Journey guide

Escaping Domestic Violence

This guide helps prepare a safer next conversation without asking for identifying details or directing a person to disclose a confidential location.

Safety action

Use a safer contact route now

Call 911 for immediate danger Call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788

If this device, browser, account, or location may be monitored, use a different one. Quick Exit leaves the site but does not erase browsing history or monitoring-app records.

Source checked 2026-08-05. Confirm the current route before travelling.

Ride to Safety on TARC buses (Louisville area)

In immediate danger, call 911. If you are in danger, you can get on any TARC bus and tell the driver: "I need a ride to safety." According to the Center for Women and Families, the driver alerts TARC headquarters, which coordinates a response to get you safely to the Center.

In immediate danger, call 911.

Source: TARC safety page and the Center for Women and Families. Last checked 2026-10-12.

Your plan

5 steps, in the order that works. Select any step for the full instructions.

Do this first. Get emergency help if in danger. More info.
Step 1 of 5. Choose a safer way to contact help. More info.
Step 2 of 5. Speak with a confidential advocate. More info.
Step 3 of 5. Make a plan for your household. More info.
Step 4 of 5. Recover records only when safe. More info.
Step 5 of 5. Agree on a safe follow-up. More info.

Start here

Your first action

Packet

Do this now

If there is immediate danger, call 911. If safe to do so, use a safer device to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

Next: National Domestic Violence Hotline

Call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 — (800) 799-7233

Ask: Ask about confidential local support and a safety plan. Say if a return call, message or voicemail would be unsafe.

Situation: You don't have to do this alone. Start with a safer way to contact confidential support.

What you need to startUse what you have. Missing items do not block the first call.

Have ready if available

A safer device or location to make contact from, if possible
Information about children, pets, medication, or mobility that affects the plan
The safest contact method and time for follow-up
Essential records only when they are safe to access

Missing something? Ask what can be reviewed; do not wait to call.

If the first route fails

If the Hotline cannot confirm a local route or a legal option is needed: Kentucky courts are required to provide a 24-hour access process for orders of protection in every county. The after-hours location or procedure can vary by county. Contact the local circuit court clerk, law enforcement, or a domestic-violence program to confirm the local process. The Kentucky Court of Justice also states that there are no fees or costs for filing a petition. An advocate can help decide whether seeking an order is the right step.

How Kentucky protective orders work (kycourts.gov)

Keep the Hotline and any active safety plan running while exploring the legal route.

Last checked 2026-08-05 · Kentucky · official source: Kentucky Court of Justice — How to Obtain a Protective Order

What remains uncertain: Shelter capacity, advocate availability, legal outcomes, and accommodation for children, pets, disability, or immigration status must be confirmed with the specific provider. A public directory does not confirm that a location is safe or available.

Universal preparation guidance · checked 2026-08-05 · Kentucky

Programs under one organization can differ. Provider information · Methodology

Keep the plan moving

If the first route is closed or you cannot use it

A closed office, unanswered call, or unavailable device does not prove that you are denied or that a service is unavailable. This guide lists some options, not every possible route. If it is safe to do so, ask for another appropriate contact and keep the original task open.

The office or line is closed

Record what failed and when. Use a listed same-day alternative if one exists, and keep the original call or application as a separate follow-up.

See things that may help today

You cannot use the phone or website

Use only a device or helper you believe is safe. Do not copy sensitive details into a shared device. Check for another published channel; if none is listed, that gap remains unknown.

Check the official routes

Related resources can offer another path, but a listing does not confirm current hours, capacity, eligibility, or acceptance. Review related resources.

What this guide cannot promise

Reviewed guidance only. Fees, timelines, eligibility, document substitutes, capacity, and provider practices are not published unless supported by a named source. Confirm current requirements directly.

How to read checked, listed, and unknown informationA listing can stay useful without being provider confirmed.

Checked fact or route: No One Left Outside matched the fact to the named source on the date shown. This is not proof of current availability or provider confirmation.
Directory lead: A listing that may still help remains visible with an honest status such as Possibly active or Needs verification.
PROVIDER CONFIRMED: Only named fields backed by linked first-party provider evidence, integrity checks, and attributed human approval may carry this state. No One Left Outside never infers it from a website, import, likely fit, or contact attempt.
UNKNOWN / Needs verification: No One Left Outside does not know the answer yet. Confirm it directly; this is not a claim that the resource or option does not exist.

Each step in full

The same steps as the plan above, with the instructions for each one.

