What’s New on WomensLaw.org

We created a new Guam Child Support section, including the following five new questions in English that provide information about Guam’s child support laws:

• What is child support?
• How long does child support last?
• How will a judge decide the amount of a child support award?
• Can a child support order be changed?
• Where can I find out more about child support in Guam?

We also added 10 related statutes to our Selected Guam Statues page.

We updated the resource on our New Mexico Lawyer Referral Services page. We also added a new resource, Modest Means Helpline, to our New Mexico Legal Assistance page. Changes made in English and Spanish.

On our Ohio Download Court Forms page, we updated the link to stalking protection order form and to the main forms page of the Ohio Courts website. Changes made in English and Spanish.

We translated into Spanish our Missouri Download Court Forms page.

In our About Abuse - Financial Abuse section, we updated links to the Identity Theft Resource Center and the National Association of Crime Victims Compensation Board. Changes made in English and Spanish.

We translated into Spanish the Maine Custody and Restraining Orders pages. Now the Spanish translation of the Maine Legal Information section is complete! That makes Maine the 34^th state to be completely translated into Spanish on our website!

We translated into Spanish the Maine Child Support, Divorce, and Housing Laws pages.

We translated into Spanish the Maine Crimes and Suing an Abuser for Money pages.

In our Florida Custody page, we translated into Spanish recent English revisions to the following questions:

• Who can get custody (sole/shared parental responsibility) of a child?
• Can I get financial support for my child in a custody order (parenting plan)?
• I fled to Florida with my children to escape domestic violence. Can I get temporary emergency custody of my child in Florida even if another state is the child’s “home state”?
• Can grandparents get visitation rights in court?
• If a custody order (parenting plan) is already in place, how can I get it changed?

Based on 2023 legislative changes, we did the following in our Kentucky Protective Orders / Domestic Violence Orders section:

• Revised Who can get a protective order? to add “an adult sibling” to the definition of family member; and
• Revised What is the legal definition of domestic violence in Kentucky? to change the terminology from “sexual abuse” to “sexual assault,” and to add the clarification that the term includes any degree of rape, sodomy, or sexual abuse, and incest.

We translated into Spanish recent English revisions to When does someone usually file for allocation of parental responsibilities? and translated the question Can grandparents file for visitation (“family time”)? in our Colorado Custody page.

We translated into Spanish recent English revisions on our Safety Planning page for Domestic Violence Victims including Safety While Living with an Abuser and Safety when Preparing to End an Abusive Relationship.

We translated into Spanish the seven questions in the Male Victims section on the Abuse in Specific Communities page.

In our Iowa Custody section we created 28 new questions in English; Spanish coming soon! We also added 21 related statutes to our Selected Iowa Statutes page.

We updated 22 resources and added nine new resources on our Washington Legal Assistance page and updated six resources on our Washington Lawyer Referral Services page. All changes made in English and Spanish.

On our West Virginia Restraining Order page, we revised the question What is the legal definition of stalking? to update the definition of stalking for the purposes of getting a personal safety order based on 2023 legislative changes.

On our West Virginia Crimes page, we added the crime of stalking.

Lastly, we added 19 statutes to our Selected West Virginia Statutes page.

Based on 2022 and 2023 legislative changes, we did the following:

• In our Illinois State Gun Laws page, revised two questions in English and Spanish to reflect the changed terminology from “alien” to “noncitizen.” We also clarified that the requirement for someone under 21 years old who needs a parent’s permission to have a firearm does not apply to someone in the Armed Forces or Illinois National Guard; and
• In our Illinois Civil No Contact Orders (for Victims of Sexual Assault) section, we did the following in English (Spanish coming soon!):
  • Revised Who can get a civil no contact order? to add that a person can file a petition on behalf of any family or household member who is a victim but only after receiving consent from the victim to do so; and that a service member in the Illinois National Guard or any reserve military component serving within Illinois who is a victim and who also has a military protective order can file or the State Judge Advocate can file on his/her behalf with consent of the victim;
  • Revised two questions to explain that the petition can be filed online; and
  • Revised What protections can I get in a civil no contact order? to clarify that “no contact” includes electronic communication, such as email, instant message, text message, voicemail, etc. We also added a related statute to our Selected Illinois Statutes page.

