state? Changes made in English and Spanish.
In our New York Orders of Protection section, we added information from the NY Family Court Act about foreign orders being given full faith and credit to Do I have to register my protection order in New York in order to get it enforced? Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon.
in our Minnesota Orders for Protection page, we reviewed all of the questions to get the page ready for translation into Spanish. Here are a few of the changes we made along the way:
- Revised What is the legal definition of domestic abuse in Minnesota? by hyperlinking to the five criminal sexual conduct statutes instead of summarizing them for a more accurate explanation.
- Revised Step 3: Service of process to add the fact that a petitioner cannot be charged for service, to explain short-form notification, and to better explain the options for alternate service and publication.
We revised all of the questions in our Arkansas State Gun Laws page. The most significant revisions are as follows:
- Added the reasons why firearm possession is prohibited under state law 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? Previously, we only had information about when a person could be denied a license to carry a concealed weapon.
- Added information about denial of a concealed weapons license when a final order is in place to I have an order of protection against the abuser. Can s/he have a gun?
- Completely re-wrote I have a temporary (ex parte) order against the abuser. Can s/he have a gun? and What is the penalty if the abuser has a firearm in violation of the law? and 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? to better explain Arkansas’s laws.
We also added a new statute related to firearm prohibition to our Selected Arkansas Statutes page.
July 2022
In our New Mexico Finding a Lawyer section, we updated contact information for 14 entries and added two new entries for New Mexico Legal Aid offices to our Legal Assistance page. We also updated two resources in our New Mexico Statewide Programs page. All updates made in Spanish and English.
On our South Dakota Lawyer Referral Services page, we updated the contact information, website, and description for the South Dakota Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service.
In our Alabama State Gun Laws question, we revised the question I have a protection from abuse (PFA) order against the abuser. Can s/he have a gun? to include the criminal law against gun possession when there is a protection order in place.
We added a new statute with definitions related to sexual assault to our Selected Wisconsin Statutes page.
In our Alaska State Gun Laws section, we revised three questions to clarify that a person cannot get a concealed handgun permit if s/he has a final protection order that meets federal requirements or if s/he was convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor. Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon.
We updated contact information for Delaware Volunteer Legal Services on our Delaware Legal Assistance page.
We created a new question in our New Jersey Divorce section called What types of alimony are there and how long can alimony last? Spanish coming soon!
We created a new question in our Ohio Custody page called Can I change an order after it is issued? Spanish coming soon!
We translated in Spanish our Kansas Suing an Abuser for Money page.
In our New Jersey Custody page, we re-wrote the question Can an abusive parent get custody or visitation? in English and Spanish to better explain the factors the judge will consider.
We translated into Spanish our Tennessee Suing an Abuser page.
June 2022
We updated all 28 organizations listed on our New Mexico Local Programs page in English and Spanish and added one new organization: Center of Protective Environment, Inc.
In our North Carolina Custody section, we revised Can I get an emergency order for temporary custody? to clarify that the standard we listed for getting an emergency ex parte custody order only applies if it would change the living arrangements of a child or change custody. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We added two Rockland County organizations to our New York Legal Assistance page, Center for Safety & Change and Proyecto Faro, in English and Spanish.
In our Maryland Domestic Violence Restraining Orders page, we revised What are the legal definitions of domestic abuse, sexual assault, abuse of a child, and abuse of a vulnerable adult in Maryland? to clarify that victims of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault committed within the past six months can file for a protection order against anyone, regardless of their relationship. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We updated the Maine Download Court Forms page to list the specific forms that are available on the Maine Judicial Branch website.
In our Colorado Housing Law section, we revised Who is protected by these housing laws? What protections do these laws offer? to add the definitions for how the law defines victims of domestic violence, domestic abuse, unlawful sexual behavior, and stalking. Changes made in English and Spanish.
May 2022
In our Connecticut State Gun Laws section, we revised I am a victim of domestic violence and the abuser has a gun. Is that legal? and I have a temporary restraining order against the abuser. Can his/her gun be taken away? in order to add the following information that was inadvertently excluded from our website:
- It illegal to possess firearms if there is a final protection order issued against the person.
- A person can be denied a certificate to carry a revolver or pistol if s/he has an ex parte domestic violence relief from abuse order or an ex parte civil protection order due to sexual abuse, sexual assault, or stalking issued against them.
Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon.
We translated into Spanish the question Where can I find additional information about divorce in Washington? on our Divorce section in Washington.