Do firstGet emergency help if in danger
Sensitive guide · stays in this tab only · nothing is sent
Do this
If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services from a safer location or device if possible.
- Use the emergency panel above; avoid an action that increases immediate danger.
- Quick Exit leaves this page but does not erase history, account activity, or device monitoring.
Sources for this step (each entry states its scope): [1][2]
Ways to get help for this step
- Call 911 for immediate danger
  Use a safer location or device if possible; No One Left Outside cannot assess whether calling is safe or dispatch help.
  Call 911
Limits and what to confirm
- No One Left Outside cannot establish whether this device, location, or contact method is safe.
Why this step is here
Safety comes before documents, accounts, and any decision about leaving.
What was checked, and what is still unknown
Still unknown
- No One Left Outside cannot establish whether this device, location, or contact method is safe.
Back to your plan
Step 1Choose a safer way to contact help of 5
Sensitive guide · stays in this tab only · nothing is sent
Do this
Consider a device and time an abusive person cannot monitor before contacting an advocate.
- Avoid sharing a plan link, leaving it open, or printing it where it could be found.
- Do not suddenly change accounts or tracking settings if doing so could alert someone; discuss the safest sequence with an advocate.
Sources for this step (each entry states its scope): [2][1]
Move on when: you have a contact approach you consider safer, or can ask for help choosing one.
Ways to get help for this step
- National Domestic Violence Hotline — only when safe to call
  When you can make contact more safely, ask a live advocate about technology precautions and a safer way to reconnect. A phone link does not establish device safety.
  Call 8007997233
Limits and what to confirm
- A private browsing window or erased history does not establish safety.
What was checked, and what is still unknown
Still unknown
- A private browsing window or erased history does not establish safety.
Back to your plan
Step 2Speak with a confidential advocate of 5
Sensitive guide · stays in this tab only · nothing is sent
Do this
Use the Hotline's phone, text, or chat route when it is safe to do so.
- Call 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or use the live chat linked on the Hotline page.
- Say whether a return call, text, voicemail, or email would be unsafe. Ask about language and accessibility support.
Sources for this step (each entry states its scope): [1]
Limits and what to confirm
- A confidential conversation does not confirm shelter space, money, transportation, or legal representation.
Why this step is here
Get individualized advice before making changes that could reveal a plan.
What was checked, and what is still unknown
Still unknown
- A confidential conversation does not confirm shelter space, money, transportation, or legal representation.
Back to your plan
Step 3Make a plan for your household of 5
Sensitive guide · stays in this tab only · nothing is sent
Do this
Work with the advocate on what makes staying, leaving, or the next contact safer.
- Discuss children, pets, medication, mobility, travel, and trusted support privately with the advocate.
- Ask for a safe destination and a fallback; do not publish a shelter location or personal details in No One Left Outside.
Sources for this step (each entry states its scope): [1][2]
Move on when: you and the advocate have a next safe action and an alternative if it cannot happen.
Ways to get help for this step
- National Domestic Violence Hotline — only when safe to call
  Ask for individualized safety planning for your household and a fallback. The Hotline does not confirm a shelter bed, ride or financial assistance.
  Call 8007997233
Limits and what to confirm
- No single leaving plan is safe for everyone; available services must be confirmed.
What was checked, and what is still unknown
Still unknown
- No single leaving plan is safe for everyone; available services must be confirmed.
Back to your plan
Step 4Recover records only when safe of 5
Sensitive guide · stays in this tab only · nothing is sent
Do this
Ask the advocate how to handle essential records, money, keys, and account access without increasing danger.
- Do not delay getting safe or return to danger to collect documents.
- Use the legal and housing services the advocate identifies for confidential advice about records, orders, or tenancy.
Sources for this step (each entry states its scope): [1]
Move on when: you have discussed a safer records route or an alternative that does not require returning to danger.
Ways to get help for this step
- National Domestic Violence Hotline — only when safe to call
  Ask how records and account access fit into your safety plan, and about a legal-help referral if needed. Do not return to danger to obtain records.
  Call 8007997233
Limits and what to confirm
- Required records, legal options, and safe recovery methods depend on the situation.
Why this step is here
Document and account changes follow the safety plan.
What was checked, and what is still unknown
Still unknown
- Required records, legal options, and safe recovery methods depend on the situation.
Back to your plan
Step 5Agree on a safe follow-up of 5
Sensitive guide · stays in this tab only · nothing is sent
Do this
Choose how to reconnect with help and what information can safely travel with you.
- Share only what the receiving service needs, directly with that service.
- Keep a written plan or contact only if doing so is safe; ask the advocate for another approach if it could be discovered.
- Choose a safe contact method, name who owns the next action, and write down when to check again.
- Keep a safe copy or reference number for each notice, submission, referral, and instruction so the work can resume without starting over.
Sources for this step (each entry states its scope): [2][1]
Move on when: there is a safe next contact and a fallback if that contact fails.
Ways to get help for this step
- National Domestic Violence Hotline — only when safe to call
  Ask how you can reconnect more safely and what to try if that contact fails. Say if a return call, voicemail, text or email would be unsafe.
  Call 8007997233
Limits and what to confirm
- The safety of a saved or printed record cannot be established by this page.
What was checked, and what is still unknown
Still unknown
- The safety of a saved or printed record cannot be established by this page.
Back to your plan

Sources

These are the recorded source dates, not a fresh check. Each entry names the claim it supports; a listing or contact does not confirm current availability.

National Domestic Violence Hotline — Create Your Personal Safety Plan
Checked 2026-09-07.
https://www.thehotline.org/plan-for-safety/create-your-personal-safety-plan/
- Get emergency help if in danger: The Hotline offers personalized safety planning and live advocates by phone at 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat; immediate danger calls for emergency help.
  Back to Get emergency help if in danger
- Choose a safer way to contact help: The Hotline offers personalized safety planning and live advocates by phone at 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat; immediate danger calls for emergency help.
  Back to Choose a safer way to contact help
- Speak with a confidential advocate: The Hotline offers personalized safety planning and live advocates by phone at 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat; immediate danger calls for emergency help.
  Back to Speak with a confidential advocate
- Make a plan for your household: The Hotline offers personalized safety planning and live advocates by phone at 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat; immediate danger calls for emergency help.
  Back to Make a plan for your household
- Recover records only when safe: The Hotline offers personalized safety planning and live advocates by phone at 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat; immediate danger calls for emergency help.
  Back to Recover records only when safe
- Agree on a safe follow-up: The Hotline offers personalized safety planning and live advocates by phone at 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat; immediate danger calls for emergency help.
  Back to Agree on a safe follow-up
National Domestic Violence Hotline — Internet Safety for Survivors
Checked 2026-09-07.
https://www.thehotline.org/plan-for-safety/internet-safety/
- Get emergency help if in danger: Devices and accounts can be monitored, browsing history cannot be completely erased, and posted personal information can expose location or identity.
  Back to Get emergency help if in danger
- Choose a safer way to contact help: Devices and accounts can be monitored, browsing history cannot be completely erased, and posted personal information can expose location or identity.
  Back to Choose a safer way to contact help
- Make a plan for your household: Devices and accounts can be monitored, browsing history cannot be completely erased, and posted personal information can expose location or identity.
  Back to Make a plan for your household
- Agree on a safe follow-up: Devices and accounts can be monitored, browsing history cannot be completely erased, and posted personal information can expose location or identity.
  Back to Agree on a safe follow-up

