What’s New on WomensLaw.org

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April 2024

We added a Litigation Abuse page in Tennessee that includes the following six new questions based on the law that allows someone dealing with an abusive civil action to request that pre-filing restrictions be put on the plaintiff:

We revised the question “Is there anything I can do if my abusive partner continually files court proceedings against me?” on our Restraining Orders, Custody, and Divorce pages to direct users to this new section.

We also added five related statutes to our Selected Tennessee Statutes page.

We updated five resources on our Puerto Rico Statewide Programs page in English and Spanish.

In our Preparing for Court - By Yourself section, we added the question Do I need a subpoena for potential witnesses to testify? to our Before the Trial sub-section in English and Spanish.

We created a new Delaware Sexual Violence Protective Orders section based on new laws that went into effect in October 2023. The new section has 19 new questions, and we also added four related statutes to our Selected Delaware Statutes page.

On our Nebraska Download Court Forms page, we added links to the Nebraska Judicial Branch website’s forms for harassment protection orders, sexual assault protection orders, divorce, and child support.

We added a new resource, Sheltering Animals & Families Together, to our Pet Safety page in English and Spanish.

We did the following in our District of Columbia Divorce section:

Based on 2024 legislative changes, we revised the following questions in Spanish and English:
- What are the grounds for divorce in D.C.? to remove the requirement that spouses live separate and apart for six months, and to explain that now, the only “requirement” is that either spouse claims that they no longer want to be married; and
- Can I get alimony? to include that the judge will now specifically consider history of physical, emotional, or financial abuse by one spouse against the other when deciding alimony;
Created a new question called What factors will a judge consider when dividing marital property and debts? Spanish coming soon.

We also added a related statute to our Selected District of Columbia Statutes page.

We updated the resource Community Legal Aid and included its three additional locations on our Ohio Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.

We updated 15 resources on our Missouri Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.

In our New York Housing Laws section, we created a new question called Who is considered a victim of domestic violence under these housing laws? and we revised What protections do these housing laws offer? to link to the new question in order to better explain the law’s protections. Spanish coming soon!

March 2024

On our Idaho Restraining Orders page, we separated the questions How much does it cost to get a protection order? and Do I need a lawyer? to make it easier for survivors to find the information they’re looking for. We also added a new question, How do I renew, change, or dismiss a protection order against stalking and/or threats? Spanish coming soon!

We updated the resource Forest County Potawatomi Community Advocate Program on our Wisconsin Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

We added a Litigation Abuse page in Vermont that includes nine questions based on a new 2023 law that allows someone dealing with abusive litigation to request an order restricting abusive litigation. We also revised the question “What can I do if the abuser keeps filing court proceedings against me?” in our Divorce, Relief from Abuse Orders, and Sexual Assault or Stalking Protective Orders sections, and added the question “Is there anything I can do if my abusive partner continually files court proceedings against me?” in our Custody and Child Support pages to help victims of abusive litigation learn about this new remedy.

Based on 2024 legislative changes, we did the following in our Michigan State Gun Laws page in English and Spanish:

Revised these three questions in our to add the fact a person cannot get a license to carry concealed pistol if s/he has an extreme risk protection ordered issued against him/her:
Revised What is the definition of a felony? to note the change in the definition of a felony from a crime punishable “by imprisonment for 4 years or more” to “imprisonment for more than one year.”
Revised these two questions in English, with Spanish coming soon, to explain that a person who was convicted of a misdemeanor involving domestic violence cannot lawfully have a firearm until eight years have passed since s/he paid all fines imposed for the violation, served all terms of imprisonment imposed for the violation, and successfully completed all conditions of probation imposed for the violation:
- I am a victim of domestic violence and the abuser has a gun. Is that legal?
- If the abuser has been convicted of a crime, can s/he keep or buy a gun?

Based on legislative changes that took effect in December 2023 and January 2024, we did the following questions in our Delaware Orders of Protection From Abuse page:

Revised What is the legal definition of abuse in Delaware? to add the following information:
- regarding the definition of abuse that refers to destroying property, legal documents are included in the definition of ”property;” and
- abuse is also now defined as intentionally causing or attempting to cause you to be financially dependent by:
  - keeping overwhelming control over your financial resources, including withholding access to money or credit cards or forbidding you to attend school or work without reasonable justification;
  - the stealing or defrauding of money or assets;
  - exploiting your resources for the abuser’s personal gain; or
  - withholding physical resources such as food, clothing, necessary medications, or shelter; and
Revised What protections can I get in an order of protection from abuse? to explain that the judge can order the abuser to return legal documents, such as a passport, immigration papers, or Social Security card.

