If you are a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, you should contact a local domestic violence or sexual assault services program, the police, a legal aid program, or a lawyer, for support and to see if the law can help in your situation.
What can I do if my spouse or someone I live with is abusing me?
You can get a Family Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA) restraining order. This is an order from the court that tells your abuser to stop the abuse and to leave you alone. A restraining order can require your abuser not to do anything to harass you or your children, to move from your home, and to stay away from your job or school. The police must arrest your abuser if the restraining order is not followed.
Restraining orders also can include temporary custody and parenting time orders. See Question 78 of the Family Law in Oregon booklet* for more information.
Who can get a restraining order? Against whom?
You can get a restraining order if you are in imminent danger of further abuse because your abuser has physically abused you or attempted to physically abuse you; put you in fear of bodily injury; or made you have sexual relations against your wishes by using force or threats of force.
You can get a restraining order against someone you are or were married to; adult relatives; a lover you live with or used to live with (of the same or opposite sex); a person who was your lover (of the same or opposite sex) during the last 24 months; and the other parent of your minor child. If you are under 18, you can get a restraining order against a person who is 18 or older if the person is someone you are or were married to, or if you have ever had a sexual relationship with the person.
What if I am an elderly person or a person with a disability?
If you are 65 years old or older, or a person with a disability who has been the victim of physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, ridicule, harassment, coercion, wrongful taking of money or property, intimidation, or exploitation by sweepstakes promotion, you can get a special Elderly Persons and Persons With Disabilities Abuse Prevention Act (EPPWDAPA) restraining order if you are in immediate danger of further abuse. No special relationship is required between you and your abuser.
How can I get a restraining order?
Forms and instructions for both types of restraining orders are available at all courthouses and at the Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) Family Law website**. Domestic violence shelters and crisis lines and legal aid offices also have information about getting restraining orders. Go to page 43 of the Family Law in Oregon booklet* for information about domestic and sexual violence resources. There is no filing or service fee for these restraining orders.
What can I do if someone is stalking me?
If someone has made you afraid for your physical safety by injuring you, physically or sexually abusing you, committing a crime against you (or your pets or property), threatening you (either by phone, in writing, or in person), following you, watching you, or otherwise stalking you, you may qualify for the protection of a stalking order.
The court has the power to order someone not to contact you when that person has repeatedly (two times or more) stalked you and made you reasonably afraid for your physical safety. The contact must be unwanted.
You can get a stalking order against anyone who has "stalked" you. You do not need to be related to the stalker in order to get protection. You can get a stalking order for your protection or for the protection of a member of your immediate family or household.
Depending on what county you live in, you may get a stalking order through the police or the courts. There are no filing or service fees for stalking protective orders. Forms and instructions for civil stalking protective orders can be found at the OJD Family Law website**.
What protection is available to me if I have been sexually assaulted?
You may be able to get a restraining order against the abuser, if the abuser is someone you are or were married to; an adult relative; a lover you used to live with (of the same or opposite sex); a person who was your lover (of the same or opposite sex) during the last two years; or the other parent of your minor child.
If you do not qualify for a restraining order because you are not related to the abuser or have never had a sexual relationship with him or her, you may be able to get a stalking order. You can only get a stalking order if there have been two or more unwanted contacts by the abuser.
If you do not qualify for a restraining order or for a stalking order, there may be some protection available to you through the criminal justice system if a police report has been made and if the case is being prosecuted.
What other types of help are available to me if I have been physically or sexually abused or stalked?
Financial Help:
If I am a victim, what kind of financial help is available?
If you are a victim of domestic violence and you are pregnant or have minor children who live with you, you may qualify for special financial assistance from the Department of Human Services (DHS). If you are currently a victim of domestic violence, or are at risk of domestic violence, and you need financial help to be safe, you should contact your local DHS office and ask about Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors (TA-DVS). A limited amount of money may be available to help you. You also may ask that the court order your abuser to give you one-time, emergency financial help as part of a restraining order. See the questions “What can I do if my spouse or someone I live with is abusing me?”, “Who can get a restraining order? Against whom?”, and “What if I am an elderly person or a person with a disability?” above.
Housing Help:
What if my landlord treats me differently because I have been a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking?
A landlord may not deny you admission, fail to renew your lease, or evict you because you are or have been a victim. Also, a landlord may not have different rules or standards for you because you are or have been a victim. If you think your landlord has treated you differently because you are or have been a victim, you may want to speak with an attorney.
What safety protections are available to keep me safe in my housing?