Build a handoff packet for a case managerFor a worker, advocate, or outreach team preparing a referral on someone's behalf.

Case manager packet

Build a Escaping Domestic Violence handoff

[aria-labelledby='packet-builder-heading'] fieldset,[aria-labelledby='packet-builder-heading'] button,[aria-labelledby='packet-builder-heading'] label,[aria-labelledby='packet-builder-heading'] [aria-live]{display:none}Choosing packet sections needs JavaScript. You can open the full printable packet and use your browser's Print menu. Before opening, consider whether printing or saving could leave unsafe traces on this device, in a synced account, or in a printer queue.

Choose the sections you can review together in under five minutes. The handoff starts with the first action and ends with a fallback. No One Left Outside does not ask for or store a client name, answers, case notes, or checklist progress.

Include in the packet

What to bring or gatherDocument prompts and recovery optionsOfficial sources and formsOwning agencies, source links, and check datesQuestions to confirmUNKNOWN details to ask an agency or providerIf the first route failsBlockers, alternatives, and recovery actions

First action plus 4 selected sections

Document prompts are preparation—not a verified agency checklist. UNKNOWN means “confirm this,” not “no.” A source link does not confirm eligibility or current availability.

Before the appointment ends

1. Name the next official contact.
2. Choose one UNKNOWN to confirm.
3. Agree on a fallback if the first route fails.

I considered whether printing or saving could leave unsafe traces on this device, in a synced account, or in a printer queue.

Routes whose sources publish 24/7 access

These sources describe the route as available around the clock. A route may be a staffed phone, text, or chat line, a self-service form, or a local process. This is not a live check that someone will answer or that a service has capacity. Read each availability note and confirm the current route when you can.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Mental-health distress, emotional distress, suicide, or substance-use crisis — for you or for someone you are worried about.
Call or text 988 988lifeline.org
Chat at chat.988lifeline.org. Text and chat are published in Spanish, and there is a Deaf and hard-of-hearing route.
988 publishes that it is available 24/7/365, free, and confidential.
Source: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — checked 2026-08-05.
Kentucky 211
Housing, food, utilities, transportation, and community services — when you need to know what exists near you tonight.
Dial 211
Or text your ZIP code to 898211.
Kentucky 211 answers 24 hours a day.
Source: No One Left Outside emergency contact policy (SOURCE_OF_TRUTH §11) — checked 2026-08-05.
VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
Any veteran who is homeless or at risk of it. Family, friends, and case managers may call on a veteran's behalf.
Call 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838)va.gov/homeless
VA publishes a free, confidential online chat with a trained counselor, any time of day or night.
VA publishes that this line is available 24/7.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — National Call Center for Homeless Veterans — checked 2026-10-18.

4 more routes whose sources publish 24/7 access

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Confidential support if someone is hurting you or you are helping someone who is being hurt.
Call 1-800-799-7233 thehotline.org/get-help
Text START to 88788, or use the live chat. There are Spanish, StrongHearts, and video-phone routes.
The Hotline publishes phone, text, and chat routes to an advocate. It also warns that internet use can be monitored and is impossible to erase completely — if this device may be watched, use a different one.
Source: National Domestic Violence Hotline — Get Help — checked 2026-10-18.
Seven Counties Services crisis lines
Local crisis support for the Louisville area, staffed at any hour. Separate lines for adults, children, addiction recovery, and developmental-disability crisis.
Adult crisis (502) 589-4313 sevencounties.org
Child crisis (502) 589-8070. Addiction recovery (502) 583-3951. Developmental-disability crisis (502) 459-5292.
Seven Counties Services publishes all four lines as available 24/7, 365.
Source: Seven Counties Services — Crisis Number Directory — checked 2026-10-19.
Kentucky protective order
Filing a petition for an emergency protective order, if someone is hurting you or threatening you.
How protective orders work (Kentucky Court of Justice)
Petitions are filed with an Office of Circuit Court Clerk; the court publishes contact details for all 120 counties.
Kentucky courts are required to provide a 24-hour access process for orders of protection in every county. The after-hours location or procedure can vary by county. Contact the local circuit court clerk, law enforcement, or a domestic-violence program to confirm the local process. The Kentucky Court of Justice also states that there are no fees or costs for filing a petition. Whether to seek an order is your decision, and an advocate can help you think it through.
Source: Kentucky Court of Justice — How to Obtain a Protective Order — checked 2026-08-05.
Legal Aid Society online application
Eviction, housing conditions, benefits, and other civil legal problems in Jefferson County and fourteen surrounding counties.
yourlegalaid.org/application
Legal Aid Society publishes an online intake application available twenty-four hours a day. Its phone intake is Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed on Fridays — so at night the form is the way in.
Source: Legal Aid Society — Frequently Asked Questions — checked 2026-08-05.

