Legal Advocacy

AVDA's attorneys and staff provide free legal representation in English or Spanish in family law matters for victims of domestic violence. Guidelines apply.

Representation

  • Emergency representation is provided for client and minor children regardless of citizenship or residency IF victim of crime.

    • Protective Orders
    • Emergency Injunctions/Restraining Orders
  • Non-Emergency clients MUST meet formal citizenship/immigration status. IF divorce is due to domestic violence, undocumented clients can also be eligible.

    • Divorce
    • Child Custody/Visitation
    • Child Support

Guidelines

Residency in Harris County for 90 days and in Texas for six months for at least one of the parties to the action

  • Low or modest family income
  • The individual or her/his children have experienced recent physical and/or sexual abuse or a pattern of abuse including controlling and emotionally abusive behavior.
  • The applicant's partner is not currently enrolled in AVDA's Battering Intervention and Prevention Program.

Fees

All legal advocacy and representation services are offered at no cost to the client. If AVDA accepts a client's case for representation, AVDA automatically files for a waiver of the Harris County filing fees and other court costs on a client's behalf. If the waiver is rejected, then individuals accepted for legal representation are responsible for Harris County filing fees and other court costs.
 

SAFETY ALERT: Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid that your Internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a safer computer, call your local hotline, and/or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE(7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224. Click for more information.