Based on 2022 additions to the law, we did the following:
- Updated What types of alimony are available? in our Tennessee Divorce section to include: 1) the purpose of lump sum alimony; and 2) the fact that if the judge orders attorney’s fees for the divorce proceeding, the judge can include those fees in the lump sum alimony.
- Updated How will a judge make a decision about custody? in our Tennessee Custody section to reflect that a judge will consider whether a parent has failed to pay court-ordered child support for a period of three years or more as one factor when deciding custody.
We created a new Washington Housing Laws section with nine questions to explain the protections offered to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, and stalking. Spanish soon to come! We also added six related statutes to our Selected Washington Statutes page.
We added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Maryland Statutes page.
Based on 2022 changes to the law, we updated 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? in our Nevada State Gun Laws section to reflect the fact that the law no longer prohibits gun possession based on a conviction for a domestic violence misdemeanor. Instead, the law prohibits gun possession due to a conviction for crime of “battery which constitutes domestic violence.” Changes made in English and Spanish.
With help from the Giffords Law Center, we revised three questions in our Maine State Gun Laws section to clarify that:
- The prohibition against a respondent having a firearm when a final PFA is in place only refers to situations where the victim is 1) a current or former spouse; 2) someone s/he has a child in common with; or 3) someone who s/he currently lives with or used to live with. It does not cover other dating partners.
- Possession of a firearm is illegal based on convictions for certain crimes; previously, we indicated that conviction for those crimes meant that the offender could not get a firearm permit.
Changes were made in English and Spanish.
We added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Pennsylvania Statutes page.
In our West Virginia Suing an Abuser for Money page, we changed the limit for small claims court actions to $10,000 from $5,000. (This change occurred in the law in 2016; we regret the error of not changing it before now.) We also added a related statute about small claims court to our Selected West Virginia Statutes page.
Based on 2022 additions to the law, in our Wisconsin Custody section, we added information to How do I change an existing order? about parents agreeing to allow a future modification based on a life event that is likely to take place within the next two years. Changes made in English and Spanish. We also added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Wisconsin Statutes page.
We added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Missouri Statutes page.
Based on changes that took effect April 2022, we renumbered 13 statutes on our Selected Kansas Statutes page and changed the citations in our Kansas Know the Laws pages accordingly.
We revised 17 questions in our Kansas Custody section, clarifying the text and adding small pieces of information. For example:
- In How can I get temporary custody? we added information about the requirement to file a proposed temporary parenting plan along with a temporary custody petition, and explained what can be included in the temporary parenting plan.
- In What is residency? we clarified the definition of divided residency and acknowledged that it would only be ordered in exceptional circumstances.
We translated into Spanish the recent revisions to our Wisconsin State Gun Laws page.
We translated into Spanish the updated information for the Children of the Night program on our California Statewide Programs page as well as the Teens and Trafficking/Sexual Exploitation pages in our Places That Help section.
April 2022
We updated our Indiana Download Court Forms page to link to the proper page on the Indiana Courts website where protection order forms can be found.
In Kansas, we translated into Spanish our recent changes to How do I register my protection order in Kansas? Do I have to do so? and Do I need to tell the court in Kansas if I move? in the Protection for Abuse Orders.
We added a statute related to custody to our Selected Kansas Statutes page.
We translated into Spanish our recently expanded question What do I keep in mind when going to court? in our At the Hearing page.
We added a statute related to sexual assault to our Selected Minnesota Statutes page.
In our Kentucky Custody and Divorce sections, we added updated links to the Kentucky Legal Aid Network for additional information. We also added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Kentucky Statutes page.
We added two statutes related to small claims court to our Selected New Jersey Statutes page.
In our South Dakota Local Programs page, we added information about a new program called the Family Crisis Center.
In our South Carolina Local Programs page, we updated the contact information for five programs.
In our Utah Local Programs page, we updated the contact information for three programs in Midvale and Moab counties.
We added the county designation for all 26 entries in our Illinois Legal Assistance page in order to organize the listings by county for easier searching.
Based on a 12/2021 addition to the law, we updated two questions in our New Jersey State Gun Laws section to add the fact that a person cannot purchase a firearm if s/he is subject to a court order prohibiting the custody, control, ownership, purchase, possession, or receipt of a firearm or ammunition that was issued after being charged with or convicted of a crime directed at or committed against a judicial officer. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected District of Columbia Statutes page.
We added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected New Hampshire Statutes page.
March 2022
We translated 17 questions into Spanish from our Tennessee Moving to Another State with a Tennessee Protection Order section and Enforcing an Out-of-State Order in Tennessee section.
We revised 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 in English. Spanish coming soon.