If someone is in immediate danger or having a medical emergency, call 911.

Quick Exit safety

“Leave this site” immediately opens a neutral website and drops this page from your tab's back button. It cannot erase your browsing history, downloads, or anything a monitoring app has already recorded. If browsing here is not safe, use a different device.

Forms, portals, and instructions by step (8)Official routes with preparation and assistance steps, source dates, and material restrictions.

Documents inside the process

Forms, portals, and instructions by step

Open the route that matches your stage and situation. No One Left Outside preparation guidance explains the connected barriers; the official instructions control submission. This section does not collect answers or submit an application.

Legal-document directory — use a safer device if needed
Find the protective-order document named by the court
Choose this route only when its stage and purpose match your situation. Follow its maintained official instructions and any notice sent to you.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. Kentucky self-help and guided interviews
  Correct county, court, case type, and form. Official forms and general procedural help.
  Official help for this step
2. Kentucky civil legal-aid directory
  Correct county, court, case type, and form. County-based legal-aid referral; acceptance is case-specific.
  Official help for this step
- Official directoryInstructionsOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  Kentucky Court of Justice Legal Forms Directory
  The live official directory for Kentucky court forms, including forcible-detainer and protective-order records.
  Jurisdiction: Kentucky. Revision / edition: Unknown.
  Who completes it
  Use the directory to match an exact form number or language; seek qualified help for case-specific legal advice.
  Gather before opening
  Varies by form and case; the directory is not a filing checklist.
  Access or submission
  UNKNOWN — confirm with the official owner.
  Signature
  Varies by form; follow the current form and court instructions.
  Application mode
  Find the appropriate court form in the official directory; Use an available guided interview; Print and file with the correct Circuit Court Clerk
  Stage
  Choose the correct case-specific court form and filing route.
  Fees and waiver route
  Forms are publicly available; filing, copies, certification, and other charges vary by case and task.
  Account or appointment
  Some linked interview tools may have their own account choices; no universal requirement is established. UNKNOWN; ask the correct clerk about filing and any accommodation.
  Before starting
  - Correct county, court, case type, and form.
  - Read whether signatures, notarization, attachments, and fees apply.
  Application help
  - Kentucky self-help and guided interviews
    Official forms and general procedural help.
  - Kentucky civil legal-aid directory
    County-based legal-aid referral; acceptance is case-specific.
  Material restrictions
  - An online interview does not itself file the court papers.
  - Clerks can explain procedures but cannot tell you what legal claims to make or predict outcomes.
  After submitting
  - Print the completed paperwork and file it with the correct clerk unless that court gives another authorized route.
  - Keep filed copies and read court dates and notices.
  What this does not prove: A form directory is not legal advice or proof that a particular form is appropriate for a case.
  Official owner: Kentucky Court of Justice. Ask the court for an accessible format or assistance when needed. The directory lists multiple language versions for some forms; availability varies by form.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional VAWA housing branch
Request an emergency transfer in covered housing
Choose this route only when its stage and purpose match your situation. Follow its maintained official instructions and any notice sent to you.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. Use the covered provider's transfer plan and a safe reply method
  Ask the VAWA-covered housing provider for its emergency-transfer plan, language or disability help, and a safe way to communicate. Complete the signed HUD-5383 request as directed. Ask the appropriate county legal-aid intake about legal questions. Transfer eligibility does not establish that a unit is available or a move is approved.
  Official help for this step No One Left Outside help record
- Official formConditionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  HUD-5383 Emergency Transfer Request (HUD-5383)
  HUD’s emergency-transfer request form for qualifying violence or abuse in covered housing programs.
  Jurisdiction: United States; covered housing programs. Revision / edition: Unknown.
  Who completes it
  A tenant or household member in a covered housing program requesting an emergency transfer under the form’s stated conditions.
  Gather before opening
  The form contains its own certification language; ask the covered housing provider what its current process requires.
  Access or submission
  Submit through the covered housing provider’s current emergency-transfer process.
  Signature
  The tenant signs and dates the certification on the official HUD form.
  Application mode
  Obtain and complete the provider's emergency-transfer request process; Submit the HUD form to the covered housing provider using a safe communication route
  Stage
  Request an emergency transfer under the provider's VAWA Emergency Transfer Plan.
  Fees and waiver route
  UNKNOWN; the form does not establish a universal transfer charge.
  Account or appointment
  No universal online-account requirement is stated on this paper form. UNKNOWN; ask the covered provider for a safe submission route.
  Before starting
  - Confirm the housing program is covered and obtain the provider's transfer plan.
  - Use safe contact information and ask about confidential handling.
  - If the provider requests victim documentation in writing, ask which permitted documentation options apply.
  Application help
  - Ask the covered housing provider for language and disability assistance
    The HUD form states covered providers must offer language assistance and reasonable accommodations; request a safe way to communicate.
  Material restrictions
  - Applies to covered housing programs and does not promise an available transfer unit.
  - Documentation and timing depend on the written request and provider transfer plan.
  After submitting
  - Keep a safe copy and ask the provider for acknowledgement and the next transfer step.
  What this does not prove: Use a safe contact method and the covered provider's VAWA Emergency Transfer Plan. A request does not promise an available unit.
  Official owner: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The official form explains language assistance and reasonable accommodations, including help completing the form; contact the covered provider. PDF conformance was not evaluated by No One Left Outside. Language versions were not verified for this direct PDF.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Respond to a written VAWA documentation request.
HUD's optional self-certification is one permitted response when a covered housing provider makes a written request for documentation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. Check the written VAWA documentation request and permitted choices
  HUD-5382 is an optional self-certification choice for covered housing. Read the provider's actual written request, permitted alternative documentation, response deadline and any extension; the form describes at least14 business days for a written documentation request. Sign the chosen certification and arrange safe communication. A police report is not universally required.
  Official help for this step No One Left Outside help record
- Official formConditionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  VAWA self-certification and alternate documentation (HUD-5382)
  HUD's optional self-certification is one permitted response when a covered housing provider makes a written request for documentation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
