Virtual Q and A for Massachusetts Community Advocates on Protective Orders and Family Law Questions During Covid Pandemic

On May 27, 2020, the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission sponsored a virtual question and answer session for community advocates in Massachusetts about protective orders, family law questions, and accessing Massachusetts courts for protective orders and family law help during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presenters included staff from the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, Boston University School of Law, the Lawrence Court Service Center of the Massachusetts Trial Court, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, Rosie's Place and the Volunteer Lawyers Project

Attached is a powerpoint for the first presentation.

Here are some additional sources for legal information and referral:

• Mass Legal Help:  www.masslegalhelp.org/covid-19  (see the topic  links in the left sidebar).

  • Legal information about a wide range of legal issues, including housing, family law, unemployment, the courts and more.

• Massachusetts Court System webpage: www.mass.gov/guides/court-system-response-to-covid-19

  • Trial Court Help Line -- (833) 912-6878
  • Trial Court information about domestic violence and sexual assault resources: www.mass.gov/guides/court-system-response-to-covid-19#-domestic-and-sexual-violence-

• Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder: www.MassLRF.org, or from the Find Legal Help link on Mass Legal Help.

  • To find contact information for the civil legal aid program that serves your region.  Also has contact information for other legal help resources, including nonprofits with legal programs, government hotlines, court based programs, the private bar and other sources of legal help.
  • Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime:  www.MassCLAVC.org

• Massachusetts Trial Court Law Library: www.mass.gov/ask-a-law-librarian or from the link in the right sidebar on Mass Legal Help.

  • Can get legal information by phone, email, chat/text.

• Mass Legal Answers Online: www.MassLAO.org

  • Online advice from a volunteer attorney.

• Call Safelink (877) 785-2020 to be connected with a domestic violence or sexual assault program.

• Call 211 for referrals to financial resources and help with basic needs.  Or, Ask MOVA, www.mass.gov/orgs/askmova to find resources of victims of crime, doemstic violence and sexual assault.