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 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. It may take up to 5-7 days for a return call.
If internet access is a problem, contact our front desk at 509-326-1190 for help completing the online form.
First Step Fridays
Weekly legal clinic for survivors of intimate partner domestic violence currently seeking support with a domestic violence protection order, divorce, or parenting plan.
Fridays from 9:00am - 12:00pm at YWCA Spokane (930 N Monroe St)
Intakes accepted starting at 8:30am for paperwork and last walk-in accepted at 11:00am.
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. Learn more about your rights as a crime victim here.
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 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, please CLICK HERE for outside legal resources.
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(10)(a) and includes:
- Physical harm;
- Bodily injury;
- Assault, or the infliction of fear of physical harm, bodily injury, or assault;
- Nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration;
- Coercive control;
- Unlawful harassment;
- Stalking of one intimate partner by another intimate partner;
Intimate Partner Violence is defined by RCW 7.105.010(21)
(21) "Intimate partner" means: (a) Spouses or domestic partners; (b) former spouses or former domestic partners; (c) persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time, unless the child is conceived through sexual assault; or (d) persons who have or have had a dating relationship where both persons are at least 13 years of age or older.
Your rights as a crime victim
This information is current as of January 2026. The laws can change from year to year, so for the most up to date information, please go to RCW 7.105 and navigate to find what you need.
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).