Legal Aid and Domestic Violence

Brochure prepared by the Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative

Legal Aid of North Carolina's Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative (DVPI) is a specialized, statewide project that provides legal assistance to victims of domestic violence. It is comprised of attorney/advocates based in Legal Aid of North Carolina field offices geographically located across the North Carolina and a project director located in Raleigh.  These DVPI attorneys/advocates are trained in the laws available to help increase the safety and self-sufficiency of victims, as well as the dynamics of domestic violence and safety planning.

DVPI attorneys/advocates work closely with local, community-based programs, agencies and task forces serving victims of domestic violence. DVPI has existing formal collaborative agreements and referral protocols with more than 60 domestic violence victim services organizations throughout the state, and informal working relationships with at least 20 others.

Legal Aid of North Carolina's DVPI attorneys:

  • Help provide the type of stability that victims need to break the
       "cycle of domestic violence" for themselves and their children.
  • Provide legal support to clients of community domestic violence
       shelters.
  • Develop referral protocol (letters of agreement with local
       domestic violence programs) for direct legal assistance.
  • Identify, train, mentor, co-counsel and supervise pro bono
       attorneys.
  • Develop legal clinics for shelter clients and staff.
  • Work in partnership with all service providers (including law
       enforcement and court personnel).

With legal representation, victims get a higher percentage of "civil stay orders." Most civil "stay-away orders" work, which means that police don't have to be as involved and people don't have to go to jail.

Without a lawyer, domestic violence victims typically don't get temporary custody or visitation (which are statutorily available in a 50(b) hearing). Otherwise, children may "get stuck in the middle" and "used" as a pretext for ongoing abuse.

For information, call the Legal Aid of North Carolina office nearest you.

 

 

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Disclaimer

The materials contained on this website are for information and educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Please contact your Legal Aid of North Carolina office or a private attorney if you need to speak to an attorney regarding your particular situation. See our complete disclaimer.

Mission Statement

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.

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