Legal Aid DC’s Family Law and Domestic Violence Unit provides critical support to clients navigating fraught divorce, custody, and child support cases, as well as obtaining civil protection orders for domestic violence survivors. In 2024, our attorneys and legal support staff helped more than 500 people in these matters, a 35% increase over the previous year.

On the frontlines of difficult cases, the attorneys in the Family Law and Domestic Violence Unit see firsthand where the law is doing more harm than good and strive to make changes beyond the courtroom. In January of this year, a number of DC’s antiquated and paternalistic divorce laws were updated thanks to the Legal Aid lawyers who had advocated for the bill for several years and testified in support of the changes at the DC Council.  

Because of this legislative change, there are no more waiting periods for DC residents seeking divorce. That means that survivor spouses will no longer have to remain legally tied to their abuser and are now able to access legal relief to obtain independence much more quickly. In addition, the court is now required to consider the history of domestic violence in awarding alimony and allocating marital property. This is a huge win for Legal Aid’s client community and has already opened doors that were previously closed to survivors seeking relief and safety.

Inside the courtroom, Legal Aid attorneys are guiding people through some of the most difficult times of their lives, closing 35% more cases in 2024 than in 2023.