Domestic Violence FAQs

Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive, controlling behavior that can include physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, sexual abuse or financial abuse (using money and financial tools to exert control).

If you are in immediate danger, call or text 9-1-1. The D.C. Victim Hotline is available via call, text, or web chat 24 hours a day. They can be reached at 1-844-4HELPDC (1-844-443-5732). 

A Civil Protection Order is what the District of Columbia calls a “restraining order” or a “stay away order” in cases involving domestic violence. A domestic violence survivor can request a Civil Protection Order for their own protection or on behalf of their children through the D.C. Superior Court.

A Temporary Protection Order can be requested and put in place the same day a domestic violence survivor files a Petition for a Civil Protection Order and a hearing is held without the abuser present. A Temporary Protection Order will be granted in the case of an emergency, when a judge finds that the survivor is facing immediate danger. The Temporary Protection Order provides much of the same relief as a Civil Protection Order for the period of time between the filing of the Civil Protection Order petition and a hearing. Typically, a Temporary Protection Order lasts for fourteen days. 

A Civil Protection Order is entered at a hearing after both parties have been served with the required paperwork and had the opportunity to appear in court. A Civil Protection Order will be in effect up to two years from the date it is entered by the Court.

For more information on how to obtain a Temporary Protection Order, jump ahead to the below section on Temporary Protection Orders.

A person filing for a Civil Protection Order must have a certain type of relationship to the person they are filing against, unless they are a survivor of sexual assault or stalking. The required relationships include: 

• Blood relatives; 
• Current and former romantic/dating/sexual partners; 
• People who share a child in common; and
• People who have shared a residence within the past year and maintained a close relationship.

Survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking can file for a Civil Protection Order even if they do not have a prior relationship with the abuser.

A person filing for a Civil Protection order must also allege that the person they are filing against has committed a crime against them. This crime could be assault, threats to do bodily harm, sexual assault, stalking, destruction of property, theft, or parental kidnapping, among others. 

A Civil Protection Order provides important protections for domestic violence survivors against their abusers. These protections include:

• Requiring an abuser not to assault, threaten, harass, or stalk a survivor; 
• Requiring an abuser to stay away from a survivor;
• Requiring an abuser to stay away from a survivor’s home, workplace, vehicle, children, and/or children’s school; 
• Requiring an abuser to not contact a survivor in writing, by telephone, by social media, or in any other manner, including contact through a third party; 
• Granting custody of children in common and arranging safe visitation;  
• Requiring an abuser to reimburse a survivor for expenses related to the domestic violence; and 
• Requiring an abuser to attend classes through the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA).  

You are able to file in person at either of the two the Domestic Violence Intake Centers operated by the D.C. Superior Court. The Domestic Violence Intake Centers are open Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.   They are located at:  

1. Room 4550 of the D.C. Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001.
2. Room 400 of the Anacostia Professional Building at 2041 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020.

You also have the option to file online, without going to the D.C. Superior Court. In order to file a Petition for a Civil Protection Order, you should go to www.probono.net/dccourts. You can complete and submit the forms electronically through that website or download and email the forms to DVD@dcsc.gov. If you have any questions or concerns, you should contact the Clerk’s Office by telephone at (202) 879-0157 or by email at DVD@dcsc.gov.

D.C. SAFE advocates help survivors with drafting and filing Petitions for Civil Protection Orders. They also connect survivors to resources like social services, legal services, and basic needs supports. To get connected to D.C. SAFE, you can go to the Domestic Violence Intake Center located in Room 4550 of the D.C. Superior Court Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or you can call or text the D.C. Victim Hotline at 1-844-4HELPDC (1-844-443-5732) 24 hours a day.

If you are filing for a Civil Protection Order and you want to request a Temporary Protection Order, you should be sure to check the following box on the second page of your Petition:

You are able to file in person at either of the two the Domestic Violence Intake Centers operated by the D.C. Superior Court. The Domestic Violence Intake Centers are open Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.   They are located at: 

1. Room 4550 of the D.C. Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001.
2. Room 400 of the Anacostia Professional Building at 2041 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020.