We translated 16 questions into Spanish from our Kansas Moving with a Kansas Protection from Abuse Order (PFA) section and Enforcing an Out-of-State Order in Kansas section.
We added a new question in English and Spanish called What is the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Registry? Who has access to it? to our Wisconsin Restraining Orders section.
On our At the Hearing page we expanded the question What do I keep in mind when going to court? Change made in English, Spanish coming soon!
In our Arizona Divorce section, we created a new question called Where can I find additional information about divorce on WomensLaw.org? in English and Spanish. We also added a link to a flow chart of the divorce process to Where can I find additional information about divorce?
We updated all three listings on our Missouri Lawyer Referral Services page.
We updated our Litigation Abuse page in English and Spanish to include a link to Idaho’s vexatious litigation law.
In our VAWA Housing Protections page, we added information to How does VAWA protect the housing rights of victims? Do private landlords have to follow the law? to clarify that the law does not apply to private landlords unless they are accepting Section 8 vouchers. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We created a new question in our Idaho Custody and Divorce sections called “Is there anything I can do if my abusive partner continually files court cases against me?” We also added a related statute regarding vexatious litigation to our Selected Idaho Statutes page.
Based on 2022 changes to the law, we updated How do I register my restraining order in Oregon? in our Oregon Restraining Orders section to remove the requirement that the order given to the county sheriff must be the most recent order and to include the fact that someone acting on the petitioner’s behalf can register the foreign order in any circuit court in any county. Also, based on 9/2021 changes to the law, we updated What types of sexual abuse protective orders are there? How long do they last? to reflect the fact that a final order for a minor could last until January 1 after the petitioner turns 18, whereas it used to be until the petitioner turns 19. Updates made in English and Spanish.
We translated the Tennessee Court Forms and State vs. Federal Law pages into Spanish.
We revised the text and updated the links on our Louisiana Suing an Abuser for Money page. We also added a related statute about small claims court to our Selected Louisiana Statutes page.
We translated the new Louisiana resource, the Iris Domestic Violence Center, on our Local Programs and Legal Assistance pages.
Based on 2021 legislative changes, we amended I am a victim of domestic violence and the abuser has a gun. Is this legal? and If the abuser has been convicted of a crime, can s/he keep or buy a gun? in our Kansas State Gun Laws section to add convictions for “non-person felonies” as a reason that would make gun possession illegal. We also added the new timeframes after felony sentencing during which gun possession is illegal. In addition, we added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Kansas Statutes page.
Based on 2022 changes to the laws, we updated 8 questions in our Illinois Workplace Protections page in English (Spanish coming soon). Below we list the main legislative amendments along with the related revisions we made:
- Updated What are the legal definitions of domestic, sexual, and gender violence, as well as a “crime of violence”? to include the definition for a “crime of violence” since victims of those crimes are now also eligible for protections in the workplace;
- Updated Who is considered to be a “family or household member” under the law? based on the expanded definition of “household of family member,” which now includes a party to a civil union; grandparent; grandchild; sibling; other person related by civil union; and any other individual whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship as determined by the employee.
- Revised 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? to explain that a sworn statement is enough proof. Any sort of documentary proof of the violence only has to be provided if the victim happens to have it.
- Added the fact that any requests for accommodations must be kept confidential to Can I ask for “accommodations” at work to keep me safe from domestic, sexual, or gender violence, or a “crime of violence”?
In our Illinois Divorce section, we created a new question called If I don’t have money to hire a lawyer, can the judge order my spouse to pay my attorney’s fees? We also added information to Can I get alimony? What factors will a judge consider? about how a judge will decide whether to issue temporary maintenance. All changes made in English; Spanish coming soon.
We revised What are the residency requirements to get a divorce in Guam? in our Guam Divorce section to clarify that in the case of a petition based on residency for seven days, the seven days must be immediately before filing the petition.
In our Tennessee Divorce section, we rewrote What are the residency requirements for divorce in Tennessee? to better explain the residency requirements and to clarify that the standard for military members to establish residency also applies to their spouses as well. In our Tennessee Custody section, we revised If a parent with custody rights has moved away due to military deployment, can the custody order be modified? to clarify that there are two ways that an order can be modified, by agreement of the parents or by an order issued by the judge.
Based on 2022 changes to the law, we updated three questions in our Illinois State Gun Laws page to reflect that fact that suspension of a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card is now also an option, in addition to revocation and denial. In addition, the law expanded an exception for mental health-related firearm prohibition. The exception now also applies to Department of Corrections employees who are authorized to carry a firearm whereas it used to only apply to active law enforcement officers. Changes made in English and Spanish.