  Jurisdiction: Covered housing programs; confirm the provider and program. Revision / edition: Unknown.
  Who completes it
  The applicant or tenant seeking VAWA protections in a covered housing program; a helper may assist.
  Gather before opening
  The form describes self-certification and permitted alternate documentation; a police report is not universally required. Read the provider's written request for the applicable response deadline and any extension.
  Access or submission
  Respond to the covered provider's written documentation request using its safe submission instructions.
  Signature
  The applicant or tenant certifies, signs, and dates the official form.
  Application mode
  Paper self-certification or permitted alternate documentation to the covered provider
  Stage
  Respond to a written VAWA documentation request.
  Fees and waiver route
  UNKNOWN; ask the receiving agency.
  Account or appointment
  No universal online-account requirement is stated. UNKNOWN; ask the covered provider for a safe route.
  Before starting
  - Confirm the housing program is covered.
  - Read the provider's written request and deadline.
  - Choose safe contact and submission arrangements.
  Application help
  - Ask the covered housing provider for language and disability assistance
    The HUD form states covered providers must offer language assistance and reasonable accommodations; request a safe way to communicate.
  Material restrictions
  - The form is optional and alternate documentation is permitted.
  - The provider controls the case-specific written request; No One Left Outside does not determine eligibility or deadlines.
  After submitting
  - Keep a safe copy and confirmation of receipt.
  - Read the provider's decision and any next housing step.
  What this does not prove: The form describes at least 14 business days to respond to a provider's written request, subject to the request and any extension. Keep victim information private and use a safe submission route.
  Official owner: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The form explains language assistance and reasonable accommodations, including additional time and help completing the form. Ask the covered provider. English source observed; other versions UNKNOWN.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Obtain help before completing or submitting a covered housing form.
Ask the covered housing provider for language assistance or disability-related help completing a VAWA form, and explain a safe way to contact you.
Read the connected journey step
- Official instructionsConditionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  Language and disability help for VAWA housing forms
  Ask the covered housing provider for language assistance or disability-related help completing a VAWA form, and explain a safe way to contact you.
  Jurisdiction: Covered housing providers subject to the HUD form instructions. Revision / edition: Unknown.
  Who completes it
  The person seeking the service or a helper acting with that person's permission.
  Gather before opening
  UNKNOWN — confirm with the official owner.
  Access or submission
  Request assistance directly from the covered housing provider through a safe communication route.
  Signature
  No signature is represented by this instructions record; the receiving agency controls later attestations.
  Application mode
  Ask the covered provider for language assistance; Request a reasonable accommodation for form completion
  Stage
  Obtain help before completing or submitting a covered housing form.
  Fees and waiver route
  The form requires language assistance and reasonable accommodations; a universal additional charge is not stated.
  Account or appointment
  No universal online-account requirement is established. UNKNOWN; ask for a safe assistance arrangement.
  Application help
  - Ask the covered housing provider for language and disability assistance
    The HUD form states covered providers must offer language assistance and reasonable accommodations; request a safe way to communicate.
  Material restrictions
  - This source supports assistance for the covered VAWA housing process; it is not a general promise that every landlord will complete all housing forms.
  - Specific local staff availability and response time are UNKNOWN.
  What this does not prove: Opening this destination does not establish eligibility, acceptance, current availability, submission, or an outcome.
  Official owner: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. External accessibility conformance was not evaluated by No One Left Outside. English source observed; other versions UNKNOWN.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Prepare case-specific paperwork and complete the separate filing step.
The official self-help page links guided interviews for selected case types, including fee waivers, domestic violence or interpersonal-protection orders, certain expungements, small claims, probate, and name changes.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. LFPL computers, printing, and faxing
  Select the correct case type and county. Louisville library access with published per-page print prices; staff help is limited to basic instruction.
  Official help for this step No One Left Outside help record
2. Kentucky civil legal-aid directory
  Select the correct case type and county. Find the legal-aid region for case-specific legal advice.
  Official help for this step
- Official directoryConditionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  Kentucky court guided interviews and filing help
  The official self-help page links guided interviews for selected case types, including fee waivers, domestic violence or interpersonal-protection orders, certain expungements, small claims, probate, and name changes.
  Jurisdiction: Kentucky; select the correct county court. Revision / edition: Unknown.
  Who completes it
  The person seeking the service or a helper acting with that person's permission.
  Gather before opening
  The case-specific form or interview establishes required signatures and attachments; requirements are not universal.
  Access or submission
  Use a linked guided interview for the appropriate case type; Print the generated forms and file with the correct Circuit Court Clerk
  Signature
  No signature is represented by this instructions record; the receiving agency controls later attestations.
  Application mode
  Official guided interviews; Print and file at the correct clerk
  Stage
  Prepare case-specific paperwork and complete the separate filing step.
  Fees and waiver route
  Case-specific court fees may apply; AOC-026 is a separate request for a court decision on a civil fee waiver.
  Account or appointment
  Linked tools vary; do not give No One Left Outside account credentials. UNKNOWN; confirm clerk filing hours and assistance arrangements.
  Before starting
  - Select the correct case type and county.
  - Arrange printing and any required attestation before filing.
  Application help
  - LFPL computers, printing, and faxing
    Louisville library access with published per-page print prices; staff help is limited to basic instruction.
  - Kentucky civil legal-aid directory
    Find the legal-aid region for case-specific legal advice.
  Material restrictions
  - The interview does not itself file the case or provide legal advice.
  - No statewide promise of free printing or notarization was verified.
  After submitting
  - File with the correct clerk and obtain your filed copy or receipt.
  - Read notices and court dates.
  What this does not prove: Online completion is preparation. The official page directs users to print the papers and file them with the correct clerk.
  Official owner: Kentucky Court of Justice. External accessibility conformance was not evaluated by No One Left Outside. English source observed; other versions UNKNOWN.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Prepare a civil court fee-waiver request for the judge's decision.
AOC-026 combines a motion, sworn affidavit, financial statement, and proposed order for a court to decide whether to waive covered costs and fees.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. Official self-help and fee-waiver interview
  Complete the requested financial and case information. Paperwork preparation and clerk procedural help; no automatic filing.