You also have the option to file online, without going to the D.C. Superior Court. In order to file a Petition for a Civil Protection Order, you should go to www.probono.net/dccourts. You can complete and submit the forms electronically through that website or download and email the forms to DVD@dcsc.gov. If you have any questions or concerns, you should contact the Clerk’s Office by telephone at (202) 879-0157 or by email at DVD@dcsc.gov.

If you need a Temporary Protection Order outside of normal business hours, you can request an Emergency Temporary Protection Order (ETPO). The ETPO process is available 24 hours a day.  

To access the ETPO process, you can: (1) call or text 9-1-1; (2) call or text the D.C. Victim Hotline at 1-844-4HELPDC (1-844-443-5732); or (3) go to the Seventh District Police Station to see if you qualify.   

Temporary Protection Orders are usually issued for a period of 14 days. 

You should receive a Notice of Hearing and Order to Appear when you file your case. That Notice will include the date and time for your hearing.   

If you have a question about a court date, you can contact the Domestic Violence Division Clerk’s Office. The Clerk’s Office is available by phone (202) 879-0157 and email (DVD@dcsc.gov), Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 am and 5:00 pm. 

Your hearing will likely be held virtually via WebEx. You will need to call in or join the video hearing via WebEx at 8:30am to check in.  The instructions to join the hearing can be found in the Notice of Hearing and Order to Appear: 

When you check in via WebEx, a clerk will ask for your contact information.  The court will call you back when a negotiator is available to speak with you, and/or when the judge is ready to call your case.  You should stay by your telephone and expect that you may receive calls from the court at any time before 5:00 p.m. that day.

Your Temporary Protection Order will be extended until the next court date in your case. Your Civil Protection Order will expire on the date specified on the order, unless you file a Motion to Extend it.  

A Motion to Modify or Extend a Civil Protection Order or Temporary Protection Order can be filed any time before the Civil Protection Order or Temporary Protection Order expires. Anyone who wants to extend their Civil Protection Order must file a motion to extend before it expires, or else would need to file a new petition based on new incidents. 

You may file a Motion in person at one of the two Domestic Violence Intake Centers located in:

1. Room 4550 of the D.C. Superior Court, 500 Indiana NW, Washington, DC 20001. 
2. Room 400 of the Anacostia Professional Building at 2041 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020.

The Domestic Violence Intake Center is open Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

The Domestic Violence Clerk’s Office is also accepting motions filed online. You should go to www.probono.net/dccourts to complete and submit the forms online or download and email the forms to DVD@dcsc.gov.

If you cannot determine which form to use, or the form you need is missing, contact the Clerk’s Office by telephone at (202) 879-0157 or by email at DVD@dcsc.gov.

The following organizations are offering counseling and/or safety planning services:

• The Wendt Center provides counseling to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, homicide, and other violent crimes. They can be reached at (202) 204-5021. 
• The Women’s Center also provides counseling services for survivors of domestic violence. Those in need can contact the Intake Specialist at (202) 293-4580, ext. 100.
• The Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP) has case managers available on their hotline at (202) 833-2233.  
• JCADA operates a confidential helpline Monday - Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Fridays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Survivors can call 1-877-88-JCADA for information, support, and safety planning.
• DAWN offers support services for survivors who are deaf or hard of hearing. Survivors can connect with DAWN by email at hotline@deafdawn.org. 
• D.C. SAFE can assist with safety planning, and can be reached via the D.C. Victim Hotline at 1-844-4HELPDC (1-844-443-5732).

