Your attorney is your advocate, and they are there to help and support you. Attorneys are bound by ethical rules and all information you tell them must be kept confidential. In order that they can provide the best representation, it is important that you tell your attorney everything that is relevant to your case, even if you think it makes you look bad. Your attorney will work with you to decide how to deal with any negative information.
Here are a few things that you might want to bring up in your first couple of conversations with your lawyer:
- your concerns about the case
- your goals for the case
- the attorney's strategy for how to accomplish your goals
- things can you do to better prepare your case
Take care to explain to your lawyer everything that you think is relevant about your case. It is in your best interest to be as specific as possible. As you work with your attorney, consider the following:
Be specific about incidents of abuse
If you do not feel comfortable verbally informing your attorney about specific acts, put them in writing. Try to be as specific as possible and detail ALL incidents of abuse. Try to provide you attorney with the following information:
- Dates of abuse
- Lugares donde ocurrió el abuso, es decir, en su casa (qué habitación), en público (indique el nombre de la calle), etc.
- Types of abuse - i.e. threats, hitting, punching, pushing, shoving, biting, or forced sex acts, etc.
- Objects used - i.e. knives, guns, furniture, etc.
- Witnesses. Give your attorney the names of any possible witnesses.
- Any pictures that show any injuries that were a result of abuse
- Information about any medical attention you sought
- ¿A qué hospital fuiste?
- ¿Te atendió el hospital por alguna lesión?
- Whether you ever called the police
- ¿Respondió la policía?
- ¿Se redactó un informe?
- ¿Fue arrestado su abusador?
Let your attorney know if you have children
If you have children, share the following information with your attorney:
- ¿Están sus hijos seguros?
- Is there a custody order in place?
- NOTE: If there is no order in place both parents always have rights.
- Información biográfica: Names, ages, addresses, and school addresses of your children.
- Cambios: That you would like the exchange to take place in a neutral setting if the respondent wants visitation.
- Visitación: what days and times would work best for you and your children.
- Supervisión: whether you want supervised visitation, and who you would be comfortable with as a supervisor
- Manutención de los hijos: whether you are receiving child support from the respondent.
- Seguro de salud: whether respondent is paying health insurance for your children.
You may wish to review the checklist on the checklist on Preparación para la audiencia de orden de protección final.
Disclose any benefits you receive
Tell your attorney if you are receiving any type of benefits from the state (i.e. temporary cash assistance, housing choice voucher, etc.).
Mantenga su dirección confidencial
Inform your attorney that you do not want your current address listed on any documents that your abuser may receive or view. Your safety is the most important issue. You can ask your attorney to keep your new address confidential in the court documents.
Learn more about the Address Confidentiality Program.
Hacer preguntas
Remember, it's your case and your attorney is there to help you. Ask your attorney questions and tell your attorney about any other information that you think may be important.
Don’t forget your documents
REMEMBER to bring ALL court documents. It is important to bring any and all documents that relate to a case you have in court (i.e. protective order, child custody order, or child support order).