RFTA’s Four Areas of Expertise

At Rise From The Ashes, we strive to assist financially struggling individuals who are leaving an abusive relationship, with civil legal matters such as divorce and custody. It does not matter how many times someone tries to leave an abusive relationship, if they can’t afford to get a divorce, they will never truly be free. To make matters worse, if they can’t afford an attorney to assist them in the custody issues of their children, they will likely set aside concerns of their own personal safety, and choose to re enter the abusive relationship for fear of leaving their children alone with the abuser. Abused individuals are, for all intents and purposes, hostages in these situations – not only to their abuser, but to the legal system as well.

Obtain Custody Of Their Children

Securing the safest home possible for their children

Get Divorced

Severing the relationship in the eyes of the law.

Legally Separate Their Finances

Allowing them to have a fresh start on their own financial foundation

Counseling

Making sure that they are comfortable and supported throughout the legal process

The Process/Services

Here are RFTA when we receive a referral from a shelter or established organization about an individual in their care who is living at or near the poverty line and in need of legal representation to leave an abusive relationship, we bring a whole team up behind them. From counselors and attorneys, to a comforting court companion, we make sure that not only are they well represented, but that they are well cared for too.

When a person has made the brave decision to leave an abusive relationship and is currently taking the steps necessary in order to regain control of their life, the agency that is assisting them in those steps will reach out, and submit their intake paperwork to us. We will assess their situation and see if we might be able to provide them with the legal representation necessary to sever the legal ties that are still binding them to the relationship.
After acceptance of a client’s case, RFTA will contact our partnering attorneys, and attempt to secure legal representation for them.
Next, the client will meet with an RFTA intake coordinator. Together they will discuss what has transpired in the past, their current situation, and any fears they might have. They will come up with a list of goals that they would like to achieve through the legal process and discuss how best to facilitate these needs to their attorney.
At this stage, a client, along with a staff member from RFTA, will meet with the attorney who will be representing the case. The client will also be assigned a court companion, a mentor, and a financial adviser.
From here on out the survivor will be working with their team to sever the legal ties that are binding them to an abusive relationship.

*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.*