  Official help for this step
2. Civil legal-aid directory
  Complete the requested financial and case information. County-based legal advice and representation screening.
  Official help for this step
- Official formConditionalConfirm current edition or status; source checked Sep 30, 2026
  Request a Kentucky civil court fee waiver (AOC-026)
  AOC-026 combines a motion, sworn affidavit, financial statement, and proposed order for a court to decide whether to waive covered costs and fees.
  Jurisdiction: Kentucky civil courts; case-specific judicial decision. Revision / edition: Oct 2022.
  Who completes it
  The person requesting a civil court fee waiver; the official form includes the court's order section.
  Gather before opening
  Income, expenses, property and financial information requested by the form. Case, county, court, and division information when applicable; required extra attachments are UNKNOWN.
  Access or submission
  Complete and attest the motion and financial statement, then file with the correct court clerk; Use the official self-help page's fee-waiver guided interview, then print and file
  Signature
  The affidavit has the applicant's signature and an Attesting Officer or Notary's Signature; follow the court's accepted attestation procedure.
  Application mode
  Paper AOC-026; Guided interview followed by printing and filing
  Stage
  Prepare a civil court fee-waiver request for the judge's decision.
  Fees and waiver route
  The court decides which costs and fees can be waived. A free notary or attesting-officer appointment was not verified.
  Account or appointment
  No account is required to download the paper form; linked interview tools may differ. Ask the correct clerk about filing and accepted attestation arrangements; availability is UNKNOWN.
  Before starting
  - Complete the requested financial and case information.
  - Ask the clerk how an attesting officer or notary can witness the affidavit.
  Application help
  - Official self-help and fee-waiver interview
    Paperwork preparation and clerk procedural help; no automatic filing.
  - Civil legal-aid directory
    County-based legal advice and representation screening.
  Material restrictions
  - The judge may grant or deny the request.
  - No universal fee-waiver eligibility result or extra documentation list is asserted.
  After submitting
  - File the signed and properly attested motion with the correct clerk.
  - Obtain and read the court's order; filing a motion does not itself establish a waiver.
  What this does not prove: A fee waiver requires a court decision. This source does not establish waiver of the separate $40 expungement certification fee.
  Official owner: Kentucky Court of Justice. External accessibility conformance was not evaluated by No One Left Outside. The official directory lists English, Arabic, French, Kinyarwanda, Spanish, and Swahili versions; confirm the correct file and accepted filing language.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Arrange interpretation before the court proceeding.
Contact the court where the proceeding will occur to request language or Deaf and hard-of-hearing interpretation. Trial courts arrange interpreters through the court system.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. Office of Language Access instructions
  Court, case or proceeding, language or communication need, and date if known. Court interpretation arrangements, not a general translation service for all benefit applications.
  Official help for this step
- Official instructionsConditionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  Ask your Kentucky court for an interpreter
  Contact the court where the proceeding will occur to request language or Deaf and hard-of-hearing interpretation. Trial courts arrange interpreters through the court system.
  Jurisdiction: Kentucky court proceedings. Revision / edition: Unknown.
  Who completes it
  The person seeking the service or a helper acting with that person's permission.
  Gather before opening
  UNKNOWN — confirm with the official owner.
  Access or submission
  Contact the court handling your proceeding and request an interpreter
  Signature
  No signature is represented by this instructions record; the receiving agency controls later attestations.
  Application mode
  Request through the court handling the proceeding
  Stage
  Arrange interpretation before the court proceeding.
  Fees and waiver route
  The official Office of Language Access says court language assistance is provided at no cost.
  Account or appointment
  The court-staff scheduling system is not a public applicant-account route. Contact the court as early as possible; the court arranges the interpreter for the proceeding.
  Before starting
  - Court, case or proceeding, language or communication need, and date if known.
  Application help
  - Office of Language Access instructions
    Court interpretation arrangements, not a general translation service for all benefit applications.
  Material restrictions
  - This source covers court language access; it does not establish a free interpreter for every outside agency.
  - Specific scheduling confirmation remains with the court.
  What this does not prove: Opening this destination does not establish eligibility, acceptance, current availability, submission, or an outcome.
  Official owner: Kentucky Court of Justice. External accessibility conformance was not evaluated by No One Left Outside. The official Office of Language Access describes limited-English-proficiency and Deaf or hard-of-hearing access; availability for the specific proceeding must be arranged with the court.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Arrange access before a court service or proceeding.
Request an auxiliary aid or a disability-related modification from the appropriate clerk, judge, or court office as early as possible.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. Kentucky court ADA policy and request route
  Identify the court program or proceeding and the access needed. Court-specific aids and modifications; decisions depend on the individual request.
  Official help for this step
- Official instructionsConditionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  Request disability access for a Kentucky court task
  Request an auxiliary aid or a disability-related modification from the appropriate clerk, judge, or court office as early as possible.
  Jurisdiction: Kentucky Court of Justice services, programs, and activities. Revision / edition: Unknown.
  Who completes it
  The person seeking the service or a helper acting with that person's permission.
  Gather before opening
  UNKNOWN — confirm with the official owner.
  Access or submission
  Contact the clerk, presiding judge, or office responsible for the court program
  Signature
  No signature is represented by this instructions record; the receiving agency controls later attestations.
  Application mode
  Ask the responsible court office for an auxiliary aid or reasonable modification
  Stage
  Arrange access before a court service or proceeding.
  Fees and waiver route
  The official policy says no surcharge is imposed for auxiliary aids or disability-related modifications.
  Account or appointment
  No universal online-account requirement is stated. Request as soon as possible; the policy asks for 48 hours' notice when possible, not a promised appointment or a deadline that eliminates access rights.
  Before starting
  - Identify the court program or proceeding and the access needed.
  Application help
  - Kentucky court ADA policy and request route
    Court-specific aids and modifications; decisions depend on the individual request.
  Material restrictions
  - No individual accommodation decision or specific staff appointment was verified.
  - External PDF accessibility conformance was not evaluated.
  What this does not prove: Opening this destination does not establish eligibility, acceptance, current availability, submission, or an outcome.
  Official owner: Kentucky Court of Justice. External accessibility conformance was not evaluated by No One Left Outside. English source observed; other versions UNKNOWN.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet

