intimate partner violence
Intimate partner violence is a pervasive issue, and help is available.
The effects of intimate partner violence are long-lasting, affecting many aspects of a survivor’s life. This includes their physical safety, economic stability, housing, and health. Intimate partner violence can also have profound effects on children, who have often witnessed the violence. Access to trauma-informed, client-centered representation is crucial for our clients’ paths towards self-determination, safety, and security.
3,400
survivors of intimate partner violence supported by NYLAG through safety planning, orders of protection, divorce and custody cases, and more
Services
Our team helps survivors to regain their autonomy and enforce their legal rights. We stand with survivors in court, fighting for their safety so that they can rebuild and live a life free of violence. NYLAG’s lawyers can help in the following ways:
- Obtaining and enforcing orders of protection
- Representing clients in contested and uncontested divorce proceedings
- Advocating for a fair and just division of assets and financial support
- Securing or maintaining custody/visitation of their children
- Securing safe visitation orders
- Helping in safety planning
- Obtaining and enforcing orders for child and spousal support
- Assisting in child protection cases to keep children safe
- Representing survivors on appeals involving family and divorce matters
- Defending against abusive tactics, such as false arrests and false filings
- Working with immigrant survivors to secure legal status
Need free legal services or financial counseling?
Help us provide free legal services to survivors of intimate partner violence.
NYLAG is part of the solution for New Yorkers.

Testimony: New York City Council Oversight Hearing Before the Committee on Public Housing RE: $78.34 Billion: NYCHA’s Physical Needs Assessment
Public Housing Justice Project Director Anna Luft and Staff Attorney Sophie Cohen represented NYLAG at City Hall to testify that NYCHA’s Physical Needs Assessment is no excuse to forgo repairs or privatize public housing.
Statement: NYLAG Celebrates Venezuelan TPS Announcement
We at NYLAG are thrilled that recent arrivals from Venezuela will now be protected and better able to pursue a path toward work authorization and asylum. Our full statement from our President and CEO Lisa Rivera and our Immigrant Protection Unit Director and Associate Director Jodi Ziesemer and Melissa Chua.

After Pressure, NYCHA Publishes Comprehensive Lists of Laws Governing Tenants
After nearly 2 years of advocacy and push from lawyers at NYLAG, the housing authority has published a public document of all its regulations. NYLAG’s Anna Luft and Kate Fetrow spoke with CityLimits about this huge win.