The Domestic Violence Representation Project provides direct legal representation, technical assistance, and legal consultation to victims of domestic violence. It is funded in part by grants from the New Jersey Department of Human Services and the Violence Against Women Act.
What is the Domestic Violence Representation Project?
The Domestic Violence Representation Project (DVRP) provides direct legal assistance, referral, and advice to low-income women who suffer abuse from a spouse, other family member, caretaker, or significant other and cannot afford to pay for the services of a private attorney. The DVRP is one of several Legal Services of New Jersey special projects. The project seeks to fill gaps in the legal representation of low-income domestic violence victims, especially where county Legal Services programs cannot help. The project serves clients throughout the state and also offers training and ongoing assistance with cases to private attorneys who provide free representation for low-income clients.
The DVRP’s services are free of charge to income-eligible clients who are victims of domestic violence. As resources permit, the DVRP provides advice and some direct representation for Restraining Order hearings and other related matters such as custody, visitation, spousal support, and child support. Staff attorneys, social workers, and paralegals are available to help. All calls and consultations are strictly confidential.
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence may be physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. It may come from a husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, or even from the caretaker of an elderly person. You may be a victim of domestic violence if you have suffered:
- beatings or physical attacks such as kicking, slapping, punching, or hair pulling
- threats with a weapon such as a gun or knife
- threats that cause you to fear for your life or to fear serious injury to yourself, your children, or other family members
- repeated, humiliating verbal attacks
- imprisonment in your own home or another place
- forced sexual contact or rape
- isolation from friends and family members.
What is your protection against domestic violence?
The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act is a New Jersey civil law that offers legal help to victims of abuse. You may be able to use this law to get a court order restraining your abuser from coming near you or your home, or from contacting you in any way, if:
- you are 18 years of age or older or an emancipated minor who suffers domestic violence, and
- your abuser is your spouse, former spouse, boy/girl friend, a family member (brother, sister, father, child, in-law, etc.), gay or lesbian partner, roommate, caretaker, or any adult who lives or has lived with you, or
- you and your abuser are the parents of one or more children, or
- you and your abuser have had a dating relationship.
Who is eligible for DVRP assistance?
Low-income New Jersey residents who are victims of domestic violence may be given assistance in civil cases by the DVRP. (Legal Services programs do not handle criminal cases.) All who apply for help are screened to see if their incomes fall within the guidelines for eligibility (200 percent or less of the federal poverty line).
DVRP resources are limited. We are not able to help everyone who asks for assistance, but we make every effort to refer those we cannot help to other attorneys or agencies who can provide service.
Legal Services of New Jersey
Domestic Violence Representation Project
(732) 572-9100
About LSNJ
Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ) coordinates the statewide network of nonprofit Legal Services programs which provide free legal assistance in civil cases to low-income New Jersey residents who cannot afford lawyers. If you have a legal problem and think that your income may qualify you to become a Legal Services client, please call LSNJ-LAW™, New Jersey’s Legal Hotline at
1-888-LSNJ-LAW
(1-888-576-5529)
Office hours
LSNJ and the DVRP are open Monday through Friday,
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
