The number of domestic violence survivors reaching out for help citywide has nearly doubled since the start of the pandemic, and new referrals are also up over 50%.
This disturbing documented increase does not even reflect the many survivors who have been unable to access help. At the same time, hundreds of parents have waited (and continue to wait) during the pandemic for their child support cases to be heard as DC Superior Court makes its way through the backlog of cases.
Legal Aid’s Family Law Unit has been able to provide critical assistance in child support, child custody, domestic violence, and immigration matters to help keep hundreds of families together, stay safe, and obtain the necessary financial support they need to make ends meet.
HARRY BROWN
Harry Brown won permanent sole legal and physical custody of his son, Harry Brown Jr., with Legal Aid’s help after a two-year custody dispute with his ex-wife. Mr. Brown, who is legally blind, had also experienced emotional abuse and threats from Harry Jr.’s mother for years. They struggled to co-parent and ultimately Harry Jr. was removed from his mother’s care over concerns of medical neglect and placed with Mr. Brown by the Child and Family Services Agency.
Over a period of two years, including many delays due to COVID-19, Legal Aid assisted Mr. Brown with domestic violence cases, custody, and Harry Jr.’s benefits. Legal Aid advised Mr. Brown on his Civil Protection Order, which he was able to obtain for one year. Mr. Brown’s ex-wife also filed numerous meritless Civil Protection Orders against him, bringing him back and forth to Court. Legal Aid assisted with Mr. Brown’s defense to secure his safety and to provide him with support through these legal attacks.
“I was homeless for a minute. I was living with my brother and then when [Harry Jr.’s mother] wanted to do full custody of my son and she had threatened to take him out of my life for good, that’s when I went to Legal Aid because I started receiving death threats [from her].”
HARRY BROWN
Legal Aid was also able to assist Mr. Brown with getting Harry Jr.’s name added to his Medicaid to ensure he had medical insurance. He faced numerous challenges to getting access to Harry Jr.’s medical insurance, including the mother’s refusal to share information and errors and delays within the Department of Human Services.
Legal Aid continued to assist Mr. Brown with his ongoing custody dispute between the parties. After Harry Jr. was placed in his care, he filed a motion to modify the permanent custody order. Legal Aid represented Mr. Brown at his hearing to modify the order, after which he was granted permanent sole legal and sole physical custody of his son. Mr. Brown had waited for years for this outcome.
“It felt emotional, [I was] overwhelmed with joy. [I remember] jumping up and down, hugging my son and everything.”
HARRY BROWN (pictured with his son Harry Brown Jr.)
ANITA GANS
Anita Gans initially came to the Domestic Violence Intake Center seeking help in obtaining a Civil Protection Order (CPO) against her ex-boyfriend, whom we will call Mr. Miller (name changed), alleging multiple counts of relentless stalking behavior. After breaking up, Mr. Miller sent Ms. Gans disturbing emails, showed up multiple times to her family’s home without permission, and discovered her place of employment by following her to the day care center where she worked. He then appeared multiple times at the day care center, causing Ms. Gans to get fired.
“I was in a custody battle and needed a protection order because I was being stalked. I felt relieved that I was about to connect with someone to get help with the situations.”
ANITA GANS
After a two-day trial, the CPO Judge found that Mr. Miller had stalked Ms. Gans on several occasions with the intent to cause her fear, alarm, and emotional distress. The judge granted Ms. Gans a CPO and temporary custody of her child.
Mr. Miller also filed a custody case against Ms. Gans. While the case was pending, Mr. Miller kidnapped their daughter to a different jurisdiction during a daytime visit. After litigating the custody case for two years, Legal Aid helped Ms. Gans obtain sole custody of their daughter in an order that made detailed findings against Mr. Miller. He was restricted to visitation at the Court’s Supervised Visitation Center and was also ordered to pay both future and retroactive child support. Upon learning that she had won sole custody of her daughter at last, Ms. Gans said she was, “overjoyed and relieved at the same time.”
“Legal Aid is very helpful and professional. They really make sure they take care of the people they are working with in each case.”
ANITA GANS
FAMILY LAW ASSISTANCE NETWORK
This year, we celebrated the one-year launch of the Family Law Assistance Network (FLAN), a joint initiative created by Legal Aid, DC Bar Pro Bono Center, and DC Affordable Law Firm to provide same-day limited scope services to unrepresented litigants in DC Superior Court’s Domestic Relations Branch (one of the court’s busiest branches).
The project was first conceived in 2019 to fill a gap in services in Family Court. In 2020, FLAN was poised to open its physical court-based office when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Instead, FLAN partners quickly pivoted to all virtual services and began tackling high-stakes emergencies that arose in the early days of the pandemic. We have continued to serve litigants with custody, visitation, and divorce needs since that time. This has included representation in virtual emergency hearings and assisting many litigants in a limited scope capacity who lack access to technology to file motions online.
Helping a Teen Mother
Earlier this year Legal Aid helped a teen mother who was forced to flee her home due to years of abuse by extended family members. Even when she and her baby were physically safe, the abuse continued in the form of litigation abuse. The extended family members filed a custody case, seeking to take custody of our client’s baby. Fortunately, she found Legal Aid and was able to apply for services remotely. A Legal Aid attorney was able to meet with her, help her participate in her hearing, and eventually got the family’s case dismissed, all from a safe location.
Your support allowed us to launch this important project in the midst of a pandemic. As of August 31, 2021, FLAN has received over 1,200 referrals for help, and Legal Aid alone has served over 200 clients in custody, divorce, and child support matters. However, that is a fraction of DC residents who need help with family law matters. Legal Aid is committed to remaining nimble and client-centered as we determine the best way to serve the community through this project in the coming months and years.