Last updated: May 20, 2026
Urgent help first
If you or your child are in immediate danger, call 911. If you can call safely, tell the dispatcher that domestic violence is involved and that children may be present.
For confidential help in New Jersey, call the state domestic violence hotline at 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). New Jersey says this hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can connect callers with crisis help, referrals, and advocacy. If speaking is not safe, use a safer phone or computer when possible and consider the National DV Hotline chat or text option.
If you are Deaf or hard of hearing, the NJCEDV helplines page lists a national domestic violence videophone line for Deaf survivors at 1-855-812-1001. If you feel at risk of self-harm or cannot calm a crisis, call or text 988 Lifeline.
Bottom line
New Jersey has a real domestic violence help system, but it is split across hotlines, county programs, courts, legal aid, housing systems, benefit offices, and child care agencies.
A domestic violence advocate may be able to help you think through shelter, transportation, court protection, child safety, benefits, work leave, and safe communication. This guide is not legal advice or a safety plan. It is a practical map so you know which door to try first and what to ask for.
For broader support beyond safety needs, see ASMOM’s domestic violence hub and the New Jersey state guide, New Jersey help.
Where to start in New Jersey
When you are scared, tired, or trying to protect children, it is easy to start with the wrong office. Use the safest option for your situation.
If home is unsafe now
Call 911 if danger is immediate. If you can plan one step ahead, call 1-800-572-SAFE and ask for a local advocate, shelter screening, and help with next steps.
If you need court protection
Use the NJ Courts DV page to understand temporary and final restraining orders. During court hours, contact the Family Division. After hours, go through local police.
If you need shelter
Start with the statewide hotline or search county DV programs. These programs can explain what is open, what is safe, and what to bring.
If you need food or cash
Use NJHelps for SNAP, WFNJ/TANF, GA, and NJ FamilyCare screening. Tell the county if abuse is affecting child support, work activity, mail, or safe contact.
For related ASMOM guides, keep local resource help, emergency bills, and New Jersey legal help nearby.
Quick reference table
| Need | Best first door | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danger right now | 911 | Ask for emergency help and say domestic violence is involved. | Use the safest way to call. Do not wait for documents. |
| Confidential DV support | 1-800-572-SAFE | Ask for a local advocate, shelter screening, and safety options. | Bed space and local services can change by day. |
| Restraining order | Family Division or police | Ask how to file for a Temporary Restraining Order. | A final order hearing is a court process; legal help can matter. |
| Safe address | Address Confidentiality Program | Ask whether ACP fits your situation after relocation. | It does not erase addresses already in public records. |
| Food, cash, health coverage | NJHelps | Ask about SNAP, WFNJ/TANF, GA, and NJ FamilyCare. | County follow-up and documents are often required. |
| Child care | ChildCareNJ / CCR&R | Ask about CCAP, provider search, and safe transfer needs. | Rules and document needs can vary by family situation. |
Restraining orders in New Jersey
New Jersey courts say a person dealing with domestic violence can apply for a restraining order. You may qualify based on the relationship, such as a spouse, former spouse, household member, person you share a child with, person you are expecting a child with, or someone you had a dating relationship with.
You can apply in person or by phone in the county where you live, where the other person lives, where the incident happened, or where you are staying. During weekdays, court offices are generally open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If court is closed, New Jersey courts say to go to the local police department to file a complaint.
A Temporary Restraining Order, often called a TRO, can be issued without the other person present. If the TRO is granted, another hearing is scheduled. A Final Restraining Order, often called an FRO, can address protection, custody, child support, parenting time, and other issues. New Jersey courts say an FRO is permanent unless changed by the court.
Legal reality check
This guide cannot tell you whether to file, what to say in court, or whether to dismiss an order. For legal help, contact LSNJ restraining orders, your county domestic violence program, or a private attorney. If custody, immigration, housing, or criminal charges are involved, get legal advice as soon as possible.
| Step | Where it happens | What to prepare | Ask for help with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ask about a TRO | Family Division or local police after hours | Dates, incidents, children’s needs, safe contact details | Filing by phone, interpreter help, advocate support |
| Review temporary terms | Court or police process | Safe address, school and child care pickup, needed belongings | Custody, parenting time, no-contact, weapons, housing |
| Prepare for FRO hearing | Superior Court | Texts, photos, reports, witnesses, medical notes if safe to gather | Legal aid, adjournment questions, safe waiting area |
| After an order | Court, police, child’s school | Copies of the order and safe pickup instructions | School safety plan, address protection, child support |
Shelter, housing, and safe places to stay
The New Jersey Division on Women funds domestic violence programs that can provide or connect survivors with housing, shelter, rental help, basic needs, emergency response, legal advocacy, translation, transportation, counseling, children’s services, and more.
