What’s New on WomensLaw.org
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April 2018
We added Spanish translations to the Women’s Law Project resources on the Pennsylvania Legal Assistance page.
We added Spanish translations to the Washington Statewide Programs page.
We translated into Spanish our updated the information on our Arkansas Moving to Another State with an Order of Protection page and our Enforcing Your Out-Of-State Order page.
We added The Dove Project to the Washington Local Programs page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We added the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation’s Bronx and Manhattan offices to the New York New York City Programs page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We added Spanish translations to the Connecticut Courthouse Locations page.
We added Spanish translations to the Connecticut Legal Assistance page.
We added Spanish translations to the Connecticut Lawyer Referral Services page.
We updated the Virginia Statewide Hotline on our Virginia Statewide Programs page in English. Spanish Translation coming soon!
In response to an Email Hotline inquiry, we added the crimes of custodial interference in the 1st and 2nd degrees to the Hawaii Crimes page and Selected Hawaii Statutes page.
We updated the Divorce information in Arkansas, adding information on residency, grounds and alimony requirements. Spanish coming soon!
We added the crime of sexual assault in the 3rd degree to our Wyoming Crimes page and Selected Wyoming Statutes page.
On our Virgin Islands Crimes page, we updated the link with information about the Crime Victims Compensation program.
We reorganized the Virgin Islands Custody page, combining some sub-categories and clarifying some information to make it easier to read.
We updated the links to outside information on our Virginia Divorce page, in both Spanish and English.
We updated our Virginia Custody page in English and Spanish based on changes to Virginia law that introduced the alternative term “parenting time” and that clarified the residency requirement for fee waivers.
We added Spanish translations to the statewide programs section on the Connecticut Advocates and Shelters page.
We updated information for Northeast Legal Aid, Inc. on the Massachusetts Legal Assistance page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We updated our Utah Protective Orders Due to Domestic Violence/Abuse page to reflect 2017 updates to the law regarding dismissal of orders.
We updated our Utah Suing an Abuser page to reflect a 2017 change in the law that increased the maximum small claims amount from $10,000 to $11,000.
Based on 2017 changes to the law, we added information to our Utah State Gun Laws page regarding firearms prohibitions for those with certain assault convictions or with protection orders issued against them.
We translated into Spanish the information on our Sexual Assault/Rape page called “I am not ready to report the assault now but I may be ready in the future. What do I need to know?”
We translated into Spanish our updated Georgia Download Court Forms page.
In our Texas Family Violence Protective Orders section, we added information to the question What is a magistrate’s order for emergency protection? How long does it last? about the victim not needing to be present to request the order. All changes made in English and Spanish.
We translated into Spanish the information on residency requirements and grounds for divorce in the Divorce section for Nevada.
We translated into Spanish our updated New Mexico Download Court Forms page.
We updated the Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center’s information on the Ohio Places that Help page.
We reorganized our Filing Appeals section and added information in English to help explain Grounds for an appeal. Spanish coming soon!
We added four new crimes that were enacted in September 2017 to our Texas Crimes page in Spanish and English and to our Selected Texas Statutes page in English.
We updated all of the links and information on our Delaware Court Forms page.
We added three Texas housing statutes to our Selected Texas Statutes page that are designed to help survivors in landlord/tenant situations in English.
Based on a change in the law about under what circumstances a judge can refuse to accept a mediated order, we added information in English and Spanish to the question What is mediation? in our Texas Custody page.
We created a new section in our Texas Custody page called What rights a parent can get when s/he committed domestic violence or sexual assault. In this section, we more clearly broke down information that we already had on the site and we added six new questions. All changes made in English - Spanish soon to come!
We added an Iowa Sexual Abuse Restraining Order page. You can find the corresponding statutes on the Selected Iowa Statutes page.
We updated all of the contact information on our New Jersey Courthouse Locations page in English. Spanish soon to come!
March 2018
We added a Spoofing page in our Abuse Using Technology section in English. Spanish translation coming soon!
We updated the question How long does a permanent (final) protective order last? to reflect a few additions to Texas law regarding under what circumstances a judge can issue a protective order that lasts for more than two years and the respondent’s right to file a second motion asking the judge to dismiss such an order. Changes made in English with Spanish soon to come!
