The difference between a granted order and a denied one is usually the record. Courts rule on evidence, and the evidence that matters is created in the days after each incident — not the week before the hearing. What you save today is what protects you later.
Photograph injuries and damage with something for scale and date; screenshot messages without editing; save voicemails; keep medical records and receipts; write down what happened — date, time, exact words, who saw or heard it. Store everything somewhere the abuser cannot reach: a new cloud account, a trusted friend, or your attorney's file.
Do not delete messages, even hostile ones — they are admissions. Do not repair damage before photographing it. Do not throw away torn clothing or broken objects — they are exhibits. The instinct to erase the evidence is the abuser's best friend; resist it, and put it in our file instead.
In immediate danger, call 911. For protection planning and next steps, call (619) 730-7884 — free and confidential, through whatever channel is safe for you.
