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    How to get help for domestic violence: hotlines, safety plans, orders

    In the US, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788) and the Childhelp hotline (1-800-422-4453) give free, confidential help. In England, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline is on 0808 2000 247 and the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.[1][2][3][4] Hotline advocates can help build a personal safety plan, and courts can issue protective orders that require an abuser to stay away. The rules vary by state and country.[5][6]

    Editor reviewedStrict sourcingUpdated ExplainerSocial welfare, Tech policy

    If you are in immediate danger, call 911 (US) or 999 (UK). In the UK, if you cannot speak on a mobile, press 55 after dialling 999 to be put through to the police.[7][8] Phone and computer use can be monitored, and browsing history cannot be fully erased even in private mode.[9] The National Domestic Violence Hotline invites anyone worried about monitoring to call it instead.[9]

    This guide lists where to get help and summarises what hotlines and courts say about safety planning and protective orders. It is general information, not legal advice. Laws and services vary by state and country, so confirm details with a hotline advocate, a court self-help centre or a lawyer. The hotlines themselves offer support, not legal or medical advice.[10]

    Hotlines

    United States

    • National Domestic Violence Hotline: call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat online. Free, confidential, 24/7.[1]
    • Specialist lines listed by the Hotline: StrongHearts for Native Americans and Alaska Natives (844-762-8483), the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (866-331-9474) and a Deaf Hotline video phone (855-812-1001).[11]
    • Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: call or text 1-800-422-4453, or chat online.[2]

    United Kingdom

    • England: Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline, 0808 2000 247, free and open 24 hours, also for worried friends and family.[3]
    • Northern Ireland: 0808 802 1414. Scotland: 0800 027 1234. Men’s Advice Line (UK-wide): 0808 801 0327.[12]
    • Children: adults can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000; children and young people can call Childline free on 0800 1111.[4]
    • Bright Sky is a free app and website for anyone experiencing abuse or worried about someone. GOV.UK advises downloading it only if that is safe.[13]

    Safety planning

    A safety plan is a personal, practical plan to make you safer. It can cover life while you are still in the relationship, preparing to leave, or after you have left.[5] The National Domestic Violence Hotline’s advocates can help you build one by phone or chat, at any hour.[5] Its message to survivors is that you are not alone and never to blame for someone else’s abuse.[14]

    The Hotline’s online tool and advocates tailor plans to each situation, rather than offering one checklist for everyone.[5] Technology is part of planning. The Hotline warns that phones and computers can be monitored without the user knowing, and that private or incognito browsing does not fully erase history.[9] For children in a home with domestic abuse, note that the UK Domestic Abuse Act 2021 treats them as victims in their own right.[15]

    Protective orders (US overview)

    A protective order, also called a restraining order, is a court order. Laws differ by state, but protective order laws let a judge choose from provisions such as ordering the abuser to stop hurting or threatening you, to stay away, or to have no contact.[6] In California, for example, you do not need a lawyer to apply. A judge decides on a temporary order the same day or by the next business day.[16] Once an order is granted, police can enforce it. California orders can also bar the restrained person from having guns.[17]

    Under 18 U.S.C. § 2265, a qualifying protection order from one state, tribe or territory must be given full faith and credit and enforced in the others.[18] Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8), people subject to a qualifying domestic violence restraining order may not possess firearms.[19] In United States v. Rahimi (June 21, 2024), the Supreme Court held that a person found by a court to pose a credible threat to another’s physical safety may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment.[20] The vote was 8-1, with Justice Thomas dissenting.[21]

    In England and Wales

    GOV.UK’s domestic abuse guidance lists the helplines above and explains how to reach police silently.[8][12] The government’s December 2025 strategy is rolling out domestic abuse protection orders across England and Wales. The orders can include curfews, electronic tagging and exclusion zones, and breaching one can mean up to 5 years in jail.[22] To report concerns about a child, GOV.UK points to the local council’s children’s social care team.[23]

    For background on definitions and data, see domestic violence explained. For how CPS responds to child abuse, see child protection explained. For the federal grant law that funds many US shelters and legal-aid programmes, see the Violence Against Women Act.[24]

    Next in the crash course

    Questions readers ask

    What number do I call for domestic violence in the US?

    The National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233, is free, confidential and open 24/7. You can also text START to 88788 or chat online. In immediate danger, call 911.[1][7]

    What number do I call for domestic abuse in the UK?

    In England, Refuge's National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 is free and open 24 hours. Northern Ireland's helpline is 0808 802 1414, Scotland's is 0800 027 1234, and the Men's Advice Line is 0808 801 0327. In immediate danger, call 999; if you cannot speak on a mobile, press 55.[3][12][8]

    What is a safety plan?

    The National Domestic Violence Hotline describes it as a personalised, practical plan to improve your safety while experiencing abuse, preparing to leave or after leaving. Its advocates can help you make one by phone or chat.[5]

    What can a protective order do?

    Laws differ by state, but orders can generally require an abuser to stop abuse, stay away and have no contact, and some can address firearms, support and child custody. Federal law requires states to enforce valid orders from other states and tribes.[6][18]

    Can someone under a protective order keep a gun?

