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Marissa once lived as a prisoner in her
own home.
Her husband locked her in the house and threatened her if she tried to leave. After years of suffering under his tyranny, Marissa fled, with her two-year-old daughter in her arms, to a shelter for battered women. Her husband immediately retaliated by filing a lawsuit seeking to take her daughter away from her.
We met Marissa at the Bronx Family Justice Center. Within days of speaking with an inMotion staff attorney, Marissa’s case was assigned to a caring team of pro bono lawyers. Guided by inMotion's experienced staff attorneys, they helped her break free from her abusive marriage and win full custody of her daughter. The process was long, but Marissa and her legal team remained focused and committed.
Today, Marissa lives in a new apartment and was recently accepted into a dental hygienist program. Her daughter, now six-years old, is a thriving first-grader.
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Did you know?
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- Women living in poverty experience significantly higher rates of domestic violence.
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- More than 80% of low-income people in New York State have no access to a lawyer when they need one.
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- There are fewer than 200 attorneys at legal services agencies in New York City offering free legal help on family and immigration matters.
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| Harnessing the power of volunteers, last year inMotion’s small legal staff of 15 delivered more than 110,000 hours of free legal services to women in need—the equivalent of 55 full-time legal professionals. |
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How can you help?
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| $5,000 |
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Extensive legal training and education for 20 pro bono lawyers.
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| $2,500 |
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Telephone screening and intake for 50 women seeking free legal services.
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| $1,000 |
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Guidance to 4 women forced to go to court without lawyers.
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| $500 |
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Matching of 4 women with their teams of volunteer lawyers.
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| $250 |
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Advice about legal options to 2 women.
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| $100 |
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Process service cost to notify batterers to come to court
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| $50 |
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Child care costs for a client's full day in Family Court |
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Last updated 11/13/2012 |