In our Hawaii Suing an Abuser for Money page, we added the fact that or if you are filing against a landlord for the return of a residential security deposit, there is no monetary limit. We also added two related statutes to our Selected Hawaii Statutes page. In addition, based on 2022 legislative changes, we revised What are the residency requirements to file for divorce in Hawaii? in our Hawaii Divorce page to remove the requirement that litigants must live in Hawaii for six months before getting a final divorce decree.
We updated the information for Family Crisis Centers of Northwest Iowa on our Iowa Local Programs page.
We added information in English and Spanish about a new program called the Beacon of Hope Crisis Center to our Indiana Local Programs page.
We translated into Spanish our New Jersey Child Support and Custody sections.
We updated the contact information for two programs on our Abuse Victims Charged with Crimes page.
We translated into Spanish our Texas housing law questions What steps do I have to take to end (terminate) my lease early? and Who is protected by this housing law? What protections does this law offer?
We translated into Spanish the edits to our Oklahoma custody questions Can an abusive parent get visitation or custody? What if s/he is a sex offender or an addict? and If my child was conceived from rape, can the offender’s rights be terminated?
In our Colorado Custody section, in English and Spanish, we revised If my child was conceived due to a sexual assault, can the offender get parenting responsibilities? to include a scenario where the offender was not convicted of the sexual assault that resulted in the conception of the child. Also, based on 2022 legislative updates, we added the following information in English and Spanish to What is the penalty for violating state or federal firearm laws? in our Colorado State Gun Laws page and What can I do if the abuser violates the protection order? in our Colorado Restraining Orders page:
- We reduced the maximum sentence and fines for class 1 and class 2 misdemeanors;
- We added the fact that if respondent violates a preotection order that was issued due to stalking or between parties in an intimate relationship, it is a class 1 misdemeanor.
We translated into Spanish the Utah questions Can a sexual violence protective order be extended? and Can a dating violence protective order be extended?
We translated the Utah Court Forms page into Spanish.
We translated into Spanish the newly edited and added questions in the New Mexico Custody and Child Support sections.
We translated into Spanish our Tennessee Protection Orders for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking page.
In our Georgia Family Violence Protective Orders page, we revised What types of family violence protective order are available? How long do they last? to clarify that a petitioner could file a motion to ask the judge to extend the temporary order to 3 years or to make it permanent. Changes made in English and Spanish.
Based on 10/2021 changes to the law, we did the following:
- In our Colorado Domestic Violence Protection Orders page:
- Updated What protections can I get in a domestic violence protection order? to explain that in order for the judge to order removal of the respondent’s firearms, the judge must now determine, after reviewing the petition, that an act of domestic violence took place and it involved physical force or the threat or attempt to use physical force.
- In our Colorado State Gun Laws page:
- Added the same information mentioned above to three questions
- Updated How does an abuser give up his/her guns and ammunition? What happens next? to add the following:
- The judge must schedule a compliance hearing to make sure that the abuser did, in fact, give up the firearms and can issue a search warrant for the firearms if the judge believes the abuser still has firearms; and
- The time the abuser has to turn in the firearms does not include legal holidays and weekends.
Changes made in English and Spanish.
We translated into Spanish our Tennessee Orders of Protection for Elderly or Vulnerable Adults section.
We translated into Spanish our Tennessee Workplace Restraining Orders section.
Based on a 10/2021 update to the law, which states that cyberstalking can come from communication that is direct or indirect and that the communication can pertain to a person instead of being directed at a person, we revised What is the legal definition of stalking in Florida? in our Florida Injunctions for Protection Against Stalking/Cyberstalking page. Changes made in English and Spanish.
We created a new Safety in School page in our Safety Tips section in English (Spanish soon to come).
In our Georgia Crimes page, we added the crimes of simple assault, simple battery, criminal trespass, and criminal damage to property in the first and second degrees in English and Spanish. We also added two related statutes to our Selected Georgia Statutes page in English. In addition, in What is the legal definition in Georgia of family violence? in our Georgia Restraining Orders section, we hyperlinked all of the criminal grounds to their statutory definitions to make it easier to understand (in English and Spanish).
We translated into Spanish our recently created Arkansas Child Support section.
We updated the resources on our Texas Lawyer Referral Service page, fixing four outdated website links and confirming that the rest of the information is current.
February 2022
We updated our Iowa Download Court Forms page to clarify which petitions can be found on the Iowa Judicial Branch website.
In our Preparing for Court - By Yourself section, we revised How do I know if I can appeal my case? to more thoroughly explain the concept of preserving the record for appeal. Changes made in English and Spanish.