On our Illinois Crimes page, we updated the link to the Crime Victim Compensation Application in Spanish in the question Si yo soy víctima de un crimen, ¿dónde puedo encontrar más ayuda e información en Illinois?

We updated the contact information for three resources on our Wisconsin Courthouse Locations page.

We updated the contact information for a resource on our South Dakota Local Programs page.

We updated the contact information for a resource on our Ohio Local Programs page.

We updated the contact information for a resource on our Legal Assistance page and for two resources on our Courthouse Locations page for Missouri.

We updated the contact information for two resources on our Legal Assistance page and for one resource on our Courthouse Locations page for Michigan.

We updated the contact information for a resource on our Louisiana Courthouse Locations page.

We updated the contact information for a resource on our Indiana Courthouse Locations page.

We updated the link to the National Partnership for Women and Families’ Know Your Rights Manual in the question What can I do to be free of sexual harassment? in our Abuse in Specific Communities - In the Workplace section.

In our Abuse in Specific Communities - Among People Living with HIV/AIDS section, we updated the link to AIDS United in the question How common is domestic violence for people living with HIV/AIDS?

We updated the link to the National Crime Victim Bar Association in the question What types of laws protect me from computer crimes? on our Abuse Using Technology page.

We updated the contact information for three resources on our Idaho Local Programs page.

We updated the contact information for three resources on our Local Programs page and for one resource on our Courthouse Locations page for Georgia.

We updated the contact information for three resources on our Local Programs page and for one resource on our Courthouse Locations page for Florida.

We updated the contact information for a resource on our Colorado Courthouse Locations page.

We updated the contact information for three resources on our California Courthouse Locations page.

We updated the contact information for four resources on our Arkansas Courthouse Locations page.

We updated the contact information for a resource on our Alaska Local Programs page.

We added a new statute from California’s Civil Code called “Sexual battery; damages; equitable relief” to our Selected California Statutes page.

We added a new resource, the Louisiana State Bar Association Modest Means Directory, to our Louisiana Legal Assistance and Lawyer Referral Services pages in English and Spanish.

On our Texas Restraining Orders page, we revised the following questions based on 2023 legislative changes allowing a judge to order an abuser not to track or monitor the victim or the victim’s motor vehicle:

We revised What is a temporary ex parte order? How long does it last? And How long does a permanent (final) protective order last? based on 2023 legislative changes requiring a judge to include an expiration date on a protective order.

We revised Step 1: Go to the district attorney’s office or the courthouse to file. And Step 2: Fill out the forms. based on 2023 changes requiring that people filing for a protective order use a standardized form that will be developed by the Office of Court Administration.

We revised Step 5: The hearing for a permanent protective order based on 2023 legislative changes removing the requirement that a judge decide whether an abuser is likely to commit family violence in the future, so that the judge is only deciding whether the abuser committed family violence already.

We revised Do I need to tell the court in Texas if I move? based on 2023 legislative changes adding additional parties who may receive a copy of the petitioner’s change of address form if they move.

Finally, we also revised the following questions on our Restraining Orders page to improve accessibility and readability for our users:

All of these changes were made in English; Spanish coming soon!

On our Texas Child Support page, we revised the question Can my child support order be changed? based on 2023 legislative changes regarding the ability of a judge to require an unemployed or underemployed parent to participate in certain activities if they are seeking to reduce their child support obligation.

On our Texas Custody page, we added the question What will the visitation order likely be when the possessory conservator lives 50 miles or less from the child’s primary residence? based on a new section of the law from 2021 that added additional detail for what a standard possession order is when the non-custodial parent lives close to the custodial parent. We regret the delay!

We also revised What is a standard possession order? and added the following new questions to make this section clearer:

All of these changes were made in English; Spanish coming soon!

We added the crime of “unlawful production or distribution of certain sexually explicit videos” on our Texas Crimes page in English and Spanish.

Finally, we added six new statutes to our Selected Texas Statutes page.

We created a new Utah Housing Laws page including the following six new questions in English. Spanish coming soon!

We also added three related statutes on our Selected Utah Statutes page.

We updated 21 resources and added 16 resources on our North Carolina Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.

We revised the question, Where can I find additional information about divorce in Indiana?, in our Indiana Divorce section to include the current links for Indiana Legal Services’ and Indiana Legal Help’s divorce pages with state-specific divorce information and resources. Changes made in English and Spanish.

On our Nevada Custody page, we translated into Spanish recent revisions made to the following questions:

We translated into Spanish recent changes made on our Massachusetts Divorce page to improve its readability and the recently translated question What protections can I ask for while the divorce is pending?

We translated into Spanish four recently added questions on our Texas Child Support page:

We added a Litigation Abuse page to discuss the legal topic generally and link to the individual states that have passed laws to offer a remedy to victims of abusive litigation.

