RFTA Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to receive legal services through RFTA, clients must be coming as a referral from a shelter or other agency we partner with, and must meet the following criteria:

  • Have been working with shelter services or another agency for a period of time before seeking legal services. Examples include counseling, support groups, shelter residency, and participation with the states attorney in prosecution of her abuser. Orders of Protection are excluded from this requirement and are subject to approval on a case-by-case basis.
  • Have applied for, and been denied services through other local legal organizations such as DuPage Legal Aid and Prairie State Legal.
  • Be living at or near the poverty line. We do not count their partner’s income.
  • Be leaving a relationship where physical or sexual abuse has occurred between them and their partner.
  • Has already left the relationship. We may be able to help a client who is still living in the communal home, contingent on them being prepared to formalize a safety plan, secure alternate housing if needed (a shelter is fine), and outlining the beginnings of a future financial independence plan. Orders of Protection are excluded from this requirement.
  • Must be a legal US citizen. As a small volunteer run organization, we are currently unable to represent cases with the added complexity of immigration issues, yet we hope to expand to include those cases in the future.
  • Must have a legal case that will be handled through the court system in DuPage, Will, Kendall, or Kane County.
  • Must be seeking case representation for a divorce or custody agreement.
  • We unfortunately do not represent child support cases outside of a current RFTA divorce or custody case.

RFTA Intake Forms

Downloadable Intake Forms:

If your client meets our eligibility criteria, please have them fill out the intake form above and either email it to us at RFTA.Info@gmail.com or mail it to us at:

PO Box 91 Plainfield Il, 60544

We will review the application and be in contact with you as soon as possible!

*Please be aware that we are currently only able to accept clients who are living at the federal poverty level and meet our eligibility criteria. If your client has an extenuating circumstance please feel free to contact us with details.*