Last updated: May 20, 2026
Emergency help first
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911. If calling is not safe, try to get to a public place, a trusted neighbor, a hospital, a police station, or another safer place and ask someone to call for you.
For domestic violence help anywhere in Utah, call or text the Utah Domestic Violence LINKLine at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). The Utah LINKLine can connect you with local shelter, advocacy, safety planning, children’s services, and other survivor support.
You can also contact the National Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or use online chat if that is safer for you.
Bottom line for Utah single mothers
In Utah, domestic violence help usually starts with a confidential advocate, not with a long public benefit application. An advocate can help you think through shelter, transportation, children’s needs, protective orders, address privacy, and next steps without forcing you to make every decision at once.
Utah’s state system includes domestic violence shelter programs, the LINKLine, local victim advocates, Utah Courts protective order help, the Safe at Home address confidentiality program, and help from the Utah Office for Victims of Crime. This guide is for general information only. It is not legal advice, safety advice, counseling, or a substitute for talking with a trained advocate or attorney.
If you need broader money, food, housing, child care, or legal help after leaving, keep this page with the main Utah help page and the national domestic violence hub.
Where to start if you are not sure what to do
You do not have to know the name of the right program. Start with the safest contact you can make. If your phone, car, email, bank account, or child’s device may be watched, use a safer phone or computer when possible. A library, clinic, school, trusted friend, advocate office, or public agency may be safer than a shared home device.
If danger is happening now
Call 911. Ask for help getting you and your children to safety. You can also ask whether a victim advocate is available.
If you need shelter
Call or text the LINKLine. Tell the advocate your county, your children’s ages, pets if any, transportation limits, disability needs, and whether it is safe to leave messages.
If you need legal protection
Start with Utah Courts, then ask legal aid or a victim advocate to help you file and prepare for the hearing.
If you already left
Ask about food, cash, child care, Medicaid, address privacy, school safety plans, replacement documents, and safe contact rules.
Quick contact table
| Need | Start here | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate danger | 911 | Ask for emergency help and a victim advocate if one is available. |
| Utah shelter or advocacy | DCFS services | Ask for the nearest domestic violence program, shelter bed, or safe referral. |
| Local food, motel, bills | Utah 211 | Ask about food, transportation, housing, legal, and crisis support near your ZIP code. |
| Native survivor support | StrongHearts | Ask for culturally specific support and referrals. |
| Crime-related costs | victim financial help | Ask if counseling, medical, lost wages, or relocation costs may be covered. |
Shelter, advocacy, and local support in Utah
Utah domestic violence programs may provide emergency shelter, crisis lines, case management, transitional housing, counseling, support groups, transportation, children’s services, food, personal care items, and advocacy. Services vary by county, funding, bed space, and family needs.
Use the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition’s county list to find a nearby domestic violence program, but call the LINKLine if you are unsure where to go. The county list may show shelter programs and system victim advocates. A shelter advocate usually focuses on your safety and support. A system advocate may work through police, prosecutors, or courts and can help you understand the criminal justice process.
Confidentiality note
Utah domestic violence shelter and community advocates generally must keep what you share confidential, with limited exceptions such as mandatory child abuse reporting or a court order. Ask the advocate, “What can you keep private, and what must you report?” before you share details that worry you.
If shelter is full, ask the advocate to check other counties, motel options, transportation help, and a call-back plan that is safe for you. Also keep the Utah emergency help page handy for food, utilities, and local crisis programs.
Protective orders and court help in Utah
A protective order is a court order. It may tell the other person not to contact you, threaten you, come near your home, work, school, or place of worship, or have guns or weapons. A Utah protective order can also temporarily address custody of shared children in some cases.
Start with Utah Courts’ Protection from Abuse page to understand which order may fit your situation. Utah Courts also has a detailed Protective Orders page with filing steps and forms. There is no filing fee or cost for the court forms to ask for a protective order.