As of July 12, 2021, the Family Court Central Intake Center, located in Room JM-540 of the D.C. Superior Court, is open to accept filings between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

You also have the option to file online.  You can go to https://www.probono.net/dccourts/familycourt/ and fill out the appropriate form. Once you have completed the form, there are two ways to file it: 

• If you have a fee waiver, or want to request a fee waiver, you can email the form (and the fee waiver form if necessary) to familycourtcic@dcsc.gov. 
• If you have a fee waiver, or want to request a fee waiver, you can print your documents and drop them off in the Domestic Relations Drop box located inside the main entrance of D.C. Superior Court, at 500 Indiana Avenue, NW.
• If you do not have or qualify for a fee waiver, you can create an account on  Case File Xpress, and file electronically. 

For help drafting and filing a case, motions, and other pleadings, you can contact the Family Court Self-Help Center at (202) 879-0096.  

Maybe.  When you have your Civil Protection Order hearing, you may be granted custody for the duration of the Civil Protection Order. If you are not granted custody beyond the Temporary Protection Order period, you may file a custody case at that point.

If you are considering filing a custody case, it would be best to speak to an attorney about whether or not to file. Legal Aid attorneys are available to provide advice. Our Northwest and Southeast offices are open with the following locations and hours:

1. NW Office at 1331 H Street NW, Suite 350, on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm
2. Anacostia Professional Building (the Big chair) at 2041 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave Suite 201 on Mondays and Thursdays between 10:00 am and 2:30 pm.

You can also apply for our services by phone at (202) 628-1161 or online. You can also find a Legal Aid attorney at the following offices:

1. Domestic Violence Intake Center located in Room 4550 of the D.C. Superior Court between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
2. Domestic Violence Intake Center located in Room 400 of the Anacostia Professional building between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
3. Family Law Assistance Network located in Courtroom 105 at the D.C. Superior Court between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays.

It depends. If you do not have a custody order, you should file a Civil Protection Order case on behalf of your child and ask for a Temporary Protection Order that grants you custody and suspends the abuser’s visitation (see above for how to file for a Civil Protection Order).  

If you do have a custody order that gives the abuser any visitation, you should file an Emergency Motion to Modify Custody. You can use the Motion to Modify Custody form, but be sure to specify that you are filing an emergency motion.  

You can also call the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) at (202) 442-6100, or make a report of child abuse to their 24-hour hotline at (202) 671-7233.

It depends. If you do not have a custody order, you should file a Civil Protection Order case and ask for a Temporary Protection Order. In addition to asking for protection for yourself, you can ask that the Temporary Protection Order deny the abuser visitation or set a safe exchange location.  

If you do have a custody order that gives the abuser any visitation, you may want to file an Emergency Motion to Modify Custody. You can use the Motion to Modify Custody form, but be sure to specify that you are filing an emergency motion. You can file for a Civil Protection Order as well, and may want to for your own protection, but domestic violence judges are hesitant to change existing custody orders. The judge may decline to modify your custody agreement, or may modify custody only for a short period of time. Also, even if a Temporary Protection Order suspends visits temporarily, you will likely be required to file a Motion to Modify Custody as well.

If visits have been ordered at the Supervised Visitation Center, you should make sure to complete your intake by calling (202) 879-4253. After you complete your intake, the Center will coordinate visits between your child and the other parent.

If supervised visits are not set up in your case, you should use your best judgment and try to be reasonable during this time. Consider alternatives to visitation at the Supervised Visitation Center, and try to communicate with the other party about visitation, if it is safe to do so. 

If you and the other party cannot agree on safe, appropriate arrangements for supervised visitation outside of the Supervised Visitation Center, you can file a Motion to Modify your Civil Protection Order and/or your custody order. It is possible that visitation will be postponed or take place over video until the Supervised Visitation Center reopens. But keep in mind that judges will be more likely to consider your Motion if you have made sincere attempts to make arrangements with the other party. 

If you decide to file a Motion to Modify your Civil Protection Order, you can follow the same procedure for filing for a Civil Protection Order, and use the Motion to Modify form. 

