This episode is produced in partnership with The National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit www.thehotline.org

Besties, we’re going straight into one of the most overwhelming chapters after leaving abuse: family court.

Because the truth is this. Abuse does not end when the relationship ends. It escalates. It shifts. And for many survivors, it becomes weaponized through custody battles, litigation, and the legal system itself.

In this episode of Bitch Is A Bad Word, Lindsay sits down with Nikhita Ved of the National Domestic Violence Hotline to break down what survivors need to know when navigating family court, civil court, protective orders, and post-separation abuse.

We unpack how litigation becomes the new form of control, why survivors are often retraumatized by the legal process, and how understanding court strategy, documentation, and timing can make all the difference. Nikhita brings decades of frontline experience supporting survivors through high-conflict custody cases, protective orders, supervised visitation, and court navigation, while Lindsay shares lived experience as a protective parent navigating the system.

This is not about revenge.

This is not about winning.

This is about preparation, strategy, and protecting yourself and your children.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why abuse often escalates after separation through litigation and family court

• How family court, civil court, and criminal court differ and why those differences matter

• What litigation abuse looks like and how abusers use the legal system to maintain control

• Why survivors need a bestie, not just an attorney, when navigating court

• How judges actually think about the “best interest of the child”

• How to prepare, document patterns, and protect your credibility in court

• What it really means to work with a trauma-informed attorney

• How pro se survivors can advocate for themselves more effectively

About the National Domestic Violence Hotline

The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides confidential support, resources, and safety planning for survivors of domestic violence 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their advocates help survivors navigate abuse, custody concerns, legal options, and safety planning with compassion, patience, and care.

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