ELAP provides free 1-hour appointments with a family law attorney for advice and consultation on family law legal issues involving domestic violence. Attorney volunteers are not able to provide full representation or represent clients in court.

Issues the following protection/restraining orders:   Domestic Violence Protective/Restraining Orders Issues orders that protects the petitioner from abuse or threats of abuse from a current or former spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, someone they have a child with, someone they live with or someone they are related to through blood or marriage.   No Contact Order Issues orders that protect victims of crime from contact with the person accused of committing the crime.   Incident must have been reported to the police. Criminal charges must be pending. The court may issue a no contact order as part of bail hearing, arraignment or sentencing.   Anti-harassment/Stalking Protection Orders Issues orders that will protect the petitioner from another person whose behavior is abusive, threatening, exploitative or seriously alarming.    The primary purpose is to order the "respondent" to not contact or harm the "petitioner. "    Sexual Assault Protection Orders Issues orders that can require the person who committed a sexual assault to stay away from their victim, their home, school, work or other places they request, and to have no further contact with them.   Vulnerable Adult Protection Order Issues orders that protects a vulnerable adult who has been abandoned, abused, subject to financial exploitation, or neglect or threat thereof.   Can be filed by an interested person on behalf of a vulnerable adult.

Provides family law advice, assistance and referrals for people with children that have custody or visitation issues involving domestic violence, and who have limited English or cultural barriers. This is a joint project with the King County Bar Association. Clients MUST be referred by participating agencies. Printed materials regarding legal rights, responsibilities and procedures may also be available in various languages.

Legal Advocates provide information and support in regard to criminal and/or civil legal matters. Advocates are not attorneys and cannot represent in court, however they can help navigate the legal system and provide support and accompaniment through processes such as protection orders, divorce proceedings and parenting plans. DAWN partners with Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) to provide an attorney working on-site at our offices for clients referred through DAWN.

Provides advocacy services in King County Superior Court to current or former intimate partner victims of domestic violence. Services include: assistance in filing for temporary domestic violence protection orders, drafting proposed orders, information and referral to social service agencies, domestic violence information, advocacy, court preparation and accompaniment to full order hearings (advocates cannot speak in court). Maintains website with instructions and information on protection orders. A DV protection order is a two part process which includes the filing of a temporary order and then a full protection order entered approximately 14 days later, if granted by the court.   Temporary Domestic Violence Protection Order: A civil order that restrains the abuser (respondent) from committing further acts of assault or violence against the person who has been victimized (petitioner). The petitioner (person seeking protection) must fill out a packet of forms that include providing a description of the acts of domestic violence that have occurred and the protections they are seeking. They will be asked to describe the most recent incident of domestic violence or fear of imminent harm and a history of any other incidents of domestic violence. Upon filing, the Petitioner should be prepared to provide the respondent's home and/or work address and birth date to help ensure that Law Enforcement can enter and serve the order on the respondent. A judge or commissioner will review the paperwork, ask questions, and decide whether or not to grant the temporary order (for 14 days).    Full Domestic Violence Protection Order: An order that is granted after the court determines by a "preponderance of evidence" that domestic violence has occurred. At the full hearing, the Judge will give both parties (petitioner and respondent) the chance to talk about the allegations of domestic violence and whether the order should be granted or not. The full order can be in effect for one year or longer, in some cases. The process to obtain the full order may last for two to four hours, but the actual full hearing itself may only be about 15 to 30 minutes.   Any time prior to the expiration date, the petitioner may return to court and request that the order be modified (to be made more or less restrictive) or terminated. The petitioner may also request a renewal of the full order up to three months before its expiration date.

Advocates provide support through the court process including crisis intervention, information and referral to social service agencies, preparation prior to court hearings, and advocacy during and after court hearings.   Advocates involve other agencies and individuals in the criminal or civil court process.   Will provide community education upon request and work to increase awareness on victims' legal rights, options and resources.  

