Peace House expands legal services for domestic violence survivors

PARK CITY, Utah — Peace House is expanding its legal services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse and stalking after Legal Advocate Coordinator Michelle Benham became certified as a Domestic Violence Community Justice Advocate.

The certification allows Benham to provide legal advice and assistance related to civil protective orders and civil stalking injunctions, giving clients access to legal support directly through Peace House.

Benham completed the certification through Community Justice Advocates of Utah as part of its Certified Advocate Partners Program, which trains community-based advocates to provide certain legal services to survivors of domestic violence.

Through the program, Benham can advise clients on protective orders and stalking injunctions, help draft documents to obtain, modify, dismiss or extend those orders, prepare clients for hearings and sit with clients at counsel table during court proceedings.

For survivors, access to legal help can be particularly difficult because abuse may leave people isolated from family and friends, without financial resources or struggling to maintain housing or employment, according to Peace House.

“Navigating legal systems is intimidating for most people, let alone if they are actively in danger from an abuser and/or managing the impacts of abuse,” Benham said.

She said Peace House wants people experiencing domestic or sexual abuse or stalking to know that legal support is available in both English and Spanish.

The Certified Advocate Partners Program began operating in Utah in February 2021 through the state’s Legal Regulatory Sandbox, an initiative designed to expand access to legal services. Domestic Violence Community Justice Advocates work with Utahns to explain their legal rights and, when appropriate, assist with protective order requests.

Peace House said the expanded service is intended to help reduce one of the barriers survivors often face when seeking protection through the civil court system.

Those seeking assistance can call Peace House’s 24-hour hotline at 800-647-9161 and request a legal screening. Peace House said someone will respond within 48 business hours.

More information is available at peacehouse.org.