Use the DCF service list or the county program search to find the lead program near you. If you are not sure which county to call, start with 1-800-572-SAFE and ask to be routed.
If you rent and need to leave because staying is unsafe, ask a legal aid attorney or advocate about the New Jersey Safe Housing Act. Legal Services of New Jersey explains that this law may let a domestic violence victim or a child of the victim end a lease early when the legal requirements are met. Do not guess on the paperwork; ask LSNJ safe housing for guidance before giving notice if you can.
If you live in subsidized housing, public housing, or a voucher unit, ask the housing authority about emergency transfer options and protections related to domestic violence. For general rent, shelter, food, utilities, and local referrals, NJ 211 can help you find nearby programs while you work with a DV advocate.
Plan B if there is no shelter space
Ask the advocate what options exist today: hotel placement, nearby counties, transportation help, safety planning without shelter, legal steps, or help contacting trusted family in a safer way.
For broader housing information, see ASMOM’s housing assistance guide.
Money, food, health coverage, and victim compensation
Domestic violence can cut off income, food, transportation, child care, documents, and safe mail. Tell each office that domestic violence affects your case.
NJHelps can screen and start applications for SNAP food help, Work First New Jersey cash assistance, General Assistance, and NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid. If you apply for WFNJ/TANF and abuse makes child support cooperation, work activity, appointments, or contact unsafe, ask about the Family Violence Option or good-cause rules. For general benefits background, see SNAP help, TANF cash help, and Medicaid help.
The New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Office may help eligible crime victims with certain costs. The VCCO victims page lists possible compensation areas, including medical, counseling, relocation, funeral, lost earnings, loss of support, daycare, domestic help, transportation, and certain other costs. VCCO rules include reporting and filing time limits, with good-cause exceptions in some cases. Apply online through the VCCO application page or ask a victim-witness advocate for help.
| Program | What it may help with | Where to start | Important caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNAP | Food benefits on an EBT card | NJHelps or county social services | Ask about faster processing if you have very low resources. |
| WFNJ/TANF | Cash help and support services for eligible families | NJHelps or county social services | Ask about domestic violence good-cause or waiver issues. |
| NJ FamilyCare | Free or low-cost health coverage | NJHelps or NJ FamilyCare | Adult and child rules can differ. |
| VCCO | Crime-related costs if eligible | VCCO online or paper claim | Keep receipts, reports, bills, and safe contact information. |
| Child support | Support order, enforcement, or modification | NJ Child Support or court | Ask about safety and good cause before opening a case if danger may rise. |
If child support is part of the problem, do not push yourself into unsafe contact. Read ASMOM’s child support help guide and ask legal aid or a DV advocate before taking steps that could expose your location.
Work, school, and child care when abuse disrupts life
New Jersey workers who are dealing with domestic or sexual violence may have more than one work-related protection. The NJDOL survivor page says some workers may use up to 40 hours of earned sick leave, cash benefits through Temporary Disability or Family Leave Insurance, and up to 20 days of unpaid job-protected leave under the New Jersey SAFE Act. Eligibility varies, so check the state page and keep any papers you safely can.
If you need time off for court, medical care, counseling, relocation, child safety, or legal steps, ask your employer only for what is needed and safe to share. If your employer refuses or threatens you, contact legal aid or the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights if discrimination may be involved.
For child care, New Jersey’s CCAP page says the Child Care Assistance Program helps some income-eligible parents who are working, in school, or in training. It is handled by local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies. If you must change providers because of safety, ask your CCR&R what documents they need and whether they can help you find a safer provider.
If you are also pregnant, postpartum, or dealing with workplace rights, ASMOM has guides for child care help, NJ mental health, and NJ workplace rights.
Privacy, safe mail, and documents
Ask an advocate before changing addresses, benefits accounts, school pickup lists, or court papers. Small details can expose a location. New Jersey’s Address Confidentiality Program can provide a legal substitute address for certain survivors and qualifying people. The state says ACP is meant to protect a residential, work, or school location as part of a broader plan, but it cannot remove addresses already in public records.