Based on a law that was recently enacted, we added information to the question Can I keep my personal information confidential? in our Texas Family Violence Protective Orders section in English (Spanish soon to come!). We also added the relevant statute to our Selected Texas Statutes page in English.
We added a Personal Jurisdiction section in English that explains what personal jurisdiction is and why it would be important to someone when the abuser lives in a different state. Spanish coming soon!
On our South Carolina Orders of Protection page, we added information to the question How can an order of protection help me? about what language is necessary in an order so that firearm possession is illegal.
We added a Documenting/Saving Evidence page in our Abuse Using Technology section in English. Spanish soon to come!
We added a new section in English to our Washington Custody page called When the parent –or someone who lives with the parent– is abusive. In that section we took complex information that was previously in one question and re-wrote it, breaking it up into five questions, to make it more understandable. Spanish soon to come! We also added a related statute to our Selected Washington Statutes page.
We added a Nebraska Sexual Assault Protection Order page and 3 corresponding statutes to the State Statutes page.
Based on an Email Hotline inquiry, we added a new crime to our West Virginia Crimes page and the related statute to our Selected West Virginia Statutes page.
We completely reorganized and revised the South Carolina State Gun Laws page, adding a lot of new information to the existing questions and adding a new question called If the abuser is prohibited from having a firearm or ammunition, how long does the prohibition last? We also added four related statutes to our Selected South Carolina Statutes page.
We added eight new crimes related to assault, domestic violence, and criminal sexual conduct to our South Carolina Crimes page and the eight related statutes to our Selected South Carolina Statutes page.
We updated our Oregon Download Court Forms page in English and Spanish.
We added six new crimes to our Oregon Crimes page in English and Spanish and the six related statutes to our Selected Oregon Statutes page in English.
Based on a clarification in Oregon law of the maximum sentence for a misdemeanor crime, we changed (in English) the information in Will the abuser go to jail for having a gun when s/he isn’t supposed to? on our Oregon State Gun Laws page. We also re-organized many of the questions in the Oregon State Gun Laws section for easier reference.
We added information in English to our Oregon Family Abuse Prevention Act Restraining Orders section (in the question called Step 6: The hearing) about the possibility of filing a motion to attend the court hearing via phone. We also added the related statute to our Selected Oregon Statutes page.
We added information to various questions in our Nevada State Gun Laws page based on an addition to Nevada’s law regarding the people who are prohibited from possessing a gun. All changes made in English and Spanish.
We added a new question in English to the Nevada Orders for Protection Against Stalking & Harassment page called Can the abuser’s gun be taken away in an order for protection against stalking and harassment? Spanish coming soon!
We added information to our Nevada Orders for Protection Against Stalking and Harassment page about the difficulties that could arise when trying to get an order against a stalker in another state. The information was added in English and Spanish to the question The person stalking me lives in another state. Can I still file for an order in Nevada?
Based on a change in Nevada law, we clarified the question How do I register my protection order in Nevada? to include the fact that a victim can register a domestic violence order from Canada. All changes made in English and Spanish.
In our Nevada Orders for Protection Against Domestic Violence page, we added information to the question How can an order for protection help me? about the factors a judge will consider when prohibiting an abuser from possessing firearms and the exception related to workplace use. All changes made in Spanish and English.
We added a new page in the Connecticut State Gun Laws section on the Firearms Seizure Law in English and the corresponding statute on our State Statutes page. Spanish translation coming soon!
We translated into Spanish the question called What are the definitions of sexual abuse, trafficking, and other crimes that could qualify me for this protective order? in our Texas Protective Orders for Victims of Sexual Assault or Abuse, Stalking, or Trafficking page.
We updated all 78 courthouse resources on the Georgia Courthouse Locations page.
We added Spanish translations to all local program resources on the Pennsylvania Where to Find Help page.
We translated into Spanish the recently updated information in the Michigan Domestic Relationship Protection Orders page.
We added Spanish translations to local programs on the Michigan Places that Help page.
We have updated all of the resources in the Doctors and Health Care Professionals page under the Helping Others section. Changes were made in both English and Spanish.
We translated into Spanish the Custody section for the state of Connecticut.