What No One Left Outside cannot promise

No One Left Outside does not decide eligibility.
No One Left Outside does not submit applications, renewals, appeals, or documents.
No One Left Outside cannot guarantee approval, a timeline, an appointment, or a fee waiver.
No One Left Outside is not a legal or benefits advisor.
No One Left Outside is not affiliated with any agency named on a journey page.
This guide does not make a legal, medical, safety, eligibility, or discharge decision.
A search result does not confirm funding, capacity, acceptance, or availability.

Documents and what replaces them (2)Every document this journey covers, what each one proves, and the accepted substitutes.

Documents and recovery questions

Anything marked “confirmed” below has a named source and a check date. Everything else is a question worth asking, not a rule — ask before relying on it.

Essential records, only when safe to access

Some later legal, housing, medical, financial, or family processes may request records.

If it is missing

Safety comes first. Ask a qualified advocate how to plan recovery or copies without increasing risk.

Possibilities to ask about

Ask the specific agency or provider what it can review; no substitute is represented as accepted.

Official details not yet verified — ask the agency for current instructions · checked 2026-08-01 · Kentucky

Legal or incident information, if any and safe to retain

A qualified advocate or attorney may ask what records already exist.

If it is missing

Ask an advocate or the issuing authority how to request records safely and confidentially.

Possibilities to ask about

Ask qualified legal help what information can support an initial conversation; evidence rules are not stated here.

Official details not yet verified — ask the agency for current instructions · checked 2026-08-01 · Kentucky

If something is blocking you (5)What commonly stops people here, and what has worked around it.

If something is blocking you

The device, account, transportation, or location may be monitored.

Things to try

Use a safer device or location if possible and ask an advocate about technology and transportation safety.

A shelter, legal route, or housing option is not confirmed.

Things to try

Keep the safety plan active and ask the advocate for confidential alternatives rather than traveling to an unconfirmed location.

Mail, printed instructions, voicemail, or follow-up contact could reveal the plan.

Things to try

Ask a qualified advocate which contact, record-storage, and follow-up method is safer before leaving or sending anything.

A shelter or program is closed, full, or does not answer the phone.

Things to try

Only if it is safe to use this phone: call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800.799.SAFE (800-799-7233), text START to 88788, or chat with a live advocate at thehotline.org.
If you are in danger right now, call 911.

The normal route stalls, gives conflicting instructions, or cannot confirm the next step.

Things to try

Record who said what, when, and through which channel.
Ask what escalation or alternate channel exists, then keep a separate fallback route open.

Things that may help today

Use emergency services for immediate danger; No One Left Outside does not monitor searches or dispatch help.
Contact a qualified advocate from a safer device and ask what confidential options can be confirmed now.

Where to go — official routes (6)Named offices and services, each with its own source, check date, and published limits.

Verified official route

Kentucky courts are required to provide a 24-hour access process for orders of protection in every county. The after-hours location or procedure can vary by county. Contact the local circuit court clerk, law enforcement, or a domestic-violence program to confirm the local process. The Kentucky Court of Justice also states that there are no fees or costs for filing a petition. Petitions are filed with an Office of Circuit Court Clerk, and the court publishes contact information for all 120 of them. The court describes an emergency protective order (EPO), or a temporary interpersonal protective order (TIPO) in dating-violence and stalking or sexual-assault cases, as a short-term order lasting until a hearing, usually within 14 days; a domestic violence order (DVO) or interpersonal protective order (IPO) can last up to three years. No One Left Outside describes this process only. Whether to seek an order, what a court will decide, and whether an order will make someone safe are not questions this page answers — a domestic-violence advocate can help think it through.

