Legal services

Tubman offers legal help to people who are victims of domestic violence. This includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, or terroristic threats. We offer legal assistance free of charge for Orders For Protection, and help in explaining the court process and legal proceedings.

In criminal cases, a Tubman advocate will talk to the police to get all the necessary information, and help throughout the court proceedings. Tubman also offers lawyers at Order For Protection (OFP) hearings free of charge to victims of domestic abuse.

Tubman legal advocates can help in civil court in Washington, Hennepin, and suburban Ramsey counties, and criminal court in Washington and suburban Ramsey counties.

The law defines domestic abuse as physical abuse, sexual abuse, or terroristic threats. In order for Tubman's legal advocates to help, one must be experiencing some form of domestic abuse. Emotional abuse is not considered domestic abuse under the law.

Family members or people living with an abuser can ask the court for an OFP. The relationship must be one of the following:

• Wife, husband, ex-wife, ex-husband
• Parent, child, or any blood relative
• Girlfriend, boyfriend, domestic partner, ex-girlfriend, ex-boyfriend
• Persons who live together (roommates)
• Persons who used to live together
• Persons who have a child or an unborn child in common

Tubman will help anyone, male or female, who is experiencing domestic abuse. To learn more, you can read more about Tubman's Legal Services in the Need Help section. Tubman also has answers to frequently asked questions, an explanation of the legal process, how to tell if you qualify for protection, what to expect in court, and how to get a legal advocate to help you.