Last updated: June 19, 2026
Urgent help first
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911. If it is not safe to talk, follow the dispatcher’s instructions as best you can.
For confidential domestic violence help, call the National Hotline at 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or use online chat. In North Dakota, a local domestic violence or sexual assault advocate can help you think through shelter, court options, children, transportation, and safer next steps.
Use the NDDSVC directory to find a North Dakota advocacy center. If you do not know who to call, dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 through FirstLink. If you or your child is in a mental health crisis, call or text 988 Lifeline.
If your phone, computer, car, email, cloud account, or location may be monitored, use the safest contact method you can. That may mean a trusted phone, a library computer, an advocate’s office, or calling from a safe public place. Do not make sudden digital changes if that could increase danger.
Bottom line
Domestic violence help in North Dakota usually starts with a local domestic violence or sexual assault advocate. Advocates can talk with you about safety, shelter, protection orders, legal referrals, benefits, housing, medical needs, children, pets, and support after abuse.
This guide is general information, not legal advice or a safety plan. Every situation is different. A trained advocate, legal aid office, court clerk, law enforcement officer, benefits worker, or licensed professional can help with the facts of your case.
For non-abuse-specific help, start with ASMOM’s North Dakota hub or North Dakota help. Use this page for domestic violence-specific safety, court, housing, legal, and benefit steps.
Where to start in North Dakota
You do not need to know the right program name before you ask for help. Start with the safest contact you can make. You can ask for help even if you are not ready to file a police report, leave the relationship, go to court, or tell family members.
If you need safety
Call a local advocacy center through the NDDSVC directory. Say you need to speak with an advocate about safe options for you and your children.
If you need shelter
Ask an advocate about shelter, motel help if available, transportation, children’s needs, pets, medicine, disability needs, and backup options if the first shelter is full.
If you are Native
Call or text 844-762-8483 for StrongHearts, a Native-centered helpline. The First Nations resource page may also help.
If you need court help
Ask an advocate or legal aid about protection orders before filing if you can do so safely. The court order page explains civil protection order options.
Quick reference: who to contact first
| Need | Start here | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate danger | 911 | Say where you are and whether children, weapons, injuries, or threats are involved. | 911 is for emergencies, not ongoing advocacy. |
| Safety or shelter | Local DV/SA advocate | Ask for confidential help with shelter, transportation, court, and child needs. | Shelter space and funding can change quickly. |
| General referrals | FirstLink 211 | Ask for domestic violence, housing, food, utility, and child care referrals. | 211 refers you; each program sets its own rules. |
| Protection order | Advocate, court, or legal aid | Ask which order may fit and what forms are needed. | Court staff explain process but cannot give legal advice. |
| Legal questions | ALL ND Victims or LSND | Ask about protection orders, housing, custody, Marsy’s rights, or victim compensation. | Legal services may screen for eligibility and case type. |
Advocates, shelter, and crisis support
North Dakota’s domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy centers can help with safety planning, shelter options, court support, referrals, and support after abuse. NDDSVC says there are 18 DV/SA victim advocacy centers across North Dakota, and you can contact any listed center no matter where you live or how close you are to that location.
North Dakota Health and Human Services says it does not provide direct domestic violence services. Its domestic violence help page points people to 911 for danger, the national hotlines, StrongHearts, NDDSVC, and First Nations Women’s Alliance. That is why a local advocate is often the most practical first call.
If sexual assault is part of what happened, the RAINN resources page can help you find confidential sexual assault support. If the abuse involves dating violence for a teen or young adult, North Dakota HHS also points to Love Is Respect.
Safety note
Phones, shared plans, location sharing, browser history, social media, car apps, and cloud accounts can sometimes be monitored. Ask an advocate about safer ways to call, text, save documents, and make a plan. Avoid steps that could alert the other person before you have support.
Protection orders in North Dakota
A protection order is a civil court order. It may tell another person not to contact you, not to come near your home, work, school, or child care, and not to abuse, threaten, or harass you. The North Dakota Court System lists three civil protection order paths: Domestic Violence Protection Order, Sexual Assault Restraining Order, and Disorderly Conduct Restraining Order.