Provides legal advice and representation in family law issues for potential clients who live or work in Seattle, work with a DV agency located within Seattle, recently fled Seattle, or are cooperating with law enforcement in Seattle, who are survivors of domestic violence and telephone advice to advocates working with survivors of domestic violence. Clients gain access to the program through referral by a domestic violence advocate. Printed materials regarding legal rights, responsibilities and procedures may also be available in various languages.

Provides advocacy services in King County Superior Court to current or former intimate partner victims of domestic violence. Services include: assistance in filing for temporary domestic violence protection orders, drafting proposed orders, information and referral to social service agencies, domestic violence information, advocacy, court preparation and accompaniment to full order hearings (advocates cannot speak in court). Maintains website with instructions and information on protection orders. A DV protection order is a two part process which includes the filing of a temporary order and then a full protection order entered approximately 14 days later, if granted by the court.   Temporary Domestic Violence Protection Order: A civil order that restrains the abuser (respondent) from committing further acts of assault or violence against the person who has been victimized (petitioner). The petitioner (person seeking protection) must fill out a packet of forms that include providing a description of the acts of domestic violence that have occurred and the protections they are seeking. They will be asked to describe the most recent incident of domestic violence or fear of imminent harm and a history of any other incidents of domestic violence. Upon filing, the Petitioner should be prepared to provide the respondent's home and/or work address and birth date to help ensure that Law Enforcement can enter and serve the order on the respondent. A judge or commissioner will review the paperwork, ask questions, and decide whether or not to grant the temporary order (for 14 days).    Full Domestic Violence Protection Order: An order that is granted after the court determines by a "preponderance of evidence" that domestic violence has occurred. At the full hearing, the Judge will give both parties (petitioner and respondent) the chance to talk about the allegations of domestic violence and whether the order should be granted or not. The full order can be in effect for one year or longer, in some cases. The process to obtain the full order may last for two to four hours, but the actual full hearing itself may only be about 15 to 30 minutes.   Any time prior to the expiration date, the petitioner may return to court and request that the order be modified (to be made more or less restrictive) or terminated. The petitioner may also request a renewal of the full order up to three months before its expiration date.

Issues the following protection/restraining orders:   Domestic Violence Protective/Restraining Orders Issues orders that protects the petitioner from abuse or threats of abuse from a current or former spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, someone they have a child with, someone they live with or someone they are related to through blood or marriage.   No Contact Order Issues orders that protect victims of crime from contact with the person accused of committing the crime.   Incident must have been reported to the police. Criminal charges must be pending. The court may issue a no contact order as part of bail hearing, arraignment or sentencing.   Anti-harassment/Stalking Protection Orders Issues orders that will protect the petitioner from another person whose behavior is abusive, threatening, exploitative or seriously alarming.    The primary purpose is to order the "respondent" to not contact or harm the "petitioner. "    Sexual Assault Protection Orders Issues orders that can require the person who committed a sexual assault to stay away from their victim, their home, school, work or other places they request, and to have no further contact with them.   Vulnerable Adult Protection Order Issues orders that protects a vulnerable adult who has been abandoned, abused, subject to financial exploitation, or neglect or threat thereof.   Can be filed by an interested person on behalf of a vulnerable adult.

𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Operates a legal clinic providing free one hour consultations with an attorney for victims of domestic violence with family law issues. Clinic is virtual Clinic attorneys can: - Determine whether the client has a legal problem - Suggest possible options - Help answer papers, summons and requests - Provide appropriate referrals Neighborhood legal clinic attorneys are specialized in areas of family law. Attorneys CANNOT give advice on criminal legal issues or provide representation on any legal matters. Domestic Violence and Family Law Clinic

Advocates provide support through the court process including crisis intervention, information and referral to social service agencies, preparation prior to court hearings, and advocacy during and after court hearings.   Advocates involve other agencies and individuals in the criminal or civil court process.   Will provide community education upon request and work to increase awareness on victims' legal rights, options and resources.