With the collaboration and support of the Korean American Family Services organization, we translated the following Quick Guides into Korean:

Custody, Visitation, and Child Support

Definitions and Court Overview
Court Process
Custody and Domestic Violence
Interstate Custody and Domestic Violence

Protection Orders

Troubleshooting 3 Common Issues in Restraining Orders
5 Things You Need to Know About Enforcing a Restraining Order
Restraining Orders: 101

We added the resource Legal Advocacy Project, with its two locations, to the California Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.

We updated two resources, the Survivor Resource Network and the Women’s Resource Center, on our Oklahoma Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

We added a Litigation Abuse page in North Dakota based on a new 2023 law that allows someone dealing with abusive litigation to request an order restrictive abusive litigation, including the five following questions:

We added a new question titled “Is there anything I can do if my abusive partner continually files court proceedings against me?” in our Custody, Divorce, Domestic Violence Protection Orders, and Disorderly Conduct Restraining Orders sections to help victims of abusive litigation learn about this new remedy.

We also added six new statutes related to litigation abuse on our Selected North Dakota Statutes page.

We updated the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence on our California Statewide Programs page.

We updated the resource Children of the Night on our National Organizations Teens and Trafficking/Sexual Exploitation pages in English and Spanish. (General)

We added a Litigation Abuse page in Washington that includes nine questions based on the 2021 law that allows someone dealing with abusive litigation to request an order restrictive abusive litigation.

We revised the question “Is there anything I can do if my abusive partner continually files court proceedings against me?” on our Custody and Divorce pages, and added the same question to our Domestic Violence Protection Orders section to help victims of abusive litigation learn more about this remedy.

All changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!

We also added 16 new statutes related to litigation abuse and custody to our Selected Washington Statutes Page.

We updated 192 resources and added 41 resources to our California Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

We added a Litigation Abuse page in Rhode Island that includes nine questions based on a new 2023 law that allows someone dealing with abusive litigation to request an order restricting abusive litigation.

We added a new question titled “Is there anything I can do if my abusive partner continually files court proceedings against me?” in our Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, Sexual Assault Protective Orders, Custody, and Divorce sections to help victims of abusive litigation learn about this new remedy.

We also added seven new statutes related to litigation abuse on our Selected Rhode Island Statutes page.

We updated a resource, Community Action Programs Cayuga/Seneca (CAP), and added its additional location on our New York Local Programs page.

We created a new Hawaii Housing Laws page including the following eight new questions:

I’m a landlord, and one of my tenants has committed domestic violence against the other tenant in the unit. What are my options?

We also added two related statutes to our Selected Hawaii Statutes page.

On our Oklahoma Local Programs page, we:

updated the resource Wings of Hope Family Crisis Center and added its two additional locations; and
updated the resource Intervention & Crisis Advocacy Network, formerly the Women’s Service and Family Resource Center, and added its additional location.

All changes made in English and Spanish.

On our National Immigration Organizations page, we updated the contact information for the Immigration Advocates Network. We also added information about their online National Immigration Legal Services Directory to search for immigration legal services providers by state, county, or detention facility. Updated in English and Spanish.

On our Idaho Local Program page, we updated the resource Faces of Hope Victim Center and added a new resource, the Ada County Victim Services Center. All changes made in English and Spanish.

February 2024

We translated into Spanish the recently updated New Haven County Bar Association resource on our Connecticut Lawyer Referral Services page.

On our Wyoming State Gun Laws page, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to the following questions:

We translated into Spanish a recent update made to Can I get alimony? in our Connecticut Divorce section.

On our Virginia Restraining Orders page, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to the following questions:

On our Nevada Restraining Orders page, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to the following three questions:

On our Nevada Custody page, we translated into Spanish a recent update made to If there is a custody order in place, can I relocate?

In our North Carolina Domestic Violence Protective Orders section, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to What protections can I get in a domestic violence protective order (DVPO)? and Who can get a domestic violence protective order (DVPO)? and the following three recently created questions:

In our North Carolina Civil No-Contact Orders, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to Am I eligible to file for a civil no-contact order? and What happens if the abuser/stalker violates the civil no-contact order?

In our Montana State Gun Laws page, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to the following four questions:

On our New Jersey Divorce page, we translated into Spanish the recently added question Will my divorce case be sent to mediation if I am a domestic violence victim?

We translated into Spanish a recent update made to Will the judge always give equal parenting time? in our Missouri Custody section.

In our Federal Gun Laws section, we translated into Spanish two additional grounds related to mental illness that were already included in the English version of I do not have an order of protection against the abuser, and s/he has not been convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor or felony. Can s/he have a gun?