    Federal law bars people subject to a qualifying domestic violence restraining order from possessing firearms, and the Supreme Court upheld temporary disarmament of people found to be a credible threat in United States v. Rahimi (2024).[19][20]

    How do I report child abuse?

    In the US, contact your state or county child protective services or the Childhelp hotline at 1-800-422-4453. In England, contact the local council's children's social care team, or call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 for advice. Call 911 or 999 if a child is in immediate danger.[25][2][23][4]

    Sources

    · 25 claims from 14 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      The US National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached by calling 1-800-799-7233 (800-799-SAFE), by texting START to 88788 or by online chat, and describes its service as free, confidential and 24/7. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    2. [2]

      The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline can be reached by calling or texting 1-800-422-4453, or by live chat. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    3. [3]

      In England, Refuge's National Domestic Abuse Helpline is a free, 24-hour line on 0808 2000 247, for victims and for concerned friends and family. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    4. [4]

      GOV.UK directs adults worried about a child to the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 and children and young people to Childline on 0800 1111, and says to call 999 if a child is at immediate risk. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    5. [5]

      The National Domestic Violence Hotline describes a safety plan as a personalised, practical plan to improve safety while experiencing abuse, preparing to leave or after leaving, and says its advocates can help create one. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    6. [6]

      Domestic violence protective order laws differ by state, but orders can typically require the abuser to stop abuse, stay away and have no contact, and can include orders on firearms, support and child custody. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    7. [7]

      The National Domestic Violence Hotline tells people in immediate danger or a life-threatening situation to contact 911. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • Plan for Safety · National Domestic Violence Hotline (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    8. [8]

      In the UK, people in immediate danger should call 999; if they cannot speak on a mobile, pressing 55 transfers the call to the police. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    9. [9]

      The National Domestic Violence Hotline warns that computer and phone use can be monitored without the user knowing, and that browsing history cannot be completely erased even in private or incognito mode; it invites people worried about monitoring to call instead. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • Internet Safety · National Domestic Violence Hotline (retrieved 2026-10-11)
      • Internet Safety · National Domestic Violence Hotline (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    10. [10]

      Childhelp says its crisis counseling cannot replace trained professionals and that the hotline does not provide legal or medical advice. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    11. [11]

      The National Domestic Violence Hotline lists the StrongHearts helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives (844-762-8483), the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (866-331-9474) and a Deaf Hotline video phone (855-812-1001). confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    12. [12]

      GOV.UK lists separate domestic abuse helplines for Northern Ireland (0808 802 1414) and Scotland (0800 027 1234), and the UK-wide Men's Advice Line for male victims (0808 801 0327). confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    13. [13]

      GOV.UK lists Bright Sky, a free app and website for anyone experiencing domestic abuse or worried about someone else, and advises downloading it only if it is safe to do so. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    14. [14]

      The National Domestic Violence Hotline tells survivors they are never to blame for the abusive actions of others. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • Plan for Safety · National Domestic Violence Hotline (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    15. [15]

      The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 treats a child who sees, hears or experiences the effects of domestic abuse, and is related to the people involved, as a victim of domestic abuse. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    16. [16]

      In California, a judge decides whether to grant a temporary restraining order the same day or by the next business day after the forms are filed, and a lawyer is not required. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    17. [17]

      California's guidance says a domestic violence restraining order can bar the restrained person from having guns, firearms, ammunition or body armor, and that police can be called to enforce a granted order. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    18. [18]

      Under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 2265), a qualifying protection order issued by one state, tribe or territory must be given full faith and credit and enforced by the courts and police of another. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    19. [19]

      18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) is a federal law that prohibits people subject to a qualifying domestic violence restraining order from possessing a firearm. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    20. [20]

      On June 21, 2024, in United States v. Rahimi, the Supreme Court held that a person found by a court to pose a credible threat to another's physical safety may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment. confirmedas of 2024-06-21

    21. [21]

      Chief Justice Roberts wrote the 8-1 Rahimi opinion, joined by seven other justices; Justice Thomas dissented. confirmedas of 2024-06-21

    22. [22]

      The December 2025 VAWG strategy said every police force will introduce specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams, and that domestic abuse protection orders will be rolled out across England and Wales with possible curfews, electronic tagging and exclusion zones, and up to 5 years in jail for breaches. confirmedas of 2025-12-17

    23. [23]

      In England, GOV.UK advises people who think a child is at risk or being abused to contact the children's social care team at their local council. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    24. [24]

      Some OVW grant programs are discretionary and competitive, while others are formula or quasi-formula awards that go to all eligible applicants; grantees provide victim services, criminal justice responses, civil legal assistance and medical forensic care. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    25. [25]

      Anyone can report suspected child abuse or neglect, anonymously in some states, but most reports come from mandatory reporters, people required by state law to report suspicions. confirmedas of 2025-05-01

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 11, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 11, 2026. Next scheduled review: Jan 31, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "How to get help for domestic violence: hotlines, safety plans, orders." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/explain/domestic-violence-help-guide

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