Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used by a partner in an intimate relationship to maintain power and control over the other person. Abusive behaviors can be emotional, physical, and/ or financial taking form in verbal threats, physical assault, sexual violence, and economic exploitation or deprivation.
Areas of Family Law where LASRV may provide advice and court representation for Victims of Domestic Violence include:
Protective Orders
Child custody and child support
Uncontested no-fault divorce after one-year of separation, Here is our Guide in English and our Guide in Spanish for People Affected by Domestic Violence
Other Resources:
Restitution in Virginia: A Guide for Crime Victims Restitution can be used to make criminals accountable for their crimes. To understand questions and answers victims of crime often have about restitution and to provide information and resources to assist with the restitution process Learn more here: www.dcjs.virginia.gov/sites/dcjs.virginia.gov/files/publications/victims/restitution- virginia-guide-crime-victims.pdf
Virginia Victims Fund: People impacted by crime in Virginia can apply for assistance with reasonable and necessary expenses that arise from the crime. Learn more here: www.cicf.state.va.us/content/victims-crime-virginia
Vinelink.com, "Victim Information and Notification Everyday", a national website used by victims of crime, and the general public, to track movements of prisoners held by the various states and territories.
Note: You must see if you are eligible for our services before an attorney or paralegal reaches out to you. To see if you qualify for our FREE services call The Blue Ridge Legal Services Intake at 540-344-2080 or apply online here through their portal.
Civil Rights, Religious Protections
The Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley may not discriminate against a client or prospective client on the basis of religion, a religious belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to attend or participate in a religious practice.
The Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley may not require a client or prospective client to attend or participate in any explicitly religious activities that are offered by the organization, and any participation by a beneficiary in such activities must be purely voluntary.
The Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley must separate in time or location any privately funded explicitly religious activities from activities supported by direct Federal financial assistance.
A client or prospective client may report an organization’s violation of these protections, including any denials of services or benefits by an organization, by contacting or filing a written complaint with the Office for Civil Rights or DCJS.
DCJS – Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
www.dcjs.virginia.gov