You can ask a certified domestic violence or sexual assault advocate for help filling out forms. You may also want legal advice before filing if custody, housing, immigration, firearms, criminal charges, Tribal court, out-of-state orders, or shared property are involved.
| Order type | May fit when | Where to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Violence Protection Order | The person is a family or household member and domestic violence happened or is feared under North Dakota law. | Ask an advocate, legal aid, or district court clerk about the petition process. |
| Sexual Assault Restraining Order | The harm involves sexual assault and the relationship does not fit a domestic violence order. | Ask an advocate or legal aid which order may apply. |
| Disorderly Conduct Restraining Order | The conduct involves unwanted acts, words, or gestures that affect safety, security, or privacy. | Ask the court or legal aid how this differs from a domestic violence order. |
Before you file
If possible, talk with an advocate about safe contact information, where papers may be served, school or child care safety, and what to do if the other person reacts badly. This is not about scaring you. It is about planning with support.
Legal help, victim rights, and costs
ALL ND Victims provides legal information, resources, and referrals for North Dakota victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and related crimes. It may also provide direct representation for protection orders, restraining orders, eviction matters, Marsy’s rights, family law matters, and more. It is not a crisis line.
LSND VOCA legal services may help eligible victims of crime with protection orders, custody or divorce matters related to abuse, housing issues, employment issues, victim compensation claims, and safety planning referrals. Legal services may have income, case type, and availability rules.
If there is a criminal case, ask the prosecutor’s victim-witness staff about victim rights, notice, privacy, and restitution. The state victim compensation program may help eligible crime victims with some crime-related costs, but it has rules and deadlines. Ask an advocate or legal aid office before assuming a cost will be covered.
For more state-specific legal starting points, see ASMOM’s legal help page.
Housing, food, child care, health care, and income help
Leaving abuse can affect rent, food, work, child care, health coverage, transportation, and utilities all at once. It is okay to apply for more than one kind of help. North Dakota’s Apply for Help page is the main starting point for several public benefit programs.
If an application asks for information that could expose your location or contact details, tell the worker that you are dealing with domestic violence and ask how the agency can use safe contact, safe mailing, or safe verification. Ask an advocate to help you call if you are worried about what to say.
| Need | Program path | Where to start | Ask this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safe housing | DV shelter, emergency shelter, homeless prevention | Call an advocate, 211, or review ND Housing homeless programs. | Is there a safe shelter or backup option today? |
| Federally assisted housing | VAWA protections | Review ND Housing VAWA housing. | How do I request confidentiality or transfer help? |
| Food | SNAP, WIC, food pantries | Use HHS and ASMOM food help. | Can you screen me for urgent food help? |
| Cash support | TANF and local aid | Apply through HHS or use ASMOM TANF help. | Are there safety or good-cause rules? |
| Child care | Child Care Assistance | Apply through HHS and review child care help. | Can I change providers safely? |
| Health coverage | Medicaid and clinics | Use HHS and ASMOM health coverage. | Can I apply with safe contact? |
Also check ASMOM’s housing help, WIC help, utility help, and transportation help if those are part of your next steps.
Work and unemployment note
North Dakota law has unemployment rules for some separations tied to domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault, including documentation rules. If you left work because of abuse, contact Job Service North Dakota, legal aid, or an advocate before you miss a deadline.
Children, custody, schools, and child support
If children are involved, ask an advocate or lawyer before making big custody, school, child care, or relocation decisions when possible. Domestic violence can affect protection orders, temporary custody requests, safe exchanges, school pickup lists, and communication with the other parent.
North Dakota Child Support can help with child support services, but child support is separate from custody and parenting-time advice. If pursuing support could put you or your child at risk, ask a benefits worker, child support worker, advocate, or lawyer about safety protections before sharing unsafe information.
Use ASMOM’s child support guide for basic state steps, but get legal advice for abuse-related custody, court, or safety questions.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not assume a verbal agreement with the other parent will protect you or your child.
- Do not ignore court papers, even if the other person filed them to scare you.
- Do not use a shared email, phone plan, cloud account, or school portal if it is not safe.
- Do not miss a benefits deadline without calling first to ask for help or an extension.