If you decide to file a Motion to Modify Custody, follow the procedure for filing a motion in your existing custody case.

If you are married and experiencing financial abuse, you may be able to get relief by filing a case in Family Court or the Domestic Violence Division.  What you can file and the relief available will depend on the specific details of your situation. Legal Aid DC can help you consider your options.

Legal Aid DC attorneys are available to provide advice. Our Northwest and Southeast offices are open with the following locations and hours:

1. NW Office at 1331 H Street NW, Suite 350, on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm
2. Anacostia Professional Building (the Big chair) at 2041 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave Suite 201 on Mondays and Thursdays between 10:00 am and 2:30 pm.

You can also apply for our services by phone at (202) 628-1161 or online. You can also find a Legal Aid DC attorney at the following offices:

1. Domestic Violence Intake Center located in Room 4550 of the D.C. Superior Court between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
2. Domestic Violence Intake Center located in Room 400 of the Anacostia Professional building between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
3. Family Law Assistance Network located in Courtroom 105 at the D.C. Superior Court between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Yes. The domestic violence shelters run by D.C. SAFE, My Sister’s Place, DASH (District Alliance for Safe Housing), and House of Ruth are still open, and have implemented enhanced protocols for cleaning and safety.  Domestic violence survivors in need of safe housing should call or text the D.C. Victim Hotline at 1-844-4HELPDC (1-844-443-5732).   

Additional housing resources are as follows:  

• DASH is offering a call-in clinic on Wednesdays from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.  Those in need can call (202) 290-2356 x 101.  
• Anyone in need of shelter can call the D.C. Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 at any time.

Crime Victims Compensation (CVC) applications are processed remotely. You can download the application and email a copy of your completed application to CVCPapplications@dcsc.gov. You can also submit your application in person to 515 5th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, Monday through Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. If you need help completing your application, you can call CVC at 202-879-4216, Monday through Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. You can also visit the Domestic Violence Center located in Room 400 of the Anacostia Professional building, Monday through Friday 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. You may also call or text the D.C. Victim Hotline at 1-844-4HELPDC (1-844-443-5732) for assistance.

Possibly. If you file for a Civil Protection Order, you can ask that the abuser be ordered to leave your shared residence. If you are in imminent danger, you can request a Temporary Protection Order (TPO) when you file, and you may be granted a telephonic hearing that same day. If the judge grants you a TPO, they may require that the abuser vacate the home as part of this Order.

Yes. You are permitted to break your lease if you are a victim of Domestic Violence. You must give your landlord written notice and include a copy of a Civil Protection Order or other documentation from a qualified third party about the violence (law enforcement officer, DCHA public safety officer, health professional, DV counselor). The lease termination will be effective fourteen (14) days after you provide the written notice. You can find sample letters to use on Legal Aid’s website.  

Possibly. It will depend on whether or not you are considered a subtenant with rights to remain in the apartment. Whether or not you are a subtenant will depend on the specific facts of your situation, including the understanding between you and your abuser when you moved into the apartment and whether your abuser has been ordered to leave the apartment. Please call Legal Aid DC at (202) 628-1161 or apply for our services online to get advice about your specific situation.

Possibly. This will depend on the circumstances of your case. You should contact DCHA right away at (202) 535-1000 and let them know that you: (1) are on a voucher; (2) are a survivor of domestic violence; and (3) want your abuser removed from the voucher. Please call Legal Aid at (202) 628-1161 or apply for our services online to get advice about your specific situation.

You may be eligible for SNAP benefits (often called food stamps) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF for short). TANF is cash and other assistance for families with very low income and children 18 or younger, including people who are pregnant.

You can apply online, fax an application (available in English, Spanish, and Amharic) to a Service Center (numbers below), or drop off an application in person. In-person applications are discouraged at this time for health and safety reasons.

