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What We Do
When there is nowhere else to turn, we’re here to help.
FVAP is dedicated to helping domestic violence survivors and their children appeal dangerous trial court decisions on their behalf, for free, and serves California and Washington state. We help survivors of abuse get the safety and justice they deserve.
Problem
Trial court decisions are leaving survivors and their children at risk of ongoing abuse. In custody cases involving documented incidents of domestic violence, the abusive parent is granted custody up to 54% of the time.
Solution
FVAP appeals and overturns these dangerous trial court decisions. Our goal is to empower survivors through the civil court system, and make sure survivors and their kids can live in safe, healthy environments, free from abuse.
Strategy
By working at the appellate-court level, each of FVAP’s published cases helps not just one survivor, but also becomes binding legal precedent that helps countless other survivors. We make sure domestic violence laws do what they’re supposed to do — keep survivors and kids safe.
Can FVAP Help You?
- I have experienced domestic violence, intimate partner abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse, human trafficking or stalking.
- I have a family court or civil court order I want to appeal, or I am defending against an appeal.
- The order I want to appeal was issued by a California court, and is less than 6 months old OR the order I want to appeal was issued by a Washington court and is less than 30 days old.
FVAP handles appeals of family or civil court orders. This means if you get an order from one of these courts that you disagree with, you can contact us and we will review the order and let you know if we can help you appeal it.