Each year, the Safety & Family Practice Group helps over 1100 survivors of domestic violence.
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior in a relationship that is used to control another person. Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, mental, or financial. Domestic violence can happen to anyone – no matter their race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, educational history, or socioeconomic background.
How We Help
Family Law Services
The Safety & Family Practice Group (SFPG) team represents survivors of domestic violence in family law cases in the Chicago, Markham, Bridgeview, and DuPage County courthouses. SFPG staff can help with divorce and parentage (custody) cases, including obtaining safe parenting arrangements, asking for child support or maintenance, and dividing property and debt.
Order of Protection Services
An order of protection is a court order that helps stop abuse by an intimate partner, a family member, or a household member. The SFPG team represents survivors of domestic violence in order of protection cases in the Chicago, Markham, Bridgeview, and DuPage County courthouses. Our staff can help with both civil and criminal orders of protection.
Elder & Disability Services
The Elder & Disability Justice Initiative (EDJI) team helps seniors who have been or might be financially exploited with reporting identity theft, recovering lost funds, and protecting against future harm.
EDJI staff also assist clients who are seeking guardianship for elderly loved ones, or seniors who are seeking guardianship of someone that they care for. Clients can also receive help with preparing Powers of Attorney (POAs), simple wills, or transfer-on-death instruments.
Community Education & Clinics
Are you an agency or group seeking to organize a presentation or other service? Our team can provide know-your-rights presentations on any of the topics included here. Staff can also coordinate clinics to assist with advance directives, such as POAs.