Free Legal Assistance for Survivors
Navigating the legal and court systems can be overwhelming. Our Legal Department is committed to offering free assistance, advice, and legal representation to survivors of intimate partner domestic violence of all genders and backgrounds.
Services Offered
Legal Advocacy
Our team of legal advocates (also referred to as victim advocates) can assist with domestic violence protection orders and provide victim support in domestic violence criminal cases. If you are in need of a protection order or are a domestic violence crime victim, we can help you navigate the courts.
If an advocate is not able to answer your call, please leave a detailed message, including a safe way to contact you so we can respond within 1–2 business days.
Family Law Services
Our team of legal professionals can assist survivors with intimate partner domestic violence civil protection orders as well as provide resources and referrals related to family law matters (divorce, custody, child support, and parentage). We offer family law advice and brief services, and full attorney representation in certain protection order cases.
To access this free service, complete the online intake form. After your intake has been reviewed, we will contact you to schedule an appointment either in-person, over the phone, or virtually.
If internet access is a problem, contact our front desk at 509-326-1190 for help completing the online form.
Additional Information
Legal Advocacy services empower survivors through the criminal court process can also and provide information on the various civil protection orders available. They are here to explain your rights as a crime victim, support you through the process, or seek formal legal protection.
If you are seeking formal legal protection from your partner’s abuse, advocates can help you apply for a Civil Order for Protection to prevent your partner from directly or indirectly contacting, harassing, stalking, or abusing you.
If your partner has been charged with a domestic violence offense, legal advocates can help keep you updated on the case.
For support, you can contact our legal advocates at 509-477-3656, option #1. Our legal advocates do not handle matters of family law. However, our licensed legal professionals can (See the Civil Legal Aid tab).
Additional Resources:
- Civil Protection Orders Spokane County
- Legal Advocacy services guide
The Civil Legal team provides assistance with family law matters related to intimate partner domestic violence such as divorce, custody, child support, and parentage. Services include offering advice, brief services, or full representation, in certain cases.
Due to high demand and limited staff capacity, our online Civil Legal Intake Form is open each week starting on Mondays until we reach our case limit. If internet access is a problem, contact our front desk at 509-326-1190 for help completing the online form.
If Our Intake Form is Closed
In the event that we are unable to accept new family law intakes, please contact Northwest Justice Project at 1-888-201-1014 on weekdays between 9:15am – 12:15pm or apply online for their legal assistance here. If you are currently working with a YWCA advocate, you may request that they provide a direct referral to Northwest Justice Project.
For more resources, click on the Additional Resources tab.
At YWCA Spokane, we focus on supporting survivors of intimate partner domestic violence and their children. It's often difficult to identify various forms of abuse, particularly when they are indirect or not as obvious as physical and/or sexual violence. The Power and Control Wheel is helpful in understanding the overall pattern of abusive and violent behaviors, which are used to establish and maintain control over a partner.
The legal definition of domestic violence (DV) is RCW 7.105.010(9)(a) and includes:
- Physical harm, bodily injury, or assault
- Creating a fear that physical harm, bodily injury, or assault will happen
- Sexual assault
- Non-consensual sexual conduct
- Non-consensual sexual penetration
- Coercive control
- Unlawful harassment
- Stalking
You can read more about the legal definition of domestic violence here.
A Protection Order is a civil order that, when violated, allows police to arrest the person who has been abusive. It is important to note, not all violations result in an arrest but some can result in criminal charges. Each person is responsible for reporting violations experienced.
Civil Protection Order options:
- Superior Court Protection Order Forms: For survivors who are married, have children in common, are living together, either party is under the age of 16 and filing for their own protection order, involved in a felony case, or are filing on behalf of a vulnerable adult.
- District Court Protection Order Forms: For survivors who are currently in, or were in, a dating relationship and are not living together now, do not have children together, and are not married.
If you have questions, you can reach out to our legal advocates at 509-477-3656, option #1.
If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call our 24/7 helpline at 509-326-CALL (2255).
Legal services
- Northwest Justice Project - If you're working with an advocate, they can give you access to a direct referral.
- Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
- National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women
- Washington State Bar Association Moderate Means Program – This program helps those who have middle or moderate incomes find lawyers who are willing to offer legal assistance at reduced rates.
Unemployment Resources
- Did you know if you have to leave your job due to domestic violence, you may be eligible to still claim unemployment? There are unique legal protections for DV survivors, and the Unemployment Law Project can help. (read more here)
Legal information and self-help resources
- Washington Law Help
- WomensLaw.org – a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence
- Legal Voice self-help tools
- Washington State Courts – This site contains information about how courts work, can help you find your local court, and has a collection of required court forms.
- Crime Victims Compensation Program – This program assists victims of crime; online application now available.
- Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) – this program assists victims who have relocated to avoid further abuse. The ACP helps participants keep their new location secret by providing a substitute address they can use instead.
- Revised Code of Washington – This government site contains the full text of all Washington State laws.
- Information about Domestic Violence Protection Orders
- Domestic Violence Manual for Judges (WA State, released 2016)
- Family Violence Appellate Project’s Washington Resource Library
Protective orders
Washington State offers many types of protective orders to survivors of abuse. This collection of resources offer information on the different types of orders and help understanding the range of options available.
Family law
It’s tough to get divorced or deal with child custody when your partner is abusive. Here is a collection of information and resources to help you learn about the options available.
For more information, please visit the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Legal Advocacy Project page or search the “Legal” topic in their Resource Library.