We have updated all of the resources on our Helping Others: Lawyers and Helping Others: Salon Professionals pages in English.
We translated into Spanish the crime of extortion, previously added to our to our California Crimes page.
We translated into Spanish the page on Abuse Involving Cyber-Surveillance/Connected Devices in our Abuse Using Technology section.
We added Spanish Translations for the statewide resources on the Michigan Places that Help page.
We added Spanish translations for the legal assistance resources on the Michigan Places that Help page.
We added Spanish translations for the lawyer referral services resources on the Michigan Places that Help page.
We added the Family Justice Center of St. Joseph County as a resource to the Indiana Places that Help page.
We added Immi.org in English and Spanish to our Immigration National Organizations page. This website helps immigrants understand the laws and their immigration options and is available in English and Spanish.
Based on a change in Nevada law that allows judges to postpone the hearing date for an final order of protection twice for 90 days each if the abuser can’t be served, we updated the questions What is an order for protection against domestic violence? What types of orders are there? and Step 5: The hearing for an extended order. All changes were made in English and Spanish.
February 2018
Based on a change in Nevada law that no longer allows a person who is living with the abuser but not a family member or intimate partner to qualify for an order, we updated the information in Who is eligible for an order for protection against domestic violence?
We updated the links to outside sources on our New Mexico Custody and Divorce pages in Spanish and English. We also updated our New Mexico Download Court Forms page in English - Spanish soon to come.
We re-wrote the information in Am I eligible for a protection order? in New Mexico to clarify that non-household members can also qualify. Changes made in English - Spanish coming soon!
We updated the Spanish translations for resources on the Pennsylvania Legal Assistance page.
In Colorado, we added information in English and Spanish about filing for contempt to the question What can I do if the abuser violates the protection order? We also added a link to the ”verified motion for contempt citation” court form.
We translated into Spanish our Recording page in our Abuse Using Technology section.
We completely revised the North Dakota Download Court Forms page, adding all new links.
Based on changes to North Dakota law, we added information to the question How can a domestic violence protection order help me? about where an abuser is supposed to surrender his/her firearms and the penalties for failing to do so.
We added an Oregon Extreme Risk Protection Orders page with brief information about that order. More information coming soon!
We updated all 9 resources on the Vermont Legal Assistance page.
In the Vermont Relief from Abuse Orders section and Sexual Assault or Stalking Orders section, we updated multiple questions based on 2017 changes to Vermont law. We also added information about specific penalties for violating each order.
We added the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh locations for the Women’s Law Project to our Pennsylvania Legal Assistance page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We updated the Tennessee Download Court Forms page, adding links to divorce forms and to the Tennessee Self-Help Center website.
We added a statute to our Iowa State Statutes page about notification of service of a protective order and updated information in our Service of Process page.
We updated the question What should I do when I leave the courthouse? in our New York Orders of Protection page to reflect a new law that that requires translation of orders of protection for litigants who need interpreters. The change was made in English and Spanish. We also added the relevant statute to our State Statutes page.
We added a page in Iowa on Sexual Abuse Protective Orders and added 11 corresponding statutes to our State Statutes page.
We updated all 6 resources on the Guam Island-wide Domestic Violence Resources page.
January 2018
We added identity theft to the South Dakota Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We reviewed the U Visa for Crime Victims section both in Spanish and English as well as updated the corresponding Selected Federal Statutes. Also, remember you can watch our U visa videos (in Spanish with English captions) where you can learn more about this alternative for victims of crime.
We reviewed the VAWA for Abuse Victims section both in Spanish and English as well as updated the corresponding Federal Statutes.
We translated into Spanish the Housing Laws section for the state of Connecticut.
We updated the links to outside sources on our Iowa Custody page.
We added identity theft to the U.S. Virgin Islands Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We added identity theft to the Guam Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We added unauthorized use of personal identifying information and unlawful impersonation through electronic means to the Wyoming Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We added unauthorized use of an individual’s personal identifying information or documents to the Wisconsin Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We added identity theft to the Washington Crimes page and State Statutes page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We added identity theft to the Virginia Crimes page and State Statutes page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We added identity theft and false personation to the Vermont Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We added identity fraud to the Utah Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We added the crime of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information to the Texas Crimes page and State Statutes page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We added the crime of identity theft to the Tennessee Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We added the crime of identity fraud to the Rhode Island Crimes page and State Statute page.
