 Click Here to Find a Lawyer or Attorney
You do not need a
lawyer or an attorney to file for an Order for Protection. However, you may wish to have a lawyer or an attorney, especially if your abuser has a lawyer or an attorney. If you can, contact a lawyer or an attorney to make sure that your legal rights are protected.
Relief
from Abuse Order- Vermont
What is Abuse?
Who Gets Abused?
Where Can I Get
Help?
What Laws
Protect Victims?
What is a Relief
from Abuse Order?
Where Can I Get
Help with the Relief from Abuse Order Process?
Hide Your Internet
Search (ABA Website Directions)
This American Bar Association
website explains how to delete some
information from your computer that
shows websites you've visited.
It also explains other ways to
help stop your abuser from finding out
which websites you've visited.
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What is Abuse?
Abusers do a lot of different things to abuse their
victims. Abuse is never ok. You have a right to be
safe. There are things you can do to protect
yourself. You are not alone. One out of four women
will be a victim of domestic violence at some point
in their lives. Not all abuse is against the law.
But all abuse is wrong. You can get help and protect
yourself even if your abuser isn't doing anything
against the law.
Abuse can be physical or emotional.
Here are some examples of physical abuse:
- hitting,
- punching,
- choking
- slapping,
- pushing, or
- holding you down.
Here are some examples of emotional abuse:
- calling you names,
- yelling,
- threatening,
- not letting you go where you want to, or
- not letting you call or see friends or
family.
Abuse is always wrong. Some abuse is also
illegal. What if your abuser didn't break any laws
by abusing you? You can still protect yourself.
There are a lot of people and groups who help
victims stay safe. We have a list of these groups a
little later on this page.
Who Gets
Abused?
Anyone can be a victim of abuse. It doesn't matter
if you are rich or poor, what race you are, how old
you are, what gender you are, or where you live.
Where Can I
Get Help?
There are many groups that can help you. There are
also laws to protect victims from being abused. We
list some government agencies and private groups
that can help you below. Then we explain the laws
that protect victims and how you can use the laws to
protect yourself.
Domestic Violence Groups
There are sixteen domestic violence groups in
Vermont. The Vermont Network Against Domestic and
Sexual Violence is a statewide group that works for
abuse victims. Find your local domestic violence
group on the
Network's website.
Domestic Violence groups can help you make a
safety plan and give you emotional support. Most
programs have advocates who can guide you through
the Relief From Abuse process and offer emotional
support at court. They may be able to give you
financial help so you can stay in a motel, pay for
day care, pay for transportation, or even pay for a
security deposit. Each domestic violence group is
different. Contact your local group to find out how
they can help you.
Adult Protective Services
Are you elderly? Do you have a disability? Are you
being abused? Vermont has an agency called
Adult Protective Services. It's their job to
protect vulnerable adults from abuse. You may
qualify for help from them.
The Police
Nobody has the right to abuse you. You can call the
police if someone physically hurts you or tries to
hurt you. You don't have to call the police right
when the person hurts you. But it's best to call as
soon as you can. You can call 911 or call your local
police station. Some abuse is a crime. The state may
prosecute your abuser in criminal court.
Did someone scare you by what they said or did to
you? You can report this to the police. The police
may not be able to do anything. But it can be good
to tell the police now in case the problem gets
worse later.
What Laws
Protect Victims?
There are many laws that protect victims from abuse.
We explain a little bit about these laws later on
this page. Some abuse is a crime. Is someone harming
you? You can call the police for help. The state may
prosecute your abuser in criminal court. But a lot
of abuse isn't criminal.
There are also civil (non criminal) laws to
protect you from abuse. You may qualify for a court
order to protect you from more abuse. Is your abuser
abusing your children? This order can also protect
your children. The order is called an Relief from
Abuse order or Abuse Prevention order. Sometimes
people also call these Restraining Orders.
What if my abuser isn't breaking any laws? Abuse
is wrong even if it doesn't break any laws. You can
get help. You can call your local domestic violence
group. Find your local domestic violence group on
the
Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual
Violence's website.
Each law to protect victims has a different legal
rule or "standard" for what that law counts as
"abuse." Do you want legal protection from abuse?
You or the State of Vermont will have to show that
what your abuser did counts as "abuse" under a
particular law.