We translated into Spanish our South Carolina Download Court Forms page.

Based on 2022 changes to the court petition for a protective order, we revised Can I “violate” my own order? in our Iowa Protective Orders (Based on Domestic Abuse) page to update the specific language regarding a plaintiff or his/her child violating their own order. We also revised the following questions in our Iowa Sexual Abuse Protective Orders page:

• What is the legal definition of sexual abuse? to hyperlink to the definitions of incest and sexual exploitation of a minor; and
• Can I change, extend, or cancel my order? to add information about the name of the petition that needs to be filed and the amount of time can extension can last.

We also added the crimes of “incest” and “sexual exploitation of a minor” to our Iowa Crimes page and Selected Iowa Statutes page. In addition, we added a statute related to small claims court to our Selected Iowa Statutes page.

We translated into Spanish the following on our Utah Legal Information pages:

• Recent English clarifications to two questions on our Utah Divorce page:
  • Can I get alimony?
  • Will a judge consider who is at fault for the end of the marriage when making a decision about alimony?
• Recent English revisions to What is the legal definition of stalking? in our Utah Civil Stalking Injunctions section.
• The new Utah Workplace Violence Protective Orders section.
• Recent English revisions to two questions on our Utah Gun Laws page, based on 2023 legislative amendments:
  • 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?
• Recent English revisions to What protections can I get in a cohabitant abuse protective order? in our Utah Cohabitant Abuse Protection Orders section.

We translated into Spanish the following Missouri pages:

• Crimes
• Custody
• Divorce
• Housing Laws
• Restraining Orders
• State Gun Laws
• Suing an Abuser for Money

Now the Spanish translation of the Missouri Legal Information section is complete! That makes Missouri the 32nd state to be completely translated into Spanish on our website!

We revised the Guam Download Court Forms page, updating the links to order of protection and divorce forms, and adding a link to forms for filing in small claims court. We also updated the link to small claims court forms on the Guam Suing an Abuser for Money page.

Based on 2023 legislative changes, we revised Who can get custody? in our Georgia Custody section to add the fact that if one parent has been criminally indicted for murder or voluntary manslaughter of the other parent, the judge has the option to decide not to give that parent custody. We also added the related statute to our Selected Georgia Statutes page.

Based on 2023 legislative amendments, we did the following in English and Spanish:

• In our D.C. Civil Protection Orders page, revised Can I file for a civil protection order if I am a minor? to add that a person with physical custody can file on behalf of a minor; and
• In our D.C. State Gun Laws page, revised two questions to add that gun possession is now prohibited if the person has a restraining order against him/her that requires the person to stay away from, or have no contact with, any other person or a location.

We translated into Spanish the recent updates on our Maryland Divorce section.

We translated into Spanish the resource Sierra Community House, with three locations, on our California Local Programs page.

We translated into Spanish the resource Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters on our Michigan Local Programs page.

We translated into Spanish the resource Identity Theft Resource Center on our National Organizations Financial Info/Economic Empowerment page.

We translated into Spanish the revised information on the question How will the judge calculate child support? in our Arkansas Child Support section.

We updated the resource on our North Carolina Lawyer Referral Services page in English and Spanish.

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

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

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

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

We updated the contact information for one resource on our Nevada Legal Assistance page.

We updated the contact information for one resource on our Missouri Legal Assistance page.