Open the verified official source

Last checked 2026-08-05 · Kentucky · official source: Kentucky Court of Justice — How to Obtain a Protective Order

Verified official route

The National Domestic Violence Hotline publishes 800.799.SAFE (1.800.799.7233), a text option (text START to 88788), and a live chat with an advocate. It publishes Spanish-language services, a StrongHearts route for Native callers, and a video-phone route for Deaf and hard-of-hearing callers. The Hotline's own site carries this warning: "Internet usage can be monitored and is impossible to erase completely." If a device may be monitored, use a different one — No One Left Outside's Quick Exit does not clear browsing history.

Open the verified official source

Last checked 2026-08-05 · Jurisdiction-neutral · official source: National Domestic Violence Hotline — Get Help

Verified official route

Kentucky Court of Justice provides a protective-order self-help route and links official forms. County procedures differ; this route does not establish universal clerk hours or filing availability.

Open the verified official source

Last checked 2026-08-04 · Kentucky · official source: Kentucky Court of Justice — Legal Self-Help

Verified official route

The Kentucky Court live forms directory lists AOC-275.1, Petition/Motion for Order of Protection, including multiple language versions. Use the directory to find the current edition.

Open the verified official source

Last checked 2026-08-04 · Kentucky · official source: Kentucky Court of Justice — Legal Forms

Verified official route

For covered housing programs, HUD-5383 may be used to request an emergency transfer. Submitting the request does not confirm that a transfer will be received.

Open the verified official source

Last checked 2026-08-04 · Jurisdiction-neutral · official source: HUD-5383 Emergency Transfer Request

Official details not yet verified

The routes above are the ones No One Left Outside has checked against a named source. Other Kentucky and Louisville routes for this situation have not been checked yet — confirm them with the responsible agency or provider.

No official link is published until it is verified. Ask the agency for current instructions.

Official details not yet verified — ask the agency for current instructions · checked 2026-08-01 · Kentucky

Preparation and practice guidanceGeneral advice that applies to most appointments and calls, not only to this journey.

Practitioner and helper guidance

Preparation ideas for the person and anyone helping

Ask what contact method is safe before leaving voicemail, text, email, or printed material.
Ordinary follow-up practices can create risk when devices, mail, or movement are monitored.
Do not record or disclose a confidential shelter location in No One Left Outside.
Safety and confidentiality take priority over directory completeness.
Use the minimum necessary information for each warm handoff and confirm the safe follow-up method first.
Continuity should reduce repeated storytelling without creating a new privacy or safety risk.
Separate documents, client statements, agency instructions, and unconfirmed assumptions in the record.
Clear labels let the next helper reuse what is known without turning an inference into a fact.
End each handoff with a named owner, safe contact method, next check date, and fallback.
A referral is easier to resume when responsibility and the failed-route response are visible.

Practitioner guidance from field experience — not agency policy. Checked 2026-08-01 · Jurisdiction-neutral.

Immediate safety and longer-term navigation

This comparison does not recommend one option.

Confidential safety support

Documents: Ask what information this route currently requires.
Cost: Unknown — confirm before choosing this route.
When it may matter: Use this for immediate safety planning and confidential crisis options.
When it may not: Do not use it when it creates a safety or care risk.

Legal and housing follow-up

Documents: Ask what information this route currently requires.
Cost: Unknown — confirm before choosing this route.
When it may matter: Use this after or alongside safety planning with qualified support.
When it may not: Do not assume this route is available or appropriate.

Safety planning controls the order; a public directory should not expose confidential details.

Universal preparation guidance · checked 2026-07-28 · Jurisdiction-neutral

Appointment strategy

1.Ask whether an appointment is required before you travel.
2.Ask how walk-ins are handled and whether arriving early changes the process.
3.Confirm the location, hours, and documents again on the day you plan to go.
4.Ask what safe contact method will be used for changes, cancellations, or follow-up.
5.Before ending, ask who to contact and what to do if the appointment or referral cannot proceed.

Scheduling links and phone numbers are pending verification.

Universal preparation guidance · checked 2026-07-28 · Jurisdiction-neutral

Day of the appointment or visit

At the office

1.Arrive early when practical, especially if you are walking in.
2.Ask for a realistic wait estimate.
3.Ask whether the office uses text messages, callbacks, or another queue-notification system.
4.Ask whether you can leave briefly and return without losing your place.
5.Prepare for a potentially long day.
6.Write down the name or department that gave each instruction, the date, and the next action.

Bring for the wait

A charger
Water and snacks where permitted
Medications you may need during the wait
All paperwork together in one folder
Something to do while you wait
A safe way to take notes and store confirmation or reference numbers

Universal preparation guidance · checked 2026-07-28 · Jurisdiction-neutral

If something goes wrong

What to do when a step does not work

A closed office, a failed website or a “no” does not end the plan. Guidance written for this guide comes first. Where this guide has none, No One Left Outside’s general guidance is shown and labelled.

Show the seven situations, deadlines, county differences and what No One Left Outside does not know

If a document is missing

From this guide

Missing: Essential records, only when safe to access
- Safety comes first. Ask a qualified advocate how to plan recovery or copies without increasing risk.
- Ask first whether these are accepted (not confirmed): Ask the specific agency or provider what it can review; no substitute is represented as accepted.
Missing: Legal or incident information, if any and safe to retain
- Ask an advocate or the issuing authority how to request records safely and confidentially.
- Ask first whether these are accepted (not confirmed): Ask qualified legal help what information can support an initial conversation; evidence rules are not stated here.