You have the right to have your locks changed quickly if you (or a child living with you) have been the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. You must give the landlord notice that you (or a child living with you) are a victim and want your locks changed (written notice is best). You do not need to provide proof that the violence happened. If your landlord does not change the locks promptly, you can change the locks yourself. You must give the landlord a copy of the new key if you change the locks yourself. If the person who has abused you is on the lease with you, you cannot have the locks changed unless you have a restraining order which orders the abuser to move out of your home. The abuser's lease is ended once the court order is final. You are responsible for the cost of changing your locks, but your landlord should not insist you pay for the lock change before changing the locks.
What if I need to move quickly because of the abuse?
You have the right to break your lease or rental agreement with at least 14-days' notice, so you can move quickly if you (or a child living with you) have been the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking with the last 90 days (any time the abuser is in jail or lives more than 100 miles away from you does not count against the 90-day time limit), or if you have a current protection order. You must provide your landlord one of the following: a copy o f a court protective order; a police report; a copy of a conviction for an act of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking; or a statement from a law enforcement officer or other qualified third party (attorney, licensed health professional or victim advocate) stating that you have reported an act of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. If you are mailing this notice to your landlord, you must add three days to your move out date (17-day notice) to allow for the mail to reach your landlord.
Can the landlord evict the abuser if I want to stay in my housing?
If you and your abuser are on the same rental agreement (both tenants) and your abuser commits an act of physical violence related to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, your landlord can give the abuser a 24-hour notice to terminate the abuser's lease. The landlord may not evict you or other tenants.
Employment-Related Help:
If I need to leave my job to stay safe, can I get unemployment benefits?
You may be eligible for unemployment benefits if:
1) You had to quit an Oregon job because you or an immediate family member is or could be a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault, and
2) You left work to protect yourself or an immediate family member from domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault that you reasonably believed would take place if you stayed in your job.
What if I need to take time off because I am a victim of abuse?
If you or your child has been a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, you may be eligible for reasonable time off from work 1) to get law enforcement or legal help, 2) to get medical treatment, counseling, or services from a victim services program, or 3) to move or make your house safer. You must have worked for more than 25-hours per week at your job for at least the last 6 months, and your employer must have 6 or more employees. You must give your employer notice, unless it is not possible to do so. If your employer asks, you must provide proof that you or your child is a victim and that you are taking time off for one of the allowed reasons. Your employer must keep this information private. Leave is unpaid, although you can use vacation leave if you have it available. If your employer will not let you take time off or discriminates against you for taking time off, you may have a legal claim that you should discuss with an attorney, or you may want to file a complaint with the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) at (971) 673-0761.
What if my employer discriminates against me or will not take steps to help me stay safe at work?
An employer may not discriminate against (treat differently from other employees) victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. If a victim asks, an employer must make "reasonable safety accommodations." Examples of reasonable safety accommodations are a changed work telephone number or work station, a transfer to another work site, or a changed schedule. Before making a reasonable accommodation, an employer may ask for proof that the employee is a victim. Employers must keep this information private. If your employer discriminates against you or refuses to make a reasonable safety accommodation, you may want to talk to an attorney or file a complaint with the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) at (971) 673-0761.
Immigration Help:
Are there any immigration laws that can help victims of abuse?
If you are not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and you have been abused in the U.S. by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident who is your current or former (within the last 2 years) spouse, you may qualify for special immigration assistance. You may also qualify for this assistance 1) if you are the child of an abusive parent citizen or lawful permanent resident, 2) if you are the other parent of a child abused by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or 3) if you are the parent of an abusive U.S. citizen child. If you have been substantially abused as a result of a crime and you have or are helping with the investigation or prosecution of that crime, you may be eligible for a U-Visa. These laws are very complicated and you should seek help from an attorney for more information.
Protecting Your Location:
Is there a program that will help me keep my residential address private?
The Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) is a government program that lets eligible victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking keep their residential address confidential by providing them with a substitute address. First-class, certified and registered mail sent to the substitute address is forwarded by the ACP to participants. In general, the substitute address can be used whenever state and local government agencies require an address. This means your residential address should not appear in public records that can be searched by your batterer. For more information about the ACP or how to apply to the program, go to: http://www.doj.state.or.us/crimev/confidentiality.shtml.
This web site has been prepared for general information purposes only. The information on this web site is not legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Also, the law may vary from state to state, and some information on this web site may not be correct for your state. The information contained in this web site is not guaranteed to be up to date. As a result, the information contained on this web site cannot replace the advice of competent legal counsel licensed in your state.
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