Legal Assistance & Advocacy Programs (Alternatives to Domestic Violence)
(201) 336-7575
Hackensack
Bergen County's Alternatives to Domestic Violence offers Legal Assistance and Advocacy Programs for survivors and victims of domestic violence. ADV's team of trained legal advocates provide free services and information to victims of domestic violence seeking civil legal remedies and protections against future abuse.
Are you looking to...
Understand what a domestic violence restraining order means?
Learn more about what happens in a civil court proceeding?
Find free or low-cost legal representation for restraining order hearings?
Explore community resources for family law and immigration cases?
ADV's Legal Assistance and Advocacy Services include:
Court Preparation
Our court preparation services assist survivors who are interested in or have filed a temporary restraining order (or protective order) in civil court. Our trained legal advocates provide survivors with one-on-one orientation to the process of obtaining both temporary and/or final restraining orders Bergen County, review safety concerns, and linkage survivors to other community resources. To learn more or sign up for services, call the ADV main line: 201-336-7575.
Court Accompaniment
Our court accompaniment services are available to plaintiffs seeking Temporary/Final Restraining Orders in Bergen County Superior Court. Our trained advocates connect with survivors the day of their restraining order hearing, provide them with legal education and emotional support, and linkage them to community resources. Court accompaniment can be requested in advance by calling ADV's main line: 201-336-7575.
Domestic Violence Legal Advocacy Project (DVLAP)
This special program allows ADV's legal advocates to screen survivors of domestic violence for their eligibility to receive pro bono legal representation in an upcoming restraining order hearing. DVLAP Screening appointments can be requested by calling ADV's main line: 201-336-7575.
Information and Referrals
ADV's team of advocates can provide clients with information and referrals to community partners that may assist with family law rights, such as relating to child custody and visitation, establishing parentage, child support and spousal support, divorce, and legal separation. We can also provide immigrant clients with referrals, advocacy, and help in assessing what immigration relief they might qualify for as victims of domestic violence. To learn more, please contact ADV's main line: 201-336-7575.
Our commitment to inclusion and equity
ADV welcomes everyone –and we open our doors to individuals who reach out to us from different cultures, race and ethnicities, from a variety of religious backgrounds, folks with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, folks with hidden or visible disabilities. It is our hope to provide you with the resources you need, and if not, guide you in the right direction and advocate on your behalf.
Many of our services are readily available in English, Spanish, and Korean. For all other languages, interpretation services are available to better assist you.
For more information about ADV's programs and services, visit our official website.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse in a relationship and wish to speak to someone, please contact ADV's 24/7 Confidential Crisis Hotline: 201-336-7575.
| Eligibility | ADV services all persons residing, working, or attending school in Bergen County. Our programs cater to all adults 18+ impacted by domestic violence or dating abuse. All survivor services are free of cost. Sliding scale is applied to all services for persons who used force or are court-ordered to our Abuse Intervention Programs. Alternatives to Domestic Violence (ADV) is a division of the Bergen County Department of Human Services. |
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Last Updated: 09/07/23