Bring documents only if you can do so safely. Help is still worth asking for if you left without papers. Many agencies can help replace documents or explain safer ways to submit proof.
| Item | Why it helps | If you do not have it |
|---|---|---|
| ID for you | Benefits, shelter intake, court, banking | Ask about replacement ID or alternate proof. |
| Children’s birth certificates | School, benefits, custody, health care | Ask school, county office, or advocate what can be used temporarily. |
| Benefits cards or case numbers | SNAP, Medicaid, child care, cash help | Call the office from a safe phone and ask how to secure the case. |
| Lease or housing papers | Rent help, emergency transfer, safe housing questions | Ask landlord-tenant legal aid before contacting a landlord if unsafe. |
| Texts, photos, reports | May help court or VCCO claims | Do not risk harm to collect proof. Ask an advocate first. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for perfect proof. You can ask for hotline, shelter, legal, and benefit help even if your documents are not complete.
- Using unsafe contact details. Before filing forms, ask how the agency will contact you. Use a safe phone, email, mailing address, or advocate contact when appropriate.
- Missing court. If you have a hearing and cannot attend because of child care, illness, transportation, or safety, call the court as early as you can and ask what options exist.
- Assuming benefits rules are the same for everyone. Domestic violence, immigration status, disability, pregnancy, children’s ages, work history, and county practice can change the next step.
- Calling child support without safety advice. Child support can help, but it can also raise risk in some cases. Ask about good cause and safe address options.
What to do if you are denied, delayed, ignored, or overwhelmed
If a hotline is busy, call again from a safe phone or try the county domestic violence program. If a benefits office asks for papers you cannot safely get, say that domestic violence is affecting your ability to provide documents and ask for a supervisor, advocate, or written list of acceptable alternatives.
If a court, landlord, school, employer, or benefits office gives confusing instructions, write down the date, name, phone number, and what was said. Ask for the instruction in writing. Then contact legal aid, your county DV program, or NJ 211 for a second door.
For broader appeals and benefits problems, ASMOM’s application guide can help you organize next steps.
Short phone scripts
Calling the domestic violence hotline
“I am a single mother in New Jersey. I need confidential help. I may need shelter or safety planning, and I need to know what help exists in my county. Can you connect me with a local advocate?”
Calling Family Division
“I need to ask about filing for a Temporary Restraining Order. I need a safe way to give my contact information. Can you explain how to file by phone or in person today?”
Calling county social services
“I am applying for SNAP or WFNJ. Domestic violence is affecting my housing, mail, child support, and documents. Can I speak with someone about good cause, safe contact, and urgent need?”
Calling child care help
“I need child care help, and safety is part of the reason. Can you tell me how to apply for CCAP, change providers safely, and submit documents without exposing my location?”
Resumen en español
Si usted o sus hijos están en peligro inmediato, llame al 911. Para ayuda confidencial sobre violencia doméstica en New Jersey, llame al 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). Puede pedir ayuda para refugio, apoyo local, corte, transporte, beneficios, comida, cuidado de niños y seguridad.
Si necesita una orden de restricción, comuníquese con la División de Familia de la corte durante horas laborales. Si la corte está cerrada, la policía local puede ayudarle a iniciar el proceso. Si necesita comida, dinero o seguro médico, use NJHelps y diga si la violencia doméstica afecta su caso.
Esta guía es información general. No es consejo legal ni un plan de seguridad. Si puede, hable con una defensora de violencia doméstica o una oficina de ayuda legal.
FAQ
What number should I call for domestic violence help in New Jersey?
Call 1-800-572-SAFE (7233) for the New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline. It is listed by the state as a 24/7 confidential hotline for crisis help, referral, and advocacy.
Can I get a restraining order if I have children with the abuser?
New Jersey courts say a person can apply based on several relationships, including someone you have a child with or are expecting a child with. Ask the Family Division or legal aid about your exact situation.
Can a restraining order include custody or child support?
New Jersey courts say a final restraining order can address child custody, child support, and parenting time. It is smart to ask legal aid or a DV advocate for help before the hearing.
Can I leave my lease because of domestic violence?
New Jersey has a Safe Housing Act that may let some domestic violence victims end a lease early when legal requirements are met. Talk with Legal Services of New Jersey or a DV advocate before sending notice if you can.
Can I get food, cash, or health coverage while dealing with abuse?
Yes, you can apply for SNAP, WFNJ/TANF, General Assistance, and NJ FamilyCare through NJHelps. Tell the office if domestic violence affects documents, work, child support, mail, or safe contact.
What if I do not have my documents?
Ask for help anyway. Explain that you left because of safety and cannot safely get certain papers. Advocates, courts, benefit offices, and legal aid may be able to explain safer proof options.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified May 20, 2026, next review August 20, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.