Family Law

Family walking in parkGenerally, family law involves issues such as:

  • Adoption
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support
  • Divorce
  • Domestic Violence
  • Paternity
  • Spousal Support
  • Visitation
  • Civil Protection Orders

However, Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. is limited in the types of family law cases we can accept. We may provide legal help to families in the following types of cases: 

  • Civil protection order, divorce, establishing or modifying custody, visitation, and/or child support, where domestic violence is present, or
  • Guardianships for seniors or minors (some offices only).

We accept cases based on program priorities, available staff, and funding in each local office.

To apply for legal help in any of these areas, please visit the "Apply for Help" tab above. 

How to Find Legal Help | Family Law Information and Resources

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    Pre-Filing Workshop-Free

    Event Details

    Thursday, July 11, 2024 | 1pm-5pm MDT
    Ada County Victim Services Center, 417 S 6th Street, Boise

    Idaho Legal Aid Services will hold a pre-filing workshop for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault to provide assistance in filling out forms associated with divorce, custody, child support and protection orders. The event will be held at the Ada County Victim Services Center, 417 S 6th Street, Boise from 1:00 to 5:00 pm on July 11, 2024.  Call 208-577-4400 to RSVP.

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      Sexual Violence

      Idaho Legal Aid Provides Confidential Legal Help to Sexual Violence Survivors:

      Sexual Violence is any behavior or contact of a sexual nature that is unwanted.  A perpetrator may use force, threats, manipulation and/or coercion to commit sexual violence. Sexual violence includes a wide range of behaviors such as:

      • Rape or sexual assault

      • Child sexual assault and incest

      • Sexual assault by a spouse or current partner

      • Unwanted sexual contact or touching

      • Sexual harassment

      • Sexual exploitation and trafficking

      • Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to other(s) without consent

      • Masturbating in public

      • Watching someone engage in private acts without their knowledge or permission

      • Nonconsensual image sharing

       

      Important Information to Know:

      Sexual violence can happen to anyone and by anyone. You may be hurt by someone you know or a stranger at any time in your life. 

      We will protect your privacy. 

      We provide services to all survivors of sexual violence regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, geography, immigration status, ability, appearance, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

      You do not need to report sexual violence to the police to get our help.

      We do not provide criminal public defender services.

       

      Possible Legal Needs:

      • Personal safety at home, work or school

      • Applying for a protective order

      • Filing for divorce or custody of your children

      • Transferring to a different school or other education accommodations

      • Keeping medical, mental health, and education records private

      • Terminating a lease, getting a perpetrator off a lease, or fighting an eviction or discrimination

      • Applying for unemployment benefits, food stamps, Medicaid, or Social Security disability

      • Applying for crime victim compensation

      • Fighting payday loans, hospital bills, or other creditors

      • Fighting identity theft

      • Staying in the U.S. if you are undocumented

      • Representing you regarding your participation as a witness in a criminal prosecution of the perpetrator

      • Discrimination or other employment issues

      • Representation related to a college or university sexual misconduct (Title IX) proceeding.

      With funding from the Office on Violence Against Women, Idaho Legal Aid Services has created the Rural Idaho Survivor Assistance Fund to support and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking. Survivors of violence often need a network of support to help them achieve safety, and we hope to use these funds to help survivors access services that may otherwise be out of reach. If you believe you may benefit from this fund, and want to see if you qualify, please let us know when you contact our hotline. 

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        Stalking

        Idaho Legal Aid Provides Confidential Legal Help to Stalking Survivors:

        Stalking is a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their life or to fear physical injury of themselves or a family or household member. 

        --OR--

        Stalking is also a pattern of behavior that is directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress.  For example, if the behavior seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses a person, it may be considered stalking.

         

        How Many Incidents Create a Pattern of Behavior?

        A pattern of behavior may be as few as two incidents of stalking.

         

        What Kind of Behavior Could Be Considered “Stalking?”

        Stalking can include a wide variety of acts but some acts may be: unwanted phone calls, texts, or contact via social media; unwanted gifts; showing up uninvited to a person’s work, home, or friends or family members’ homes; approaching an individual or his/her friends or family without permission; monitoring your behavior, either in-person or electronically; damaging your property; and/or threating you or your family members.

         

        What if the Behavior is Not Scary to Anyone Else?

        Reasonable fear depends on context and circumstances. In many stalking cases, the behavior of the perpetrator is only scary to the person being stalked because their knowledge of the stalker makes it scary.

        For example, if a person moves and does not reveal their new address or location to their ex-boyfriend or girlfriend, but then that person receives a gift of flowers from that person – this may be terrifying and threatening if the person believed they were safe at their new home and that the stalker could not find them.

         

        Important Information to Know:

        Anyone can be a target for stalking behavior.  You may be targeted by someone you know or a stranger at any time in your life. 

        We will protect your privacy. 

        We provide services to all survivors of stalking, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, geography, immigration status, ability, appearance, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

        You do not need to report the stalking to the police to get our help.

         

        Possible Legal Needs We Can Assist With:

        We do not provide criminal public defender services, but we can provide civil legal help to survivors of stalking, such as the following:

        • Planning for personal safety at home, work, or school
        • Applying for a civil protection order
        • Filing for divorce or custody of your child(ren)
        • Transferring to a different school, class, or other educational accommodations
        • Keeping medical, mental health, and education records private
        • Terminating a lease, getting a perpetrator off a lease, or fighting an eviction or discrimination
        • Applying for unemployment benefits, food stamps, Medicaid, or Social Security disability
        • Applying for crime victim compensation if a criminal case is pending
        • Fighting payday loans, hospital bills, or other creditors
        • Fighting identity theft
        • Staying in the U.S. if you are undocumented
        • Representing you regarding your participation as a witness in a criminal prosecution of the perpetrator
        • Discrimination or other employment issues
        • Representation related to a college or university sexual misconduct (Title IX) proceeding
        • Services related to privacy concerns, such as enrollment in Idaho's Address Confidentiality Program

        With funding from the Office on Violence Against Women, Idaho Legal Aid Services has created the Rural Idaho Survivor Assistance Fund to support and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking. Survivors of violence often need a network of support to help them achieve safety, and we hope to use these funds to help survivors access services that may otherwise be out of reach. If you believe you may benefit from this fund, and want to see if you qualify, please let us know when you contact our hotline. 

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