YWCA Fresh Start start 3:Layout 1 - YWCA Canada

FRESH START This is a very difficult situation to be in. Try to find court services andsupports such as duty counsel lawyers who can provide you withsome assistance.If you are fortunate enough to be able to choose a lawyer, get as muchinformation about the lawyer as you can before making a decision soyou find someone with whom you think you can work.Regardless of your situation, it is important to tell your lawyer thatyou are leaving an abusive relationship. This information will beimportant to your case, but it is also good for the lawyer to know thatyou are dealing with a lot of trauma and stress.Try to remember that your lawyer works for you. If you are not happywith the work your lawyer is doing or if you think she or he is notpaying attention to your abuse, talk to her or him about it.Making decisionsTake the time to gather information before you make any bigdecisions. Make sure you get your information from knowledgeablesources, whether that is a person, a website, a book or some othersource.Television programs are not a reliable source of legal information,and you should not rely on anything you see there to be accurate.You can trust any of the resources listed at the end of this book to beaccurate and to understand the issues involved in an abuse situation.You have many legal rights. You want to make sure that your partnerdoes not intimidate or pressure you into signing any of them away.This book provides basic information about some of your legal rights,which gives you a starting point, but you should get moreinformation before making final decisions about important issues likecustody and access, property division and child or spousal support.You may not want to ask for all that you are entitled to because youare afraid your partner will abuse you more if you dare to ask foranything. You may think you are willing to give up property orfinancial rights if your partner agrees not to fight for custody of thechildren. You may feel that you do not want to hurt your partner bytaking his money or home. You may feel that you do not deserveanything.You may simply not care at the time of separation because gettingaway and finding safety are the only things you care about.57