Congress Heights Service Center, 4049 South Capitol St., SW

Phone: (202) 645-4546

Fax: 202-654-4524

H Street Service Center, 645 H St. NE

Phone: (202) 698-4350

Fax: 202-724-8964

Taylor Street Service Center, 1207 Taylor St. NW

Phone: (202) 576-8000

Fax: 202-576-8740

The Department of Human Services must process your SNAP application in 30 days, unless you qualify for expedited food assistance because: 1) you have less than $100 and less than $150 in income each month and/or 2) your rent and utilities are more than your income each month. These expedited applications must be processed in 7 days.

The Department of Human Services generally has 45 days to process TANF applications.

Once your application for SNAP and/or TANF is approved, the Department of Human Services will mail you an Electronic Benefits Transfer (or EBT) card so you can access your benefits. 

You can call the Department of Human Services at (202) 727-5355. If you can’t get through or still need help, you can contact Legal Aid at (202) 628-1161, or apply for services online. 

If you are listed as the head of household, you can submit a letter to a DHS service center asking them to remove the abuser and update your household. If the abuser is listed as the head of household, you will need to submit a new combined application for benefits so DHS can create a separate case in their system.

You have a few different options depending on your income and immigration status. 

Medicaid helps pay for medical services for low-income people and people with disabilities who are citizens, lawful permanent residents or some other lawful status.  (See below for Medicaid income cutoffs.)  To apply, you can complete an application online through DC Health Link or mail the application to:

DC Health Link
Department of Human Services 
Case Records Management Unit 
P.O. Box 91560 
Washington DC 20090

The application is also available in Amharic, Spanish, Chinese, and French.

Alliance and Immigrant Children’s Program provide health insurance for adults (Alliance) and children (Immigrant Children’s Program) who meet Medicaid income requirements but not Medicaid immigration status requirements. Applications are the same as for SNAP and TANF. You can apply online, fax an application (available in English, Spanish, and Amharic) to a Service Center (numbers below), or drop off an application in person. In-person applications are discouraged at this time for health and safety reasons. 

Congress Heights Service Center, 4049 South Capitol St., SW 
Phone: (202) 645-4546 
Fax: 202-654-4524

H Street Service Center, 645 H St. NE 
Phone: (202) 698-4350 
Fax: 202-724-8964 

Taylor Street Service Center, 1207 Taylor St. NW 
Phone: (202) 576-8000 
Fax: 202-576-8740

If you have additional questions about public benefits, please see Legal Aid’s Frequently Asked Questions About Public Benefits in the District. If you need help with public benefits, you can contact Legal Aid at (202) 628-1161, or apply for services online.

The custodial parent (i.e. the parent with whom the children reside for more than half of a given tax year) has the right to either claim the minor children as dependents on their own tax return, or give the non-custodial parent permission to claim the children as dependents by executing IRS Form 8332 each year.

If your abuser has violated your Civil Protection Order, there are two ways to press charges:

• Call the police when the incident happens. Like any other crime, police will investigate, and seek a warrant, if they think it is appropriate.

• File a Motion for Contempt. You can file in person at the Domestic Violence Intake Center located in Room 4550 of the D.C. Superior Court. The Domestic Violence Intake Center is open between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.  You can also complete and submit the forms electronically through www.probono.net/dccourts or download and email the forms to DVD@dcsc.gov. If you need assistance filing a Motion for Contempt, contact the Domestic Violence Clerk’s Office at (202) 879-0157 or get in touch with D.C. SAFE via the D.C. Victim Hotline at 1-844-4HELPDC (1-844-443-5732). Motions for Contempt are being reviewed by attorneys at the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, and they will file charges if they deem it appropriate.You can also go in-person to one of the two Domestic Violence Intake centers to get assistance with filing:

• • Domestic Violence Intake Center located in Room 4550 of the D.C. Superior Court between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
  • Domestic Violence Intake Center located in Room 400 of the Anacostia Professional building between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.