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

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

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

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

We updated a resource, The Center for Empowerment and Education (formerly the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury), on our Connecticut Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

Based on 2023 legislative amendments, we did the following in English (Spanish coming soon):

• In our Connecticut Risk Protection Orders section, in What is a risk protection order?, we added that the respondent has to be at least 18 and that only one police officer, not two, is now needed to file the petition; however, a second officer has to support the complaint under oath.
• In our Connecticut State Gun Laws page, we revised three questions to include the fact that gun possession is now illegal based on:
  • a conviction for a number of “family violence” misdemeanors committed against a family or household member;
  • a conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, as defined by federal law; and
  • being a fugitive from justice.

We also added 15 related statutes to our Selected Connecticut Statutes page.  

Lastly, in our Connecticut Suing an Abuser for Money page, we added the fact that there is a $15,000 limit in small claims court for cases that involve a home improvement contract; and in our Connecticut Crimes page, we added 10 new crimes. (Spanish coming soon.)

We added a new resource, The Immigration Center for Women and Children, on our Nevada Legal Assistance page in English and Spanish.

We created a new question in our Arizona Divorce section called Is there any way to do a divorce quickly? In English and Spanish. We also added two related statutes to our Selected Arizona Statutes page.

We updated a resource, Beacon Center (formerly Domestic Abuse Council, Inc.), located in Volusia County, on our Florida Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

In our Washington State Gun Laws page, we revised What is the definition of a felony? in English and Spanish to clarify that a felony is classified as a crime that is punishable by more than one year in prison. Previously, we had an incorrect timeframe due to citing a statute that listed the maximum penalties as opposed to the minimum. We also added the related statute to our Selected Washington Statutes page. We regret the error.

Based on 2022 and 2023 legislative amendments, in our Colorado Custody page we did the following (Spanish coming soon):

• Revised When does someone usually file for allocation of parental responsibilities? to add that a motion can be filed as part of a juvenile court case.
• Created a new question called Can grandparents file for visitation (“family time”)? to explain the two new laws added regarding grandparent visitation. We also added those laws to our Selected Colorado Statutes page.
• Revised What are some advantages and disadvantages of getting an allocation of parental responsibilities order? to change the language about a man signing an acknowledgement of paternity to include the terminology of a non-birthing parent signing an acknowledgement of parentage.

We updated 86 resources and added five new resources on our North Carolina Local Programs page. We also updated two resources and added one new resource on our North Carolina Statewide Programs page. All changes made in English and Spanish.

Based on 2022 and 2023 legislative changes, we did the following :

• In our Florida Custody section, we:
  • Revised I fled to Florida with my children to escape domestic violence. Can I get temporary emergency custody of my child in Florida even if another state is the child’s “home state”? to add the fact that if a child is in Florida due to being subjected to or threatened with “sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures,” this is a reason to file for emergency custody in Florida.
  • Revised Can grandparents get visitation rights in court? to add the fact that if one parent has been held criminally liable for the death of the other parent or civilly liable for an intentional tort causing the death of the other parent, the judge will grant reasonable visitation for the grandparent who is the parent of the deceased person.
• In our Florida Injunctions for Protection Against Domestic Violence section, we revised How will the judge decide if I am “in immediate danger of becoming a victim of domestic violence?” to add a new factor that a judge must consider, namely whether the respondent has engaged in a pattern of abusive, threatening, intimidating, or controlling behavior that reasonably causes the petitioner to believe that s/he or his/her child are in immediate (imminent) danger of becoming victims of any act of domestic violence.
• We revised our Florida Suing an Abuser for Money page to increase the amount a victim fo sexual cyberharassment can sue for, from $5,000 to $10,000.

Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon.

We added Abduction of Children to our North Carolina Crimes page. Addition made in English and Spanish. We also added the related statute to our Selected North Carolina Statutes page.