We completely re-wrote the Guam Orders of Protection page, adding new information and updating the existing information. We also added four related statutes to the Statutes page.
We added identity theft to the Pennsylvania Crimes page and State Statutes page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We updated the Guam Download Court Forms page, adding links to new court forms.
We added the crimes of identity theft and aggravated identity theft to the Oregon Crimes page and State Statutes page in English. Spanish coming soon!
Due to changes in the law in Guam, we added information to the question What is the legal definition of family violence in Guam? to include the act of strangulation.
We added the crime of identity fraud to the Ohio Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We added the crimes of theft and related offenses and unauthorized use of personal identifying information to the North Dakota Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We added the crime of identity theft to the North Carolina Crimes page and State Statutes page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We added the crimes of false personation, criminal impersonation (1st degree, 2nd degree), and Aggravated identity theft to the New York Crimes page and State Statutes page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We added the crime of theft of identity; obtaining identity by electronic fraud to the New Mexico Crimes page and State Statutes page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We updated all 14 courthouse resources on our Connecticut Courthouse Locations page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We updated all two resources on our Washington Statewide Programs page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We translated into Spanish our recently revised, augmented, and re-organized New Jersey State Gun Laws page.
We translated into Spanish the Washington Vulnerable Adult Protection Orders page in the Restraining Orders section.
We translated into Spanish the California Workplace Violence Restraining Order page.
We updated the information on the Georgia Download Court Forms page in English and added a link to additional court forms. Spanish coming soon.
We added Statewide Legal Services as a resource to our Connecticut Legal Assistance page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We updated the Oklahoma Indian Legal Services legal assistance resource on our Oklahoma Places that Help page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We updated the Wisconsin Judicare, Inc. (Indian Law Office) legal assistance resource on our Wisconsin Places that Help page.
We updated Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians local programs resource on our Wisconsin Places that Help page.
We added a local program, San Juan County - Victim Advocate Program, to our Utah Places that Help page.
We added Spanish translations to all resources in statewide programs, lawyer referral services, and legal assistance on our Maryland Places that Help page.
We updated three local programs, The Osage Nation, Native Alliance Against Violence, and Chickasaw Nation Domestic Violence Services, on our Oklahoma Places that Help page in English. Spanish coming soon!
In response to an Email Hotline inquiry, we added six statutes to the Indiana Statutes page regarding registration and enforcement of a child custody order from another state.
We updated the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women on our New Mexico local programs Places that Help page in English. Spanish coming soon!
We updated 2 local programs, Ketchikan Indian Community and Chugachmiut, Inc., on our Alaska Places that Help page.
We updated 2 local programs, Maliseet Domestic and Sexual Advocacy Center and Passamaquoddy Peaceful Relations, on our Wyoming Places that Help page.
We updated our Wyoming Suing an Abuser page and added a related statute to our State Statutes page.
We added the crimes of impersonation and identity theft to the New Jersey Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We added the crimes of fraud and identity fraud to the New Hampshire Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We added the crimes of fraud and false personation to the Nevada Crimes page and State Statutes page.
Based on 2017 changes to the West Virginia law, we updated the question What type of emergency protective order can I get if I am in the middle of a divorce, annulment, or separate maintenance or custody case? in our Protective Orders page.
We added the crimes of criminal impersonation and identity theft to the Nebraska Crimes page and State Statutes page.
We added Spanish translations to all 42 Virginia local programs on our Lugares que Ayudan: Virginia (Places that Help) page.
We updated the information on our Colorado Lawyer Referral Services page in English and Spanish.
We updated the Montana Download Court Forms page and added links to forms related to parenting plans and divorce.
We added the question “Can the abuser have a gun?” to our Indiana Orders for Protection due to Domestic Violence page.
We updated the California Download Court Forms page in English and Spanish.
We translated the Puerto Rico Download Court Forms page into English and we updated the links on the Spanish Formularios Judiciales page.
We translated into Spanish the California state-specific Gun Violence Restraining Orders page.
We translated into Spanish the information in our Washington Extreme Risk Protection Order page. This information was edited and updated back in November 2017 with the help of attorneys at Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.