Is the State prosecuting your abuser under the
criminal law? The State will have to show that what
your abuser did to you was criminal. This is the
hardest kind of abuse or standard for abuse to
prove. The State will bring the case and try to
prove it.
Do you want to get a civil Relief from Abuse
order to protect you from your abuser? There are two
different laws that let victims get Relief from
Abuse orders. You will need to make a written
statement and bring paperwork to the court. The
police may not be able to help you get the Relief
from Abuse order.
You may be able to get a Relief from Abuse order
under the first law if:
- the abuser is your family member,
- you date or ever dated your abuser,
- you and the abuser have ever had sex,
- you live with your abuser, OR
- you've ever lived with your abuser,
The other law protects certain people with
disabilities and certain older people from abuse.
You will have to show a Family Court judge that what
your abuser did was against at least one of these
laws. We will have more information soon on this
website.
What is an
Relief from Abuse Order?
An relief from abuse order is a Family Court order.
The order tells your abuser that he or she can't
abuse you anymore. The order may also say that your
abuser has to stay a certain number of feet away
from you all the time. It may also have other
protections and conditions. These protections and
conditions may include:
- making your abuser leave your home and stay
out, and
- giving you temporary custody of your
children.
The order is an order of the Court. Still, your
abuser might not follow the order. What can you do
if your abuser does something the order says he or
she can't do? You can call the police. The police
can arrest your abuser for breaking the order. Did
your abuser do something against the order? You can
call your local domestic violence group. They may be
able to help you talk to the police about what
happened.
Do you want to get a relief from abuse order? You
need to file a
"Complaint for Relief from Abuse and an
"Affidavit in Support of Request for Emergency
Relief from Abuse" in Family Court. There is no
charge to ask for a Relief from Abuse order.
Where Can I
Get Help with the Relief from Abuse Order Process?
Contact your local domestic violence group. You
can find your local domestic violence group on the
Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual
Violence's website.
Your local domestic violence group may be able to
help you through the process for getting a Relief
from Abuse order.
Do you live in the Burlington area? There is a
free legal clinic at Burlington College every other
Saturday. You can get free legal help with your
Family Court case at the clinic. Read more on our
News page.
Are you being
abused?
Do you want to get a
Relief from Abuse order?
Does your abuser have a lawyer?
Call
Vermont Legal Aid at
(800) 889-2047 for free legal help.
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Domestic Violence
24-hour Hotline
1-800-228-7395
AWARE (Aid to Women in
Abuse and Rape Emergencies) - Hardwick
(802) 472-6463
Aware offers free, confidential help to victims of domestic and sexual
violence, including a 24-hour hotline for crisis counseling and support;
assistance to obtain Relief from Abuse Orders; Information and referral
to other organizations that can help; safe housing; and advocacy and
support.
Battered Women's Services and Shelter of
Washington County
1-877-543-9498 or 802-223-0855
BWSS offers free, confidential help to victims of domestic and
sexual violence, including a 24-hour hotline for crisis counseling and
support; assistance to obtain Relief from Abuse Orders; Information and
referral to other organizations that can help; safe housing; and
advocacy and emotional support.
Clarina Howard Nichols
Center
http://www.clarina.org/
The Clarina Howard Nichols Center is a non-profit agency working to end
domestic and sexual violence in Lamoille County. The Center offers a
24-hour domestic violence and rape crisis hotline, court advocacy,
support groups, and children's programs. They give women and their
children a safe place and time to explore options so they can make
informed choices about their lives.
New Beginnings
(802) 885-2050 or (800) 228-7395
Serving victims of domestic and sexual violence in Southern Windsor
County, they offer a 24-hour hotline; crisis intervention at Police
Departments and Hospitals; assistance with restraining orders; court
advocacy; emergency shelter; community education, and peer support
groups. All services are free and confidential.
PAVE: Project Against Violent
Encounters
24-Hour Emergency Hotline (802) 442-2111, Toll-Free Hotline
1-800-228-7395
PAVE has a successful 20-year history in Bennington County. Tthe
organization has grown into an advocacy agency providing a full range of
services to victims of domestic and/or sexual violence. Best known for a
24-hour emergency hotline and victim advocacy services, PAVE services
have developed to include advocacy, emergency & transitional housing,
victim case management, information & referral, support groups, and
legal assistance.