Based on 2023 legislative changes, we did the following:

• in our Florida Divorce section:
  • revised What types of alimony are there? to reflect the fact that there is no longer permanent alimony, to change the definitions for short-term, moderate, and long-term marriages, and to make other changes; 
  • revised Can I get alimony? What factors will a judge consider? to reflect the fact that a judge can consider the following as factors when determining alimony, among others:
    • adultery; 
    • whether either party is physically or mentally disabled;
    • income generated from both marital and non-marital assets; and
  • created a new question called Under what circumstances can an alimony award be modified or terminated? to explain how a judge can terminate or reduce alimony if the person receiving support enters into a “supportive relationship” or if the spouse paying alimony retires.
• in our Florida Custody section:
  • revised Can a parent who committed violence get custody (parental responsibility) or visitation (time-sharing)? to list the factors a judge will consider when deciding if there is detriment to a child; 
  • revised If a custody order (parenting plan) is already in place, how can I get it changed? to remove the former requirement that the substantial change of circumstances must be unanticipated; 
  • revised Who can get custody (sole/shared parental responsibility) of a child? to explain the rebuttable presumption for equal time-sharing;
  • revised Can I get financial support for my child in a custody order (parenting plan)? to add information about supporting a ”dependent adult child” and a child who is between 18 and 19 and still in high school. We also added three related statutes to our Selected Florida Statutes page.

 Changes made in English; Spanish coming soon.

Based on 2023 legislative amendments, we did the following:

• Revised What is the legal definition of abuse in Delaware? in our Delaware Orders of Protection from Abuse section to include the fact that the following are now considered grounds for getting a protective order
  • causing physical injury to a pet or service animal;
  • engaging in a course of alarming or distressing conduct that is likely to cause fear or emotional distress or cause a violent or disorderly response, including conduct that is directed towards a pet or service animal; and
  • any of the following acts when used as a method of coercion, control, punishment, or intimidation against the victim: 
    • causing or attempting to cause physical injury to a pet who the victim has close bond with;
    • acting in a way that is likely to cause the victim to fear that a pet who s/he has close bond with will be physically injured; or
    • committing the crime of cruelty to animals against a pet who the victim has a close bond with.
• Revised What protections can I get in an order of protection from abuse? to add these new protections that a judge can include in a protection order: 
  • stay away from a pet (“companion animal”) owned or held by the victim, the abuser, or a minor child living in the home of victim or the abuser;
  • not take, transfer, hide, harm, or otherwise get rid of such pet;
  • give the petitioner the exclusive care, custody, or control of any such pet.

We also added the related statute of cruelty to animals to our Selected Delaware Statutes page and Delaware Crimes page.

In our National Organizations - Disability Rights section, we added a new resource, OlmsteadRights.org, in English and Spanish.

We translated into Spanish the information on Minnesota Housing Laws. Now the Spanish translation of the Minnesota Legal Information section is complete! That makes Minnesota the 31st state to be completely translated into Spanish on our website!

We updated the Alabama Download Court Forms page, linking to the new protection from abuse order petition that takes effect today (9/1/23) and adding a link to the elder abuse protection order petition.

We updated the contact information for a resource on our Wisconsin Legal Assistance page.

We updated the contact information for six resources on our Texas Local Programs 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 Nevada Legal Assistance page.

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

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

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

We updated the information for Safer Path Family Violence Shelter (formerly known as the Family Crisis Center, Inc.) on our Texas Local Programs page in English and Spanish.

In our Washington Crimes page, we added a link to the available defenses in the law for custodial interference. We also updated the link to the Washington Crime Victims Compensation website.

We updated 32 resources and added five new resources on our Arizona Local Programs page, and updated three resources on our Arizona Statewide Programs page. All changes made in English and Spanish.

In our Maine Divorce section, we revised What factors will the judge consider when deciding whether to award alimony? to add information on the limits that could be included in an alimony order, such as termination of the alimony upon remarriage or cohabitation.

We updated the question What are the steps for filing for custody? in our Maryland Custody page in English and Spanish. We also rearranged some of the questions so it’s easier for users to browse through the content.

We updated the question What are the steps for filing for custody? in our Connecticut Custody page in English and Spanish. We also rearranged some of the questions so it’s easier for users to browse through the content.

We added the question What are the steps for filing for custody? to our Arizona Custody page. Addition in English and Spanish.