On our New Mexico Custody page, we translated into Spanish a recent update made to Who can file for custody?

On our Vermont State Gun Laws page, we translated into Spanish recent updates made to the following questions:

We updated the resource Cultural Development & Wellness Center Victims Assistance, formerly the Asian Pacific Development Center Victims Assistance, on our Colorado Denver Metro Area Resources and Local Programs pages. We also added the resource to the Statewide Programs page. All changes made in English and Spanish.

We translated into Spanish 18 new crimes related to abuse and stalking that were recently added on our Oklahoma Crimes page.

We translated into Spanish two questions on our Oklahoma Restraining Orders page, which were recently revised to more accurately reflect that an adult crime victim seeking a protective order against someone who is not a family or household member is required to file a police report first:

We translated into Spanish recent updates made 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 he keep or buy a gun? in our Maryland State Gun Laws section

We updated the resource SAFE House, formerly Safe Passage Shelter, on our Tennessee Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

We updated a resource, Haven of Hope, and added its four additional locations on our Tennessee Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

We added the resource STAR Alaska (Standing Together Against Rape) to our Alaska Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

We added a resource, the Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence, to our Florida Statewide Programs page in English and Spanish.

We updated a resource, the Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter, on our South Dakota Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

We translated into Spanish a newly created Oregon Child Support page, which includes the following five questions that provide information about Oregon’s child support laws:

We translated into Spanish a newly created New Mexico Housing Laws section, which includes the following three questions:

We translated into Spanish two newly created questions on our Nevada Custody page:

We translated into Spanish the recently revised question If I am a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, how does the law protect me? and three newly added questions in our Arkansas Housing Laws section:

We translated into Spanish four newly added questions on our District of Columbia Child Support page:

We translated into Spanish a newly created Arizona Child Support section, which includes five new questions that provide information about the state child support laws.

We translated into Spanish two new questions on our Texas Restraining Orders page:

We translated into Spanish a recent update made to Who can file for an extreme risk protection order? on our New York Extreme Risk Protection Orders section.

We translated into Spanish all the revisions and updates made to our Oklahoma Custody page and these three new questions:

We updated a resource, Crisis Support Network, and added its two additional locations on our Washington Local Programs page. Changes made in English and Spanish.

We revised What are the residency requirements for divorce in Kentucky? in our Kentucky Divorce section to clarify the fact that the 180 day residency requirement refers to the period of time immediately before filing the divorce petition.

On our Oregon Restraining Orders page, we revised the following questions in English and Spanish based on 2024 legislative changes that allow restraining orders to remain in effect for two years instead of one:

On our Oregon Housing Laws page, we revised the following questions in English and Spanish based on 2024 legislative changes that add bias crime as a reason for certain housing protections:

We added Bias Crime in the first and second degree to our Oregon Crimes page in English and Spanish and to our Selected Oregon Statutes page.

January 2024

To finish the complete revision of our Washington Restraining Orders page based on the legislative changes that standardized the procedures for all of Washington’s different types of protection orders, we did the following:

In our Civil Anti-Harassment Protection Orders section, we revised the following questions:

We also added 8 new questions:

In our Extreme Risk Protection Orders section, we revised the following questions:

We also added the question Can the respondent terminate the order?

All of these changes were made in English. Spanish coming soon!

In our Washington Vulnerable Adult Protection Order section, we revised the following questions based on the legislative changes made in 2022 and 2023 that standardized the procedures for all of Washington’s different types of protection orders:

We added 5 new questions based on the same changes:

All of these changes were made in English. Spanish coming soon!

We also added 2 related statutes to our Selected Washington Statutes page.

In our Washington Sexual Assault Protection Orders section, we revised the following questions based on the legislative changes made in 2022 and 2023 that standardized the procedures for all of Washington’s different types of protection orders:

These changes were made in English. Spanish coming soon!

We also revised What is the legal definition of sexual assault in Washington? in both English and Spanish.

Based on 2024 legislative amendments, we did the following:

Revised What is the definition of a felony? in our Illinois State Gun Laws section in English and Spanish to remove the reference to the death penalty;
In our Illinois Workplace Protections, we did the following (Spanish coming soon):
- Revised What actions, specifically, can I use my time off from work to do? page to add that victims can now take time off to:
  - attend the funeral, memorial, wake, or similar ceremony of a family or household member who is killed in a crime of violence;
  - make arrangements related to the death of a family or household member who is killed in a crime of violence; or
  - grieve the death of a family or household member who is killed in a crime of violence.
- Created a new question called How many days can I take off from work? to add specific information about taking leave if a family or household member was killed in a crime of violence. We also explained a related law called the Family Bereavement Leave Act, and added two related statutes to our Selected Illinois Statutes page.
- 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 include the fact that a death certificate, published obituary, or written verification of death, burial, or memorial services from a mortuary, funeral home, burial society, crematorium, religious institution, or government agency, documenting that a victim was killed in a crime of violence is an acceptable form of documentation that can be provided to the employer.