Documents and information to gather if safe
Only gather documents if it is safe. Do not put yourself or your children in more danger to get paperwork. An advocate can help you decide what matters most and how to keep copies private. ASMOM’s documents checklist can help with broader benefits paperwork.
| Category | Examples | Why it may help |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Photo ID, birth certificates, Social Security numbers, immigration papers if any | Benefits, school, shelter, health care, and court paperwork may ask for ID. |
| Children | School records, child care contacts, custody orders, medical cards | These can help with safe pickup lists, care changes, and benefit applications. |
| Money | Pay stubs, benefit notices, lease, utility bills, bank information | Housing, SNAP, TANF, child care, Medicaid, and utility programs may ask for proof. |
| Abuse records | Police reports, medical records, photos, screenshots, witness names, protection orders | These may help with court, victim compensation, legal aid, or unemployment claims. |
| Safe contact | A safe phone number, email, mailing address, or advocate contact | Programs need a way to reach you without putting you at more risk. |
If you are denied, delayed, ignored, or overwhelmed
Delays and denials happen. They do not always mean you did something wrong. Ask for the decision in writing, the reason, the appeal deadline, and what proof is missing. If it is a safety issue, say that clearly and ask whether there is an emergency process.
For benefits, read notices carefully and call before the deadline. For legal problems, contact an advocate, ALL ND Victims, or legal aid. For housing, call 211 and ask about more than one county or provider. For emotional crisis, contact 988 or your local crisis line. For more appeal basics, use ASMOM’s benefits problem guide.
Backup options
- Ask 211 for food pantries, diapers, gas cards, motel help, and local churches or charities.
- Ask an advocate to call a shelter, legal aid office, or benefits office with you.
- Ask your child’s school social worker about meals, transportation, clothing, and homeless-student support if you lost housing.
- Use ASMOM’s emergency help page for other urgent North Dakota resources.
- Ask a Community Action agency about local help if rent, utilities, or transportation are the barrier.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling an advocate
Hello, I am in North Dakota and I need to speak with an advocate. I have children. I need help thinking through safe shelter, a protection order, and benefits. Calls or texts may not be safe for me. What are my options?
Calling 211
Hello, I am a single mother dealing with domestic violence. I need referrals for safe shelter, food, transportation, child care, and legal help near my county. Please tell me which programs are open today and which ones have backup options.
Calling legal aid
Hello, I need legal help related to domestic violence. I may need a protection order, custody help, housing advice, or victim rights help. Can you screen me for services or refer me to the right office?
Calling a benefits office
Hello, I am applying for help and I am concerned about safety and privacy. Can you explain safe contact options, good-cause rules, and what documents I can provide if I cannot safely get everything right now?
Resumen en español
Si usted o sus hijos están en peligro inmediato, llame al 911. Para ayuda confidencial por violencia doméstica, llame al 800-799-7233 o mande START al 88788. En North Dakota, también puede llamar al 211 o mandar su código postal al 898-211 para pedir ayuda con refugio, comida, renta, transporte, servicios legales y otros recursos.
Si es posible, hable con una defensora antes de presentar documentos en la corte o hacer cambios grandes de vivienda, escuela, custodia o beneficios. Esta guía es información general y no es consejo legal ni un plan de seguridad.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if I am in danger in North Dakota?
Call 911 if there is immediate danger. If you can safely make a confidential call, contact a domestic violence advocate through the NDDSVC directory or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for help thinking through options.
Can a North Dakota advocate help me find shelter?
Yes. Local domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy centers may help with emergency shelter, safety planning, referrals, transportation options, court support, and children’s needs. Availability can change, so ask about backup options.
Can I get a protection order without a lawyer?
Many people ask for protection orders without a lawyer, and North Dakota Courts provides self-help information. Still, legal advice is important if custody, housing, immigration, firearms, criminal charges, or complex facts are involved.
Can domestic violence affect benefits or child support cooperation?
It can. If cooperation with child support or another requirement could put you or your child at risk, tell the worker and ask about safety or good-cause options. An advocate or legal aid office can help you ask.
Where can I get legal help for domestic violence in North Dakota?
ALL ND Victims and Legal Services of North Dakota are two key legal help paths. They may screen for case type, eligibility, and availability. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or a crisis advocate first.
What if I need food, child care, or Medicaid after leaving?
Use North Dakota HHS Apply for Help to apply for public benefits, or contact HHS for help with the application. Tell the worker if you need safe contact, emergency screening, or help getting documents.
What if I left work because of abuse?
Ask Job Service North Dakota, legal aid, or an advocate about unemployment rules and documentation. North Dakota law has special unemployment language for some separations tied to domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault.
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 June 19, 2026, next review September 19, 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.