Preparing a woman for court
- Ensure that all the facts recorded for the lawyer and requested documents are submitted on time.
- Educate the woman about what to expect from the court process.
- Encourage her to attend any available groups on preparing for court.
- Encourage the woman to book time off work well in advance if she is employed outside the home and to arrange for child care and transportation. This will help her focus on the court appearance.
Emotional preparation
- Discuss “what if” scenarios and how she will cope with them.
- Be realistic. Don’t make promises you can’t guarantee, such as “everything will be all right.”
- Help her to prepare emotionally and put self-care strategies in place. This may be the first time she has seen the abuser since separating, and she may be fearful and anxious.
- Help her understand that the abuser may lie, and their lawyer may try to discredit her story. Go over her journal notes and remind her of the importance of documenting everything.
If you are accompanying a woman to court, you may not be allowed to sit beside her in the courtroom. As well, the judge or court official may ask you to leave. Prepare the woman beforehand for these possibilities so she is ready to manage on her own if she has to.