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Did you know that Genesis offers free legal services to clients in Dallas County? The Genesis Legal Department has attorneys on staff that can represent Genesis clients in her family law case.  If you are a woman who has experienced intimate partner violence and is seeking legal services for your divorce, custody case or protective order, follow these steps to schedule an appointment with a Genesis attorney or Genesis legal partner.

Step one: Contact our outreach office at 214.389.7700 and let the receptionist know you would like to request an advocate appointment. The front office will schedule a meeting for you with one of our advocates at our Genesis outreach location, located at 4411 Lemmon Avenue, Suite 201 Dallas, Texas 75219.

Step two: Mention that you need legal services during your appointment with the advocate. An advocate can provide you with information regarding a variety of community resources including housing, employment, financial, legal and more. If you express a need for legal services, the advocate will ask you some questions to determine if the Genesis legal program or another local organization is the best fit for legal services for you and your family.

Step three: If it is determined that your case meets the criteria for our legal program, the advocate will schedule you for a meeting with a Genesis staff attorney and let you know what day and time to arrive for your appointment. If you have an upcoming court hearing, please make sure the advocate is aware.

Step four: Time for your appointment! We recommend arriving a few minutes early to give yourself enough time to fill out the intake paperwork. The form asks for basic information about you and your family to better assists us in addressing your individual legal needs during our meeting. Please make sure to bring copies of any orders from the court.

We know starting the legal process can feel intimidating and scary. Whether the Genesis legal team can provide you with direct representation, brief services, or assist you in finding an attorney through a legal partnership, it is our goal to help our clients successfully navigate the legal system.

Written by Hailey Swanson, staff attorney at Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support.