We added a resource, North County Family Justice Center, to our California Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.

In our Hawaii State Gun Laws page, we did the following:

Created the new question Who qualifies for a gun permit? and revised I am a victim of domestic violence and the abuser has a gun. Is that legal? and I do not have a protective order against the abuser, and s/he has not been convicted of a crime. Can s/he have a gun? to explain that a permit can be denied to anyone who otherwise qualifies if the authority who is issuing it believes that it would not be in the interest of public health, safety, or welfare because “the person lacks the essential character or temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm.” This is based on 2024 legislative amendments.
Revised I have a protection order against the abuser. Can s/he have or buy a gun? to clarify that for gun possession to be prohibited under Hawaii state law, the order must specifically includes a statement that possession of a firearm by the person named in the order is prohibited.

In our Nevada Orders for Protection Against Domestic Violence section, we revised What types of orders are there? How long do they last? and Step 1: File an application in court. in English and Spanish based on 2024 legislative changes that allow a victim to file for an order electronically if an abuser has been arrested and is in jail.

On our Nevada Workplace Protections page, we revised the following questions in English and Spanish based on 2024 legislative changes that add sexual assault as a reason that someone qualifies to take time off from work:

In our New Jersey Sexual Assault Restraining Orders section, we revised What is a sexual assault restraining order? and What types of sexual assault restraining orders are there? How long do they last? in English and Spanish based on 2024 legislative changes adding stalking and cyber-harassment as offenses that qualify someone to file.

Based on the same legislative changes, we also revised What are the legal definitions of nonconsensual sexual contact, sexual penetration, lewdness, stalking, and cyber-harassment?, What protections can I get in a sexual assault restraining order?, and Who can get a sexual assault restraining order? in English. Spanish coming soon!

We also added the new questions Can I file for a sexual assault restraining order if I am a minor? and Can I file against a minor? in English. Spanish coming soon!

Finally, we added one related statute to our Selected New Jersey Statutes page.

We revised Do I need anything special to get my DVRO enforced in another state? in English and Spanish in our California Restraining Orders page to add the fact that the clerk must give a petitioner up to three certified copies at no cost.

On our New Mexico Child Support page, we revised If I have joint custody, will either parent have to pay child support? in English to clarify why one parent might be ordered to pay child support even if the parents have joint custody of their child. Spanish coming soon!

We revised our Georgia Download Court Forms page to add links to court forms for divorce with minor children and divorce without minor children. We also clarified that the links to the court forms for protection orders also include dating violence protective orders.

Based on 2024 legislative changes, we did the following:

Revised Can a parent who committed violence get visitation? in our California Custody section to add virtual visitation as an option, to explain that parents can submit the name of a proposed visitation supervisor, and to add the new factors that a judge must consider before ordering visitation if a parent is living in a domestic violence shelter or other confidential location; and
Revised Step 4 - Service of process in our California Domestic Violence Restraining Orders section to add that if a law enforcement officer sees any firearm or other deadly weapon in plain sight when serving a domestic violence restraining order or a gun violence restraining order, s/he must take take it into police custody.
Revised How will the judge make a decision? in our California Gun Violence Restraining Orders section to add that the judge can now consider evidence that the respondent obtained body armour when deciding whether to issue an order.

(Spanish coming soon.)

In our California Housing Laws section, we:

Revised What housing laws can protect me if I need to break my lease? to remove ”marital rape” from the definition of “sexual assault;” and
Created a new question called What can I do if the landlord doesn’t follow this law? (Spanish soon to come.)
Revised Who does this law protect? in English and Spanish to add that the law that protects against housing discrimination now also protect victims and their immediate family members if they experienced:
- a crime that caused bodily injury or death;
- a crime that included the showing, taking out, brandishing, or using a firearm or other deadly weapon or instrument; or
- a crime that included the use of force against the victim or a threat of force against the victim.
Created a new question in the Protection from Housing Discrimination sub-section called How does the law define “immediate family member” and “household member”? in English and Spanish.
Revised Can a landlord refuse to renew my lease or evict me because I am a victim? to add the fact that if the landlord believes that the victim is allowing or agreeing to the abuser’s presence in the home, the landlord must first serve the victim with a three-day notice requiring him/her not to voluntarily allow or agree to the abuser coming into the unit before the landlord can terminate or refuse to renew the tenancy. (Spanish soon to come.)
Revised What documentation do I need to show my landlord to prove that I am a victim of abuse? to add that the documentation can also be related to the tenant’s immediate family member. Changes made in English and Spanish.
Revised Who is considered a qualified third party? What type of documentation do I need from a qualified third party? in English and Spanish to add that a violent crime victim advocate is now considered a qualified third party.