The Rutland County
Women's Network And Shelter, Inc
Business 1-802 775-6788, Crisis 1-802 775-3232
A non-profit, community-based organization serving victims of
domestic violence and sexual assault in the Rutland County area. They
offer a 24-crisis line; trained volunteers to assist victims at the
hospital, police station or shelter; assistance with relief
from abuse orders and legal advocacy; shelter for victims and their
children; information and referrals; counseling and support; help
establishing a new residence.
Safe at Home: Address Confidentiality Program
http://www.sec.state.vt.us/otherprg/safeathome/safeathome.html
This program helps victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and
stalking--who have relocated or are about to relocate--to keep their
perpetrators from finding them. It offers two services: a substitute
address service and a protected records service. These services limit a
perpetrator's ability to access public information that could identify
the location of a victim in the program. This is not a witness
protection program, but rather a mail forwarding service.
STEP ONE - Newport
Office: (802) 334-0148, Hotline: 1-800-224-7837
Step one can provide information and referrals, supportive
listening, group support, advocacy, 24-hour crisis support, safety
planning, help finding a safe place to go, services for children who
witness domestic violence.
Umbrella - St. Johnsbury
http://www.umbrellavt.org/index.htm
Umbrella is a private, not-for-profit organization serving Caledonia and
southern Essex Counties in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.Umbrella's
Domestic and Sexual Violence Program is dedicated to supporting
individuals victimized by domestic and/or sexual violence and their
children. Contact: (802) 748-8645 or (800)
916-8645.
Voices Against Violence -
Franklin County
(802) 524-8538 , For domestic violence: 1-800-228-7395
Voices Against Violence offers victims of domestic violence a
24-hour crisis hotline; advocacy, support groups, and safe, temporary
emergency housing.
WISE
Hotline (603) 448-5525 ; Collect Calls are Accepted
The Upper Valley's provider of services to survivors of domestic
and sexual violence, primarily women and children. WISE has a 24-hour
hotline, safe-housing, shelter, and highly trained advocates who provide
supportive counseling, crisis intervention, legal and medical advocacy
and support groups.
Women Helping Battered Women - Chittenden County
HOTLINE at (802) 658-1996
The Hotline worker will be able to listen and give you emotional
support in complete confidentiality, provide you with information and
referrals to resources available to you at WHBW and throughout the
community, and provide you with information about protection orders or
refer you for legal assistance.
Women's Crisis Center -
Brattleboro
24-hour Crisis Hotlines: (800) 773-0689 (Vermont), (800)
228-7395 (Windham County). The Women's Crisis Center offers s
helter for women and children who are survivors of domestic and sexual
violence; a 24 - hour crisis line; emotional support, advocacy,
information and referral, legal and welfare advocacy, individual and
group support, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
WomenSafe - Middlebury
24-Hour Hotline: 388-4205 or 800-388-4205
WomenSafe offers legal advocacy, child advocacy, 24-hour
hotline, supervised visitation, support groups, safe homes, information
and referral, community advocacy and education.
AWARE
Hardwick
VT
Battered
Women's
Services
&
Shelter
Barre VT
Clarina
Howard
Nichols
Center
Morrisville
VT
New
Beginnings
Springfield
VT
PAVE
Bennington
VT
Rutland
County
Women's
Network
&
Shelter
Rutland
VT
Safeline
Randolph
VT
Sexual
Assault
Crisis
Team
Barre VT
Step One
Newport
VT
Umbrella
St.
Johnsbury
VT
Voices
Against
Violence
St.
Albans
VT
WISE
Lebanon
NH
Women
Helping
Battered
Women
Burlington
VT
Women's
Crisis
Center
Brattleboro
VT
Women's
Rape
Crisis
Center
Burlington
VT
WomenSafe
Middlebury
VT
The information on
this website is for informational
purposes only and does not
constitute legal advice.
For more
information about Relief from Abuse Order for the state of Vermont, check
out
http://www.womenslaw.org/VT/VT_how_to.htm
for more information. The
information above was gathered from http://www.vtlawhelp.org/Home/PublicWeb/Library/Index/1370100
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Click Here to Find a Lawyer or Attorney
You do not need a lawyer to file for a
Relief from Abuse Order in the state of Vermont. However, you may wish to have a lawyer or an attorney, especially if your abuser has a lawyer or an attorney. If you can, contact a lawyer or an attorney to make sure that your legal rights are protected.
Lawyers
from the state of Vermont.
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