Protecting Victims

Legal aid from 603 Legal Aid and NH Legal Assistance helped Emma protect herself and her sons from an abusive home

Since she was a child, Emma dreamed about being in the Army. She enlisted at age 17, and started basic training a week after she finished high school.

“Both of my grandfathers and some of my uncles served in the military, and my older sister joined the Navy” Emma said. “Joining the Army was a chance for me to go out on my own and be a part of something bigger.”

Unfortunately, an injury a year later left Emma discharged from duty. She worked for a while, married a man named Paul, and went to college thanks to support from the GI Bill. She had to stop attending college when she had a high-risk pregnancy with their first of two sons.

Paul physically and sexually abused Emma throughout their relationship. She put up with it at first because she felt dependent on him financially. However, in late 2019, when she saw Paul hit her 3-year-old son for not getting dressed fast enough, she knew she had to act. The next time Paul was at work, Emma packed up all of his things and put them outside. She then told Paul he was no longer welcome in their home.

“I felt a range of emotions,” Emma said. “There was the panic and fear that came from seeing Paul do this to our son, followed by a sense of short-lived peace once we watched him finally drive away.”

Emma obtained a court-issued domestic violence protective order against Paul with the help of state child welfare officials. When Emma sought an official divorce and parenting plan, she doubted she could get the legal protections she needed, as Paul had a lawyer representing him.

“I didn’t have any money to hire a lawyer,” she said. “And there were so many papers involved I had no idea how to fill out. The people at Waypoint suggested I look up New Hampshire Legal Assistance, so I decided to give that a shot.”

“NHLA cannot take all of the cases that are referred to us because of our limited staff,” said NHLA attorney, Jessica Erazo. “We prioritize cases with the highest potential for lethal violence. Given the severity of the sexual abuse allegations as well as sexual assault and violence against Emma, I knew NHLA should take this case.”

As Emma’s son shared more about the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, Emma became more determined to keep both children as safe as possible.

“Jessica even had witnesses come in and testify in support of me,” said Emma. “I wouldn’t have had the resources for that on my own.”

In April, Emma received final orders for the divorce and parenting case. The orders require Paul to provide child support and complete counseling and parenting classes before he can see the boys again. Jessica also encouraged Emma to see if the VA would increase her disability benefits. After some communication with the VA, Emma’s benefits were increased to the maximum allowance, a change Emma calls, “a huge stress relief.”

“None of this would have been possible without Jessica’s help,” she said. “She was always there for me in court, and I felt so much more comfortable and confident knowing she had my back.”

The last three and a half years have been difficult for Emma, but she feels stronger than ever after standing up to protect herself and her kids: 

“I’m a different person than I was three years ago,” she said. “I don’t feel like a victim anymore.”

Marissa was working for a construction company in the small North Country town where she lives, and after a while she began dating the owner. Over the five years they dated, he became increasingly abusive, first verbally, emotionally and mentally, then physically and financially. He isolated her and withheld her paychecks. He stalked her. He told her she couldn’t call the police, because if anything happened to him, all of the employees would be out of work, and it would be her fault.

“I believed his lies that I wasn’t worth anything,” she said. “I was lost, scared, and confused – without family or friends, money or any kind of resources to get out from under his grip.”

That changed after two long days of terror.

Angry that Marissa wasn’t responding to his repeated text messages, her abuser broke into her house and assaulted her. While she was running errands the next day, he tried to run her car off the road. She hid in an acquaintance’s garage for hours. When she finally went home, she boarded up the doors for safety.

It didn’t protect her.

Her abuser kicked in the door and charged her, slamming her head into a brick fireplace, strangling her, and threatening to kill her. He fled after she called 911. The next morning, however, he found out where her children were attending summer camp and went there, knowing she’d be there to take her kids home.

Frantic, Marissa went to the police. They found her abuser sitting on her porch, having broken a second door.

With help from New Hampshire Legal Assistance, Marissa obtained a permanent restraining order, restitution for his damage to her home, and compensation for lost wages.

“I would not be in the position I am now without NHLA’s help,” Marissa said. “I won’t say there was no fear after I was granted the restraining order, but at least I knew that someone was behind me, able to stand up for me when I was weak, able to fight a legal battle for which I did not have the money, and helped me hold my head high and face my abuser in court.”

It was the first step in building a new life for herself, and stepping into a position of leadership in her community.

Marissa started her own contracting business and recently completed her first project, remodeling Waterville Valley Resort’s base lodge.

“I felt hopeless and alone, and I could have just disappeared, taken my children, left the state and hid as I always hid when I got beat, when he threatened my life. But you cannot hide and also succeed in life.”