Utah Courts says protective order papers can be filed electronically through MyCourtCase, in person, by email, or by mail. A judge usually reviews the request the same day. If the judge grants a temporary order, the court sets a hearing within 21 days. If the judge denies the temporary request, the petitioner can ask for a hearing within five days.
Legal help matters. If your case can be filed in Salt Lake County, Legal Aid Salt Lake may help domestic violence victims with protective orders, child protective orders, dating violence protective orders, and civil stalking injunctions. For other Utah counties, Utah Legal Services explains domestic violence legal remedies and how to apply for help.
Important court reality check
A temporary order is not active against the other person until it is served. Keep copies of orders in more than one safe place. If an order is violated, call law enforcement. Do not rely on this article to decide what to file or what to say in court; ask legal aid, a court self-help contact, or an attorney.
Address safety and Safe at Home
Leaving an abusive partner can create new address, school, and mail risks. Utah’s Safe at Home program can provide a legal substitute address and mail forwarding for eligible survivors of abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, or human trafficking who fear danger if the other person knows where they live.
You cannot apply to Safe at Home by yourself directly. The enrollment page says you must work with a certified program assistant. Eligibility can include living in Utah, having moved recently or planning to move, or already living at an address the unsafe person does not know. Documentation of victimization or threat is required, but Utah says documentation is not the same as legal evidence.
Ask a domestic violence advocate, legal aid office, or certified program assistant whether Safe at Home is right for you. Also ask your child’s school, child care provider, health clinic, benefits office, and court clerk how they handle confidential addresses.
Money, food, medical, and child care help after leaving
Domestic violence can affect income, housing, child care, school, transportation, documents, and health care all at once. Public benefits will not fix every problem, but they can help you stabilize after a move.
| Need | Program path | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Food and basic benefits | Use DWS assistance to apply for food, financial, Medicaid, and child care help. | Rules depend on income, household size, expenses, and required verification. |
| Food quickly | The Utah DWS SNAP page says you can apply even before you have all documents. | Some households may qualify for faster service, but you still need to complete the process. |
| Pregnancy or young children | Utah WIC helps pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children up to age 5. | WIC is nutrition support and referrals, not rent or cash assistance. |
| Work or training | DWS child care assistance may help eligible parents pay for approved care. | Approval, copays, provider rules, and reporting rules can change by case. |
| Online case access | Use myCase to apply or manage many Utah benefits. | Use a safe email and phone number if your account could be monitored. |
For Utah-specific ASMOM guides, see Utah food help, Utah TANF, Utah child care, and Utah WIC guide. For housing next steps, use Utah housing help.
Documents and information to gather if safe
Do not delay leaving because you cannot gather papers. If it is safe, the items below can help with shelter intake, court, benefits, school, and medical care. If not safe, ask an advocate how to replace documents later.
| Item | Why it helps | If you do not have it |
|---|---|---|
| Your ID | Benefits, court, shelter, school, and banking may ask for it. | Ask an advocate or DWS worker what other identity proof may work. |
| Children’s documents | Birth certificates, school records, medical cards, and custody papers can speed up services. | Ask the school, clinic, or vital records office how to replace copies. |
| Orders or reports | Police reports, prior orders, photos, messages, and medical records may help legal or UOVC claims. | Ask legal aid before collecting anything that could put you at risk. |
| Income and expenses | Pay stubs, rent, utilities, child care costs, and child support proof help benefits offices. | Apply first when allowed, then upload or bring documents when requested. |
| Safe contact details | Agencies need a way to reach you without alerting the unsafe person. | Ask about phone, email, mailing, and Safe at Home options. |
Children, school, custody, and child support
If children are involved, ask every helper about child safety, school pickup rules, custody orders, and safe contact rules. A protective order may include temporary child-related terms, but family law and custody can become complicated fast. Use Utah legal aid or legal safety guide to find legal help before making major custody choices.
If child support is part of the picture, safety comes first. Some benefit programs may ask about child support cooperation. If contacting the other parent or opening a child support case could put you or your children in danger, tell the benefits worker and advocate right away. You can also read the Utah child support guide for general steps.