In our California Civil Harassment Orders section, we:

Revised Will the harasser be notified that I am trying to get a civil harassment order against him/her? to explain that if the petitioner has been unable to get the harasser served in person, and there is reason to believe that the harasser is avoiding (evading) service or cannot be located, then the judge can allow a different method of service that is “reasonably calculated” to actually notify the harasser.

In our California Custody section, we:

Revised How will a judge make a decision about custody? to explain that the judge must provide a way for the child to not be in front of his/her parents when talking to the judge to express his/her wishes. The judge can only allow the child to testify in front of his/her parents if the judge specifically believes that doing so is in the child’s best interest and explains his/her reasons why.

In our California Gun Violence Restraining Orders section, we:

Revised Who can file for a gun violence restraining order? and What types of gun violence restraining orders are there? How long do they last? to add the new individuals who can file a petition for this order, including a current or ex-roommate, dating partner, someone who has a child in common with the respondent, and more. We also added information about the expanded the definition of “immediate family member” to include anyone related by blood (consanguinity) or marriage (affinity) within the fourth degree who has had substantial and regular interactions with the respondent for at least one year to Who can file for a gun violence restraining order?

These changes are all based on legislative amendments that took effect 1/1/22 or 1/1/23; we regret the delay in updating WomensLaw.org.

Based on legislative amendments that became effective 1/1/24, we revised Can I get alimony? in our Connecticut Divorce section to add the fact that if pendente lite support is requested, a judge must hold a hearing within 60 days if the petitioner alleges that s/he doesn’t have enough money to meet his/her reasonable needs and that the other spouse has enough money to help do so. Spanish coming soon.

We updated a resource, Deaf Vermonters Advocacy Services, on our Vermont Statewide Programs page in English and Spanish.

Based on 2023 legislative updates, we revised Will the judge always give equal parenting time? in our Missouri Custody section to add language explaining the rebuttable resumption in favor of equal or approximately equal parenting time. Spanish coming soon.

In our Montana State Gun Laws page, we revised the following four questions to add restrictions related to getting a permit to carry a concealed weapon:

Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!

We also added three related statutes to our Selected Montana Statutes page.

December 2023

We created the following new questions on our Idaho Custody page:

We also created a new Idaho Child Support page with the following two questions:

Finally, we added three related statutes on our Selected Idaho Statutes page.

We created a new Oregon Child Support page including the following five questions that provide information about Oregon’s child support laws:

We also added ten related statutes to our Selected Oregon Statutes page. Added in English; Spanish coming soon!

We created a new Child Support section for Louisiana, adding three new questions that provide information about Louisiana’s child support laws. We also added ten related statutes to our Selected Louisiana Statutes page.

We created a new Mississippi Child Support page including the following five new questions:

We also added five related statutes to our Selected Mississippi Statutes page.

We created a new Michigan Child Support section including the following four new questions:

We also added two related statutes to our Selected Michigan Statutes page.

Created in English; Spanish coming soon!

In our Nebraska Custody section, we added the following three new questions:

We created a new Nebraska Child Support section including the following three new questions:

We also added seven related court rules to our Selected Nebraska Statutes page.

In our Pennsylvania Custody section, we moved the questions about relocation to the subsection, After a custody order is in place, to be consistent with other states and make these questions easier to find. We also did the following to make the information in these questions clearer and more useful:

We created a new question, I have a custody order. Can I move with my child?
We revised How do I tell the other parent I want to move? to clarify when a parent has to send a “proposed relocation notice” and what information must be included in the notice.
We revised If the other parent objects to the move, what happens? to explain the next steps more clearly.
We revised What factors will the judge consider when deciding if I can move with my child? to make the information clearer and easier to understand.
We also revised What could happen if I don’t give proper notice to the other parent? to explain the different ways a judge might use this failure against a relocating parent. We also clarified how abuse can be a mitigation factor- a reason for the judge to “ease up” on the parent who moved without giving proper notice.

In the How the custody process works subsection, we revised What are the steps to file for custody? to be more comprehensive.

All changes were made in English; Spanish updates will be coming soon!

We created a New Mexico Housing Laws section including the following three new questions:

We also added two related statutes to our Selected New Mexico Statutes page.

Spanish coming soon!