Mental health, medical care, and recovery support
Abuse can affect sleep, work, parenting, school, pregnancy, and health. You do not need to wait until everything is settled before asking for support. A shelter advocate can help you find counseling, a clinic, a support group, or a medical provider. UOVC may also help eligible crime victims with counseling or medical costs when program rules are met.
If you are in emotional crisis or worried you may hurt yourself, call or text 988 for crisis support. For Utah-specific options, keep the Utah mental health guide nearby.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for the perfect plan. A trained advocate can help you make a safer next step even if you are not ready to leave today.
- Using a monitored phone. If the unsafe person tracks your phone, ask about a safer way to call, text, email, or receive mail.
- Skipping the court hearing. If a temporary protective order hearing is set, missing it can hurt your case. Ask legal aid for help preparing.
- Sharing your new address too widely. Ask about Safe at Home and safe address handling before giving your location to schools, agencies, or private companies.
- Missing benefit notices. If you apply for benefits, check safe mail, email, and myCase notices so deadlines are not missed.
If the first option does not work
If the shelter is full, ask the LINKLine to check other counties, transportation, motel support, and waitlists. If legal aid is full, ask Utah Courts for self-help resources and ask a domestic violence advocate whether another clinic or attorney referral is available. If DWS asks for documents you cannot safely get, explain the safety issue and ask what else they can accept.
For extra household support after you are safe, check Utah baby items, Utah furniture help, and Utah transportation help.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling the LINKLine
“I am a single mother in Utah and I may need domestic violence shelter or advocacy. I have children with me. It is safe to call me at this number only at these times: _____. Can you help me find the safest next step?”
Calling legal aid
“I need help with a protective order or stalking injunction. The case may be in _____ County. I have children, and I am worried about contact and custody. What intake steps should I take today?”
Calling DWS
“I left because of domestic violence and need food, medical, cash, or child care help. My contact information must be safe. What can I apply for now, and how can I send documents safely?”
Calling your child’s school
“There is a safety concern involving my child. I need to update pickup permissions and contact rules. What documents do you need, and how can you protect our address and phone number?”
Resumen en español
Si usted o sus hijos están en peligro inmediato en Utah, llame al 911. Para ayuda por violencia doméstica, llame o mande texto a Utah Domestic Violence LINKLine al 1-800-897-LINK (5465). También puede llamar a la Línea Nacional de Violencia Doméstica al 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) o mandar START al 88788.
Un defensor puede ayudarle con refugio, planificación de seguridad, órdenes de protección, transporte, niños, documentos, beneficios y apoyo local. Este artículo es información general, no consejo legal ni plan de seguridad personal.
FAQ: Domestic violence help in Utah
What should I do if I am in danger right now?
Call 911. If calling is not safe, try to get to a safer public place or ask a trusted person to call for you. You can also call or text the Utah LINKLine at 1-800-897-LINK (5465) for domestic violence advocacy.
Can I get shelter in Utah with my children?
Possibly. Utah domestic violence programs may serve victims with children, but bed space and services vary. Call or text the LINKLine and tell them your children’s ages, county, transportation needs, and any disability or language needs.
How do I ask for a protective order in Utah?
Start with Utah Courts’ protective order information, then ask legal aid or a victim advocate for help. Utah Courts says there is no filing fee or cost for the court forms to ask for a protective order.
Can Utah help pay costs after abuse?
The Utah Office for Victims of Crime may help eligible crime victims with some crime-related expenses, such as medical, counseling, lost wages, or other approved costs. Eligibility and documentation rules apply.
How can I keep my new address private?
Ask a domestic violence advocate about Utah Safe at Home. It may provide a substitute address and mail forwarding for eligible survivors, but you must apply through a certified program assistant.
Can I apply for SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, or child care after leaving?
Yes, you can apply through Utah Department of Workforce Services if you meet program rules. Tell the worker if domestic violence affects your documents, child support cooperation, safe contact, or ability to attend appointments.
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.