On our Nevada Custody page, we revised and reorganized the following eight questions to provide more accessible information to users:

We revised What is legal custody? and What is physical custody? to include the definitions and citations to Nevada statutes and case law.
We revised What are the steps to file for custody? to be more comprehensive.
We revised How will the judge make a decision about custody?, Will the judge always give joint custody?, When will the judge give joint legal custody?, When will the judge give joint physical custody?, and When will the judge give primary physical custody to one parent? to be clearer and eliminate repetition in the questions.

We also created the following two new questions:

Spanish coming soon!

We added the steps to file for custody on our Puerto Rico Custody page. Spanish coming soon.

We completely revised and updated our Oklahoma Custody page to provide more accessible information to users. We also added two related statutes and rearranged the information to add these three new questions:

Spanish edits and translations are coming soon!

Based on 2023 legislative changes, we did the following:

In our North Dakota Divorce section, we created two new questions called:
- Can I get spousal support? What factors will a judge consider?
- If the judge orders spousal support, how long can I expect it to last?
In our North Dakota Custody section, we revised the following questions:
- How will a judge make a decision about custody? to reflect that the court investigator is now called a parenting investigator. We also added the fact that if both parents are indigent, the judge will issue an order that says the county where the child lives must pay the cost of the parenting investigator.
- How much does it cost to go through a custody proceeding? Do I need a lawyer? to reflect that the court investigator is now called a parenting investigator and that a guardian ad litem must be an attorney.

In addition, in our North Dakota Disorderly Conduct Restraining Orders section, we revised:

How much does it cost to get a disorderly conduct restraining order? to add the amount of the filing fee ($80);
Who can file for a disorderly conduct restraining order? to clarify that a minor must have his/her parent or guardian file on his/her behalf.

Lastly, we revised all six questions in our Steps to obtain a divorce in North Dakota in our North Dakota Divorce section. We also added two statutes to our Selected North Dakota Statutes section related to mediation and small claims court.

We added two new crimes, Voyeurism and Use of telephone to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend, to our New Mexico Crimes page and our Selected New Mexico Statutes page. Changes made in English and Spanish.

On our Rhode Island Restraining Orders page, we added three new questions. We added How much does it cost to get a sexual assault protective order? to the Sexual Assault Protective Orders section. We added Can the person the order is against get his/her gun back? and Will I be notified if the gun is returned? to the Extreme Risk Protection Orders section. We also added two related statutes to our Selected Rhode Island Statutes page.

In our North Carolina Domestic Violence Protective Orders section, we did the following:

Created three new questions called:
Revised What protections can I get in a domestic violence protective order (DVPO)? to clarify that the protections regarding a pet also apply to a pet owned or kept by the abuser or a minor child living in the home; and
Revised What happens if the abuser violates the order? to add the fact that it can be a class A1 misdemeanor to violate the order. We also added a related statute to our Selected North Carolina Statutes page.

In our North Carolina Civil No-Contact Orders, we did the following:

Revised What protections can I get in a civil no-contact order? to clarify that the protections apply to temporary ex parte order too;
Revised Can I apply for a civil no-contact order if I am a minor? to add that a minor can file on his/her own;
Revised Am I eligible to file for a civil no-contact order? to include the fact that if the victim is “incompetent,” another competent adult who lives in North Carolina can file on behalf of the incompetent adult as long as s/he is victim of unlawful conduct that took place in North Carolina; and
Revised What happens if the abuser/stalker violates the civil no-contact order? to include the fact that the punishment for criminal contempt can be imprisonment up to 30 days, a fine of up to $500.00, or both.

Spanish coming soon.

On our New Jersey Divorce page, we added the question Will my divorce case be sent to mediation if I am a domestic violence victim? based on 2023 legislative changes to explain how the Domestic Violence Economic Mediation program work for victims of domestic violence litigating financial issues in a divorce. Question added in English; Spanish coming soon!

We revised our New Jersey Suing an Abuser for Money page in English and Spanish based on 2023 legislative changes that increased the limits for bringing a suit in small claims court.

On our New Jersey Restraining Orders page, we revised What if I don’t qualify for a restraining order? based on 2010 legislative changes that added electronic contact to the types barred by a criminal stalking restraining order. We regret the delay! We also added information about how a conviction for stalking automatically acts as an application for a permanent restraining order unless the victim requests otherwise. Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!

We updated the information for a resource, Crossroads Crisis Center, on our Ohio Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

On our Wyoming State Gun Laws page, we revised the following questions based on 2023 legislative changes that restrict the ability of someone to have a gun if they have committed a felony that is not violent in addition to a violent felony:

All changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!

On our Wyoming Restraining Orders page, we revised Step 6: Hearing for a final order of protection based on 2023 legislative changes allowing for remote appearances if the petitioner requests it and the courtroom has the necessary technology.

On our Wyoming Divorce page, we revised Can I have my marriage annulled? based on 2023 legislative changes barring anyone under the age 16 from getting married and clarifying which other marriages can be annulled.

We added the crime of unlawful dissemination of intimate images to our Wyoming Crimes page. We also added one related statute to our Selected Wyoming Statutes page.

We added information about a new crime, Unlawful installation of a mobile tracking device, to our Nevada Crimes page, in both English and Spanish, and to our Selected Nevada Statutes page. This new state law, passed in 2023, criminalizes the act of putting an air tag on someone else’s vehicle.

We created a new Child Support section for South Dakota, adding seven questions that provide information about South Dakota’s child support laws. We also added thirteen related statutes to our Selected South Dakota Statutes page.

On our Kentucky Custody page, we updated the question Where can I find more information about custody in Kentucky? to add an additional resource. We also created three new questions:

We also added three related statutes to our Selected Kentucky Statutes page.

On our Nevada Restraining Orders page, we made the following changes based on 2023 legislative changes:

Revised What is the legal definition of sexual assault in Nevada? to clarify that it does not cover actions taken for medical purposes;
Revised What protections can I get in an order for protection against sexual assault? to add that a victim now has to request that a prosecutor inform them of the results of an abuser’s criminal trial for sexual assault;
Revised What are the legal definition so harassment, stalking, and aggravated stalking in Nevada? to update the definition of stalking; and
Revised Can the abuser’s gun be taken away in an order for protection against stalking harassment? to update citations for 2023 legislative changes and improve readability.

On our Nevada Custody page, we revised If there is a custody order in place, can I relocate? to make it clear that a parent cannot relocate without getting permission regardless of whether they have primary or joint physical custody.

All changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!

On our Virginia Restraining Orders page, we made the following changes based on 2023 legislative changes:

Revised What protections can I get in a preliminary protective order? to add new provisions allowing a petitioner to be granted control of electronic passwords and protection from being electronically surveilled;
Revised What protections can I get in a final protective order? to add new provisions allowing a petitioner to be granted control of electronic passwords and protection from being electronically surveilled;
Revised Who can get a family abuse protective order? to add a provision allowing law enforcement or prosecutors to file a petition as the next friend of a minor being protected against their parent or guardian;
Revised How do I change or extend the permanent order? to add information about the judge being able to issue an ex parte preliminary order to be in effect until the hearing if the petition files to extend their order; and
Revised How do I change or extend the final protective order? to add information about the judge to issue an ex parte preliminary order to be in effect until the hearing if the petition files to extend their order.

All changes made in English; Spanish coming soon!

Based on 2023 legislative amendments, we did the following in our Montana Custody section:

Revised the following questions to reflect the name change of the crime of “aggravated promotion of prostitution of a child” to “child sex trafficking” and to indicate that “deviate sexual conduct” now includes such conduct with a dead body:
Created a new question called If my parental rights were terminated, can I ever get my rights back? based on a newly-enacted law.

We also added the newly-enacted crime of “child sex trafficking” to our Selected Montana Statutes page and our Montana Crimes page. We also added a new law regarding reinstatement of parental rights to our Selected Montana Statutes.

Also, in our Montana Divorce section, we revised Where can I find additional information about divorce laws in Montana? to add a link to the State Law Library of Montana’s guide to divorce and custody.

In our Mississippi Crimes page, we added links to the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights and information on how to register for the VINE program, which are both found on the Mississippi Department of Corrections website.

In our National Organizations – Financial Info/Economic Empowerment section, we updated link to the Allstate Foundation’s educational empowerment page.

We updated the contact information for one resource on our Utah Local Programs page.

We updated the contact information for five resources on our Legal Assistance page and for one resource on our Legal Assistance for Abused Migrants page for Texas.

We updated the contact information for four resources on our Tennessee Local Programs page.

We updated the contact information for two resources on our Pennsylvania Lawyer Referral Services page.

We updated the contact information for one resource on our Oregon Local Programs page.

We updated the contact information for one resource on our Oklahoma Local Programs page.

We updated the contact information for six resources on our New York Local Programs page.

We updated the contact information for one resource on our North Dakota Local Programs page.

On our Missouri Crimes page, we updated the link to the webpage of the Office of the Attorney General, which provides information on victims’ rights and services.

We updated the contact information for two resources on our Michigan Local Programs page.

We updated the contact information for the resource on our Maine Lawyer Referral Services page.

We updated the contact information for one resource on our Indiana Statewide Programs page.

We updated the contact information for one resource on our Georgia Local Programs page.

We updated the contact information for one resource on our Local Programs page and two resources on our Legal Assistance page for Florida.

We updated the information for five resources on our Local Programs page and one resource on our Statewide Programs